Reclaiming City Streets for People Chaos Or Quality of Life?

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Reclaiming City Streets for People Chaos Or Quality of Life? Reclaiming city streets for people Chaos or quality of life? EUROPEAN COMMISSION Directorate-General for the Environment FOREWORD The quality of the environment in urban areas is of vital importance. I hope that cities and their citizens will consider this approach as part of the It is one of the main factors that determine whether a city is a healthy solution to the growing levels of road traffic. This complements our earlier S place to live, whether we enjoy living there, and whether we want publications, Cycling: the way ahead for towns and cities and Kids on the our children to grow up there. move, which give examples of other case studies. I am convinced that traffic management is the key to making our cities more attractive places to live in One of the key issues affecting the quality of the environment and the and to improving the quality of our urban environment. quality of life in our towns and cities is road traffic. Heavy motor traffic means poor air quality, unacceptable levels of noise and a weakened sense of neighbourhood and local community. Traffic also gives rise to high costs for the economy through delays caused by congestion. Every year more than 3 million cars are added to the car fleet in Europe. Total road traffic kilometres in urban areas will grow by 40 % between 1995 and 2030. Local authorities and citizens need to decide how to respond to these pressures and decide what sort of place they want their town or city to be in the future. One option is to try to eliminate congestion by building more roads, but the costs — financial, social and environmental — can be high and the relief short-lived. More and more cities are opting for a different approach where they work together with their citizens to ensure that they have access to the goods and services they need without having to depend on road traffic. There are many traffic management techniques and approaches and any given city will probably need to develop a package of measures to manage traffic effectively. This new handbook sets out some case studies where road space has been reallocated for other uses. New, attractive and popular public areas can be created on sites that were once blocked by regular traffic jams. Margot WALLSTRÖM If these are properly planned, they need not result in road traffic chaos, Member of the European Commission contrary to what might be expected. responsible for Environment CONTENTS e PRESENTING THE CASE STUDIES • Kajaani, Finland • Wolverhampton, England f d • Vauxhall Cross, London, England, • Nuremberg, Germany • Strasbourg, France PROVIDING FINDING • Gent, Belgium • Cambridge, England GUIDELINES SOLUTIONS • Oxford, England his chapter presents the c he traditional response to the edistributing road space in favour experiences of a small selection of problem of traffic congestion has T Rof non-car modes can represent a T European cities where urban been to increase the road space technically challenging and politically planners, with the political support of IDENTIFYING available for cars. In this chapter, the sensitive planning option in urban local leaders, have had the vision and theory of ‘traffic evaporation’ is areas where road congestion is THE ISSUES the courage (often in the face of explored as a concept which already a problem.This chapter considerable opposition) to take challenges the logic of this approach. brings together best practice from a away congested road space from he quality of life in many This theory supports the proposition wide range of expertise and private cars. In each case study, after TEuropean cities is affected by the that reducing road capacity for cars experience in dealing with these an initial settling-in period, the negative impacts of increasing traffic in congested city centres can issues, in particular that drawn from predicted traffic chaos did not levels. This chapter looks at ways in represent a sustainable, efficient the schemes described in this materialise and some of the traffic which a dominance of car traffic planning solution. In addition, once document. The objective is to assist ‘evaporated’. affects our lives in urban areas, and freed from domination by car traffic, politicians and planners working to suggests that there is a growing reclaimed urban spaces can become develop more sustainable transport consensus, from the global to the accessible, vibrant ‘living’ places. strategies for Europe’s towns and local level, that the situation is cities. unsustainable. Page 10 Page 14 Page 20 Page 50 8 Traffic evaporation in urban areas Introduction TRAFFIC EVAPORATION IN URBAN AREAS b 9 he challenge facing urban planners and politicians in many European In the attractive car-free spaces created in these cities, pedestrians and cyclists towns and cities is that of balancing the demand for increasing personal now enjoy a cleaner, quieter and safer environment. These cases illustrate the T mobility and economic growth, with the need to respect the environment potential for more effective uses of urban road space, as ‘exchange space’ rather and provide an acceptable quality of life for all citizens. than just ‘movement space’, recognising the social importance of streets and squares. While it is clear that provision for car-based mobility will continue to be an important part of traffic management planning, finding ways to encourage more Favouring more sustainable transport modes is an approach which promotes use of alternative modes of transport (public transport, cycling and walking) is social inclusion and accessibility for the nearly 30 % of European households the goal of any sustainable urban policy. Where road space is restricted, which have no access to a private car. Such strategies are also more equitable, providing