With more than enough money in hand, the city will proceed with part of its wayfinding program with one fell swoop instead of doing it in two phases.

During its meeting Monday, the Washington City Council unanimously voted to award a $138,126 contract to ACSM Inc. to provide wayfinding signs for phase 1A and phase 1B of the signage project. Initially, the council was scheduled to consider awarding a $93,001 contract for phase 1A.

The city has been pursuing its wayfinding program for several years. Currently, the city has about $150,000 available for the signs. Noting that, Councilman Doug Mercer said it makes sense for the city to do all the phases related to sign manufacturing and installation at the same time. The other council members agreed.

The city received bids ranging from a low of $82,000 to a high of $186,000. City staff is evaluating those bids. ACSM was the second-lowest bidder, but the council chose the company because, in the council’s estimation, it would provide the city with higher-quality signs than other bidders.

The City Council, during its May 23 meeting, authorized city staff and the Washington Harbor District Alliance to search for an entity to provide the signs, part of the city’s effort to make it easier for visitors and others to find specific places in the city, especially in the waterfront and downtown areas. Late last year, the council decided to wait until this year to make a decision regarding funding of the city’s wayfinding project. During its Nov. 9, 2015, meeting, the council balked at allocating $101,606 for 24 signs that are part of a recommended overall sign project consisting of 84 signs — including gateway, directional and parking signs. The project, as presented then, would have been split into three phases because of its cost, according to a presentation made to the council last year.

The wayfinding strategies designed for Washington would improve traffic circulation (vehicles and pedestrians) in the city and direct visitor dollars to where they would have the most economic impact, according to Rodman.

In an effort to reduce costs, new signs would be erected on existing utility poles, especially the decorative light poles in the historic and waterfront districts, Rodman said.