Help design pictograms for new Sound Transit stations

Pictograms representing Sound Transit Link light rail and Mexico City Metro stations. Pictograms representing Sound Transit Link light rail and Mexico City Metro stations. Photo: Sound Transit Photo: Sound Transit Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Help design pictograms for new Sound Transit stations 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

How would you describe Capitol Hill or the U District in a simple picture? How about Northgate?

Sound Transit uses "pictograms" to identify transit stations for people who don't read languages that use the Roman alphabet. They're also easier to recall even if you do read printed station names, according to the agency. Oh, and state law requires them.

Examples of pictograms, shown above, include a Chinese dragon for the International District/Chinatown station and, naturally, a mountain for the Mount Baker station.

Sound Transit plans to start service in 2016 to Capitol Hill and the University of Washington, in Seattle, and Angle Lake Station, in Sea-Tac; and in 2021 to the U District, Roosevelt and Northgate. So now, apparently, is the time to start figuring out pictograms for these stations, and the agency wants your help.

From Monday through April 14, people can fill out an online questionnaire, listing up to three adjectives to describe each station area, up to three landmarks that represent the areas and, cutting to the chase, describing what image would make a good pictogram for the stations and why.

"Public input and comments will be collected and will be used to help guide the development and creation of the new pictograms," the agency said. "Once developed, pictograms will be available for public viewing and comment."

One other tidbit of Sound Transit news we missed last week: Last Thursday, the agency announced its board approved spending $15 million to buy five new double-decker buses and 17 new traditional buses to replace aging ones.

The double-decker buses are planned to run between Snohomish County and Seattle starting next year. They're 13 feet, six inches tall, with 77 seats and 40 percent more capacity than traditional buses, the agency said.

The 17 new standard buses will have 37 seats and run on compressed natural gas. They're set to run between Pierce County and Seattle.

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