adequate space for these alternative modes may require a reallocation for they reduce those negative impacts of urban traffic and congestion which are of highway capacity. When the roads under consideration are already highly experienced by everyone, regardless of whether they are able to enjoy the congested, it is typically assumed that reducing the capacity available for cars will benefits of car use. result in increased traffic congestion in the surrounding streets. However, as the The purpose of this handbook is to show that such schemes can be highly evidence in this document demonstrates, this is not necessarily the case. successful; they can represent a very positive sustainable planning option for The experience in a number of European cities is that: cities. The case studies here demonstrate the importance of well planned • traffic problems following the implementation of a scheme are usually far less integrated strategies, combined with effective public consultation and serious than predicted; communication. Above all, however, they show the need for vision and courage • after an initial period of adjustment, some of the traffic that was previously on the part of the implementing local authority. found in the vicinity of the scheme ‘disappears’ or ‘evaporates’, due to drivers changing their travel behaviour; • as a result the urban environment becomes more liveable in many respects. This handbook illustrates the concept of traffic evaporation using case studies from a selection of European cities. Many of these cities have gone ahead with road space reallocation schemes despite predictions that traffic chaos would result. However, in each case any initial problems of traffic congestion were short-lived, and after a ‘settling-in’ period a proportion of the traffic was found to have ‘evaporated’. 10 Identifying the issues Chapter 1 IDENTIFYING THE ISSUES GROWING TRAFFIC PROBLEMS IN EUROPE’S CITIES urope is the most urbanised continent in the world: at present over 80 % of its E population lives in towns and cities. At the same time car use in Europe is growing. • In the EU between 1975 and 1995 the daily distance travelled per person doubled. A further doubling of traffic is predicted by 2025. • Half of all journeys in urban areas are less than 5 km long and a third are less than 3 km (1). The challenges that increasing traffic and congestion pose in terms of environmental, social c and economic costs for urban communities are illustrated in the diagram opposite. (1) Source: http://europa.eu.int/comm/transport 11 THE MAIN PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASING URBAN TRAFFIC AND CONGESTION Negative impact on urban quality of life EQUITY VISUAL INTRUSION Nearly 30 % of households in Europe have no access to Diminished quality of the urban a car — they pay the price of traffic without enjoying environment caused by parked cars and mobility benefits offered by car ownership. other infrastructure. ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY NOISE AND VIBRATION Traffic congestion, pollution and accidents result in Transport is one of the main sources of significant direct and indirect costs. The total bill urban noise pollution. has been estimated at EUR 502 billion per year across the EU Member States (2). LOSSOFURBAN‘LIVING SPACE’ ENERGY CONSUMPTION INCREASING MOTORISED VEHICLE Motorised transport infrastructure- such as roads and Transport consumes 4 % more energy every car parking — takes up highly valuable city centre land, DOMINANCE AND CONGESTION year which represents a doubling of energy 4 and spoils and threatens existing open spaces. used every 20 years ( ). AIR POLLUTION Multiple effects including global warming, health problems SEVERANCE & building decay. The Department of Health in the United Congested urban roads cause severance of Kingdom estimates the health costs of particulates in urban communities which can have a social cost. areas of Britain to be up to GBP 500 million per year (3). ACCIDENTS COMPETITIVENESS Over 40 000 deaths on Europe’s roads/year, of these Traditional centres face competition from four times more fatalities occur in urban areas (5). less congested out-of-town retail centres. Negative impact on urban quality of life (2) External costs of transport: accident environmental and congestion costs of transport in western Europe, March 2000.
Recommended publications
  • Research Archive and Digital Asset Repository
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Oxford Brookes University: RADAR RADAR Research Archive and Digital Asset Repository Ward, S. (2017) 'Colin Buchanan's American Journey', Town Planning Review, 88 (2), pp. 201-231. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3828/tpr.2017.13 This document is the authors’ Accepted Manuscript. License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0 Available from RADAR: https://radar.brookes.ac.uk/radar/items/72ee92f0-fe9a-49fd-9b1d-7f86d6c61059/1/ Copyright © and Moral Rights are retained by the author(s) and/ or other copyright owners unless otherwise waved in a license stated or linked to above. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This item cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder(s). The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Colin Buchanan’s American Journey Stephen V. Ward School of the Built Environment Oxford Brookes University Headington Oxford OX3 OBP, UK [email protected] 1 Colin Buchanan’s American Journey Introduction In Autumn 1962, the British planner, Colin Buchanan, made an extensive eight-week tour of the United States. His purpose was professional and official, part of a major British government study to find appropriate planning responses to the long term problems of urban motor traffic. Buchanan’s intention was to learn and draw lessons from American experiences that could be applied to Britain, then becoming a mass motorised society.
