How a Simple Question Sparked a Big Change in Wayfinding

Andrew Herndon
Jun 24
2 min read

It all started with a simple question from a travel trainee who was learning to navigate the world again after developing a visual impairment later in life: "How do I know which bus it is?”

At WTA, our buses announce their route number and destination while they're on the road, but unfortunately, they don't automatically identify themselves when pulling into the downtown station. To bridge that gap, our drivers make verbal announcements like, “Now arriving at the downtown station. This bus will continue as Route ___.”

We’ve also installed braille signs at each gate and have friendly staff who are always happy to help riders find their way. But for someone making a tight connection, that process can be unreliable. And for many people with no or low vision, braille isn’t a viable option, especially for those who lose vision later in life and don’t have access to braille education.

One of our trainees lived in a stunning rural area where elk roam through meadows and snow-capped peaks line the horizon. But in that beautiful landscape, access to resources like braille instruction was limited—and learning it simply wasn’t feasible.

That’s when we knew we had to do something.

We pulled together a team to explore how we could improve the wayfinding at the downtown station in a way that was fast, accessible, and inclusive. We researched countless tools, but most were expensive, complex, or simply unreliable. Only one option met all our needs: NaviLens.

We partnered with United Blind, a local organization, to test the technology. The reaction was immediate and joyful. “This is the cat’s pajamas!” one member exclaimed as they quickly received real-time route information on their phone.

But NaviLens did more than help those with vision impairments. It also removed language barriers by automatically translating transit information into 34 different languages, based on the settings on a rider’s phone. Not everyone has the time or opportunity to learn a new language or braille—but most people do have a smartphone.

Even better? NaviLens doesn’t collect any user data. That means no tracking, no personal information shared, and no cybersecurity concerns.

There are plenty of barriers in the world, but wayfinding at our station shouldn’t be one of them. We're excited to offer a modern, inclusive, and reliable solution that helps all riders navigate with confidence.

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