NEW PITTSBURGH PEDESTRIAN WAYFINDING KIOSK INSTALLED AT STANWIX STREET AND LIBERTY AVENUE, DOWNTOWN. | PHOTO BY VIRGINIA LINN

If you asked a real Pittsburgher where the new wayfinding sign is Downtown, they’d tell you: “Right in front of the old McDonald’s on Stanwix.”

The McDonald’s is gone, but that’s a running joke about how Pittsburghers give directions, and such instructions can be confusing to visitors and natives alike.

A new wayfinding kiosk was christened by local government, state and civic leaders this week as the first of 129 Pittsburgh Pedestrian Wayfinding System black and gold signs that will be installed in Downtown, Oakland and the North Side. They aim to bring clarity to directions and be more welcoming to visitors. The kiosk stands in front of the new Huntington National Bank at 500 Liberty Ave., at the corner of Stanwix Street. (The McDonald’s closed there in 2023 after operating for half a century).

The wayfinding system is all part of a large public-private initiative that’s been in the works since 2014 to improve connections among the three neighborhoods and make the areas more pedestrian-friendly.

In addition to a large colored map that includes how long it takes to walk around the Downtown core (4 to 7 minutes), the kiosk directs visitors to such landmarks as the Kaufmann’s clock, Allegheny County Courthouse, Market Square, the Greyhound Station and Pittsburgh Playhouse. The sign also points to destinations on the North Side — Warhol Museum, Nova Place and PNC Park — and places Uptown — Duquesne University and PPG Paints Arena.

“Beyond state-of-the-art signage, this initiative represents a step toward a more pedestrian-friendly city that embraces connectivity and multi-modal transportation, key goals of our three-year Strategic Vision for Downtown, while marketing and promoting the wealth of cultural assets in the heart of Pittsburgh,” Jeremy Waldrup, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, said in a statement.

The project was funded by a $1.4 million state grant and other support, as well as by contributions from philanthropic and private funders. The remaining 30 kiosks and 98 directional signs are expected to be installed through July. This website shows where all the signs will be located.