    [Show full text]
  • "2. Sidewalks". "Boston Complete Streets Design Guide."
    Sidewalk Zone Widths The width of the sidewalk contributes to the degree of When making decisions for how to allocate sidewalk space, comfort and enjoyment of walking along a street. Narrow the following principles should be used: sidewalks do not support lively pedestrian activity, and may create dangerous conditions where people walk in the Frontage Zone street. Typically, a five foot wide Pedestrian Zone supports > The Frontage Zone should be maximized to provide space two people walking side by side or two wheel chairs passing for cafés, plazas, and greenscape elements along build- each other. An eight foot wide Pedestrian Zone allows two ing facades wherever possible, but not at the expense of pairs of people to comfortably pass each other, and a ten reducing the Pedestrian Zone beyond the recommended foot or wider Pedestrian Zone can support high volumes of minimum widths. pedestrians. Pedestrian Zone Vibrant sidewalks bustling with pedestrian activity are not > The Pedestrian Zone should be clear of any obstructions only used for transportation, but for social walking, lingering, including utilities, traffic control devices, trees, and furniture. and people watching. Sidewalks, especially along Downtown When reconstructing sidewalks and relocating utilities, all Commercial, Downtown Mixed-Use, and Neighborhood Main utility access points and obstructions should be relocated Streets, should encourage social uses of the sidewalk realm outside of the Pedestrian Zone. by providing adequate widths. > While sidewalks do not need to be perfectly straight, the SIDEWALKS Pedestrian Zone should not weave back and forth in the When determining sidewalk zone widths, factors to consider right-of-way for no other reason than to introduce curves.
    [Show full text]
  • Accessibility in Cities: Transport and Urban Form
    NCE Cities – Paper 03 ACCESSIBILITY IN CITIES: TRANSPORT AND URBAN FORM Lead Authors: Philipp Rode and Graham Floater Contributing Authors: Nikolas Thomopoulos, James Docherty, Peter Schwinger, Anjali Mahendra, Wanli Fang LSE Cities Research Team: Bruno Friedel, Alexandra Gomes, Catarina Heeckt, Roxana Slavcheva The New Climate Economy Page CONTENTS The New Climate Economy (NCE) is the flagship project of the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate. It was established by seven countries, Colombia, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Norway, South Korea, Sweden and 1 INTRODUCTION 03 the United Kingdom, as an independent initiative to examine how countries can achieve economic growth while dealing with the risks posed by climate change. The NCE Cities Research Programme is led by LSE Cities at the 2 ACCESSIBILITY IN CITIES AND 04 London School of Economics. The programme includes a consortium of IMPLICATIONS FOR researchers from the Stockholm Environment Institute, the ESRC Centre CARBON EMISSIONS for Climate Change Economics and Policy, the World Resources Institute, Victoria Transport Policy Institute, and Oxford Economics. The NCE Cities Research Programme is directed by Graham Floater and Philipp Rode. 3 ASSESSMENT 11 4 PATTERNS, TRENDS AND 19 ABSTRACT TIPPING POINTS This paper focusses on one central aspect of urban 5 ACCESSIBILITY THROUGH 32 development: transport and urban form and how the two COMPACT CITIES shape the provision of access to people, goods and services, AND SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT and information in cities. The more efficient this access, the greater the economic benefits through economies of scale, agglomeration effects and networking advantages. This 6 CONCLUSIONS 40 paper discusses how different urban accessibility pathways impact directly on other measures of human development BIBLIOGRAPHY 42 and environmental sustainability.
