Though it will be rendered only in blue and white, Sound Transit has selected a symbol of Gay Pride as the legally required identification icon for Broadways opening-soon Capitol Hill Station.

“Pictograms, as part of our overall general signage program, are not produced in color,” colorful Sound Transit spokesperson Bruce Gray regretfully informed CHS.

The new symbol was spotted by eagle-eyed @gordonwerner in Sound Transit’s latest project update newsletter. Sound Transit also announced that the Seattle-side line of light rail will be known as the Red Line while Eastside extensions will be known as the Blue Line.

The Pride-based icon was selected as part of a design and community feedback process designed to “create pictograms to identify Sound Transit Link light rail stations” that “serve as a tool to easily differentiate stations.” “This is important for non-English speaking audiences, particularly those that do not use a Roman alphabet,” a report on the process reads.

It’s choice comes in a summer of revival for the rainbow flag on Capitol Hill. While the flag continues as a ubiquitous symbol around the neighborhood every June for Pride, the addition of 11 rainbow crosswalks in Pike/Pine has represented a small restoration, for some, of the neighborhood’s eroding LGBTQ identity. For others, it’s a groovy photo op. You might expect a similar response for the Capitol Hill Station icon — though we wouldn’t mind holding the license for the branded blue Pride flag merchandise.

In spring 2014, Sound Transit ran a survey to determine what community attributes a Capitol Hill Station icon should include. Here is how the responses shook out (PDF — contains word clouds!)

Apparently our majestic, soaring crow suggestion was ignored.

Pictograms for the light rail system are also required by state law. According to the agency, light rail station pictograms must meet these criteria:

• Simple in form, and are an easily recognizable symbol

• Readable at many scales; including signage, print material, online and mobile devices

• Are individually distinguishable and read as a family

• Meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Additionally, “the pictogram may reflect the nature of the environment: neighborhoods, landmarks, geographic locations and may include points of interest around the stations.

Capitol Hill Station and the 3.1-mile twin tunnels connecting UW Station to downtown via Broadway is slated to begin service by early 2016. CHS showed you inside the under-construction station here in May. Last week, Sound Transit announced the first phase of testing the new tracks was successfully completed, opening the way for final testing this fall as light rail trains will empty of passengers downtown before making the 8-minute run to UW to put the tunnels and new systems through their paces. Meanwhile, above ground, the project to develop the property around Capitol Hill Station as a mix of affordable and market-rate apartments, commercial space including a new grocery store, and community space including a farmers market-friendly plaza has begun.

UPDATE: Not an option but… “make it color“