    [Show full text]
  • Walking Along Road
    Walking Along the Road Module 2 Learning Outcomes: 2-2 At the end of this module, you will be able to: Describe the operational and safety benefits of shoulders and sidewalks Select the appropriate design for sidewalks Calculating Reduction in Number of Crashes 2-3 Crash Modification Factor (CMF): factor used to compute the expected number of crashes after implementing a given countermeasure. Crash Reduction Factor (CRF): % fewer crashes experienced on a road with a given countermeasure than on similar road without the countermeasure Relationship between CMF and CRF: CMF = 1 - (CRF/100) CRF = 100*(1 – CMF) (Examples on next slide) CMF/CFR Clearinghouse: www.cmfclearinghouse.org Shoulders and Sidewalks 2-4 Walking along the Paved shoulders road accounts for reduce pedestrian 10-15% of fatal crashes by 70% (CRF) pedestrian crashes: CMF = 0.3 Fewer in urban areas Gan et al. study More in rural areas Sidewalks reduce They’re easily pedestrian crashes by preventable 88% (CRF) CMF=0.12 McMahon Study Shoulders improve safety for all users 2-5 Sonoma Co. CA For motorists: room to avoid crashes Shoulders improve safety for all users 2-6 For bicyclists: a place to ride Benton Co. OR Shoulders improve safety for all users 2-7 Benton Co. OR 6’ width preferred For pedestrians: a place to walk CMF = 0.3 (CRF = 70%) 2-8 Canyonville OR At a certain point, sidewalks are needed 2-9 Manitou Springs CO “Goat trail” indicates sidewalks are needed The 2011 AASHTO “Green Book” states: “Sidewalks are an integral parts of city streets” 2-10 Quote
    [Show full text]
  • The History of Transport Systems in the UK
    The history of transport systems in the UK Future of Mobility: Evidence Review Foresight, Government Office for Science The history of transport systems in the UK Professor Simon Gunn Centre for Urban History, University of Leicester December 2018 Acknowledgements I would like to thank Dr Aaron Andrews for his help with the research for this review, especially for creating the graphs, and Georgina Lockton for editing. The review has benefited from the input of an Advisory Group consisting of Professor Colin Divall (University of York); Professor Gordon Pirie (University of Cape Town); Professor Colin Pooley (Lancaster University); Professor Geoff Vigar (University of Newcastle). I thank them all for taking time to read the review at short notice and enabling me to draw on their specialist expertise. Any errors remaining are, of course, mine. This review has been commissioned as part of the UK government’s Foresight Future of Mobility project. The views expressed are those of the author and do not represent those of any government or organisation. This document is not a statement of government policy. This report has an information cut-off date of February 2018. The history of transport systems in the UK Executive summary The purpose of this review is to summarise the major changes affecting transport systems in the UK over the last 100 years. It is designed to enable the Foresight team to bring relevant historical knowledge to bear on the future of transport and mobility. The review analyses four aspects of transport and mobility across the twentieth century. The first section identifies significant points of change in the main transport modes.
    [Show full text]
  • Low Traffic Neighbourhoods Residents Survey
    Low Traffic Neighbourhoods Residents' Survey Report January 2021 Tracy Logan, Rob McPhedran, Amy Young, Emily King Contents Background and methodology 3 Background 3 Survey and sample methodology 6 A note on survey timing 6 Weighting 7 Notes on analysis 8 Area and LSOA subgroups 8 Social Grade definition 9 Business owners 9 Respondents with mobility issues 9 Mode of transport sub-group definitions 10 Executive Summary 11 Views on government action in local neighbourhoods 11 Support for the reduction of road traffic and the reallocation of space for walking and cycling 11 Perceived problems in local areas 12 Awareness of and support for local LTN 12 Support for wider implementation of LTNs across England 13 Perceived impact of local LTN 14 Views on government action in local neighbourhoods 15 Support for reduction of road traffic 18 Support for reallocation of road space for walking and cycling 21 Perceived problems in local areas 24 Awareness of and support for local LTN 27 Support for local LTN 28 Impact of local LTN 31 Frequency of transport use and visits to local businesses 38 Support for implementing LTNs more widely 42 Business Owner residents 44 Appendix 48 Questionnaire – online version 48 © Kantar 2020 1 Background and methodology Background In May 2020, the Secretary of State for Transport announced the Emergency Active Travel Fund, which included funding allocations for emergency active travel schemes for local authorities. Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) offer a cost-effective way of delivering safe streets for walking and cycling. LTNs work by minimising through-traffic from using residential neighbourhoods to avoid main roads, while still retaining local access for residents, visitors and emergency vehicles.
    [Show full text]
  • Walking in the Modern City: Pedestrian Experiences of Post-War Birmingham
    Centre for Environment and Society Research Working Paper series no. 23 Walking in the Modern city: pedestrian experiences of post-war Birmingham David Adams Walking in the Modern city: pedestrian experiences of post- war Birmingham David Adams Lecturer in Planning Birmingham School of the Built Environment, Birmingham City University Working Paper Series, no. 22 2013 ISBN 978-1-904839-73-6 © Author, 2013 Published by Birmingham City University Centre for Environment and Society Research Faculty of Technology, Engineering and the Environment City Centre campus, Millennium Point, Curzon Street, Birmingham, B4 7XG, UK iii CONTENTS Abstract iv Introduction 1 Post-war Birmingham and pedestrian movement 2 Research context and methods 5 Experiences of walking in the reconstructed city 6 Pedestrian mobilities and vehicular traffic 6 Spaces for leisured activities 8 Legacies of the past, and altered routines 10 Conclusion 12 References 14 Illustrations Figure 1 Smallbrook Ringway under construction c. 1960 3 Figure 2. Aerial perspective of the Bull Ring, c. 1964 9 Figure 3 The new Bullring 11 iv Abstract Whilst the act of walking has been a central focus of many authors in their attempts to comprehend the effects of modernisation processes on everyday life in the city, there has been little empirical exploration of the relationship between how pedestrian practices were imagined and proposed by post-war planners / architects and how they were experienced ‘on the ground’ by local inhabitants. Drawing on research conducted in Birmingham – a city radically reconstructed with vehicular rather than pedestrian movement in mind – this paper uses a series of oral testimonies with local residents to highlight their different experiences of living with the reality of a city designed around the needs of motorised traffic.
    [Show full text]
  • Streets As Connectors: PEDESTRIAN ZONES in CITIES NATIONAL LEAGUE of CITIES
    NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES Streets as Connectors: PEDESTRIAN ZONES IN CITIES NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES About the National League of Cities The National League of Cities (NLC) is the voice of America’s cities, towns and villages, representing more than 200 million people. NLC works to strengthen local leadership, influence federal policy and drive innovative solutions. NLC’s Center for City Solutions provides research and analysis on key topics and trends important to cities and creative solutions to improve the quality of life in communities. About the Authors Brenna Rivett is a program manager, Tina Lee is a senior coordinator, and Brooks Rainwater is the senior executive and director of NLC’s Center for City Solutions. Acknowledgments The authors would like to thank Laura Cofsky who edited the report, and Paris Williams who designed the report. © 2020 National League of Cities. All Rights Reserved. Table of Contents 2 Foreword 3 Introduction 5 Background 7 What Cities are Doing 10 International Overview 14 Community Impacts 16 Case Studies 22 Key Considerations 23 Conclusion STREETS AS CONNECTORS: Pedestrian Zones in Cities Foreword Streets are built to connect people. They are arteries of communities, connecting residents to the things most central to their lives – friends and family members, their neighborhoods, and the places where they work and learn. Over time, however, cities and towns have prioritized space for cars, pushing people off the streets. Now, the long-term impact of car-oriented design is becoming more apparent. Traffic congestion and air pollution are wreaking havoc in many places. And, the lack of public spaces for people to gather is driving social isolation.
    [Show full text]
  • City of Salem Downtown Streetscape Plan Acknowledgements
    CITY OF SALEM DOWNTOWN STREETSCAPE PLAN ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS PROJECT PARTNERS CONSULTANT TEAM CITY OF SALEM WALKER MACY Kristin Retherford, Urban Development Director Lead, Streetscape Design Sheri Wahrgren, Downtown Revitalization Manager Michael Zilis, Principal-in-Charge Rebecca Ziegler, Downtown Revitalization Project Manager Ken Pirie, Principal Planner Saumya Kini, Urban Designer Morgan Maiolie, Urban Planner PEOPLE OF SALEM Tiffany Swift, Urban Designer Design Guidance and Review JLA PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT Public Outreach and Engagement Kristen Kibler, Senior Project Manager Irene Kim, Program Manager Sam Beresky, Multi-Media Specialist LELAND CONSULTING GROUP Financial Consultation Alisa Pyszka, Principal DKS ASSOCIATES Transportation Scott Mansur, Senior Transportation Engineer TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION 4-15 Landscape Guidelines 42 Project Background 5 Planting Guidelines 43 How the Plan is Organized 6 Street Tree Guidelines 44-47 Streetscape Benefits 7 Other Streetscape Elements 48-49 Salem Character and Identity 8-9 Existing Conditions 10-11 4. IMPLEMENTATION 50-57 Public Process 12-13 Implementation Considerations 51 Messages from the Community 14-15 Example Plans 52-56 Alley Entrance 52-53 2. DESIGN CONCEPTS 16-35 Civic Streetscape 54-55 Section Description 17 Promenade Corner 56-57 Guiding Recommendations 18 Recently-Completed Streetscapes 19 5. FUTURE PROJECTS 58-64 Consistent Design Elements 20-21 Midblock Landscape Areas 59-61 Streetscape Types 22 Front Street Crossings 62 Streetscape Framework 23 Festival Streets 63 Promenade Streetscape 24-25 Parklets 64 Civic Streetscape 26-27 Urban Streetscape 28-29 6. APPENDIX 65-70 Parkway Streetscape 30-31 Sidewalk Condition Analysis 66 Front St. Streetscape 32-33 Downtown Character Areas 67 Alley Entrances 34-35 Sidewalk Lighting Analysis 68 Civic Wayfinding - Tree Lights 69 3.
    [Show full text]
  • 130514-CITY COUNCIL MEETING Revised Package.Indd
    COLORADO ESPLANADE | CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION PACKAGE PWP LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE 739 ALLSTON WAY BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA 94710 MAY 14, 2013 COLORADO ESPLANADE The Colorado Esplanade has been designed as a gateway to the heart of Santa Monica LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE and its major destinations. The Esplanade 739 ALLSTON WAY BERKELEY, CA 94710 THE SITE PLAN COORDINATES AND INCLUDES: will connect the new EXPO Station to points • A HIGHLY VISIBLE AND ICONIC INTEGRATED DESIGN OF UNIQUE ELEMENTS. North, South, East, and West, and will create • ONE-WAY VEHICULAR TRAFFIC FROM 4TH STREET TO OCEAN AVENUE. a landmark identity for the city that will be • A WIDE PEDESTRIAN ZONE. seen by pedestrians, cyclists, drivers, and bus • INTEGRATED WAY FINDING. and light rail riders that approach it on city • ENHANCED, BALANCED, AND ACCESSIBLE MOVEMENT ROUTES FOR ALL MODES. streets, as well as from the freeway. SANTA MONICA PLACE CITY OF SANTA MONICA OF SANTA CITY COLORADO ESPLANADE 2ND STREET PALISADES PARK PALISADES BANK OF PASEO DEL MAR 101 COLORADO PARKING STRUCTURE 8 BLOOMINGDALE’S THE WEST MIDAS AVENUE COLORADO AVENUE HOLIDAY INN GATEWAY TRIANGLE EXPO STATION PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY SEARS -BY OTHERS POTENTIAL TOD SITE OCEAN AVENUE 4TH STREET PALISADES GARDEN MAIN STREET WALK OVERALL SITE PLAN OVERALL 5TH STREET 2 CITY HALL LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE BERKELEY, CA 94710 CITY OF SANTA MONICA OF SANTA CITY COLORADO ESPLANADE LOOKING WEST DOWN THE ESPLANADE DOWN LOOKING WEST VIEW LOOKING WEST FROM EXPO STATION 3 FRAMING THE VIEW LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE Preserving the view to the Pier Sign BERKELEY, CA 94710 was a desire of all the constituents. As a new multi-model corridor, we thought it important that all modes of movement be able to participate in the view corridor to the Pier Sign.
    [Show full text]
  • Roadway &Traffic Operations Strategy
    ESTABLISHING MULTI-MODAL STRATEGIES | CHAPTER 4 ROADWAY & TRAFFIC OPERATIONS STRATEGY To serve planned growth, the future transportation system needs multi-modal improvements and strategies to manage the forecasted travel demand. This chapter presents a detailed strategy to improve Moscow’s roadway network and traffic operations over the next 20 years, including network connectivity options, regional circulation enhancements, intersection modifications, and multi-modal street design guidelines. MULTI-MODAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN This page intentionally left blank. Moscow on the Move 4 ROADWAY & TRAFFIC OPERATIONS STRATEGY Supporting the guiding principles of Moscow on the Move, the Roadway & This Transportation Traffic Operations Strategy strives to provide a truly multi-modal Commission “check mark” icon signifies transportation system and improve safety, access, and mobility for all street which actions have unanimous users by identifying strategies, policies, and projects that help achieve support from the Commission. Moscow’s vision for mobility and access. This strategy of Moscow on the Move The icon is a way to illustrate the level of support for identifies opportunities to retrofit existing streets in Moscow and develops the implementation. street grid to improve citywide connectivity for motor vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users. This strategy specifically provides an overview of the existing traffic conditions and how conditions might change by 2035, a street network plan, various design tools that could be applied throughout the city, and descriptions of recommended street projects. FUTURE DEFICIENCIES AND NEEDS Existing and future roadway and traffic operation conditions were assessed to determine the needs and deficiencies of the system. The key areas projected to require improvement or to present future challenges are summarized below.
    [Show full text]
  • Appendix C: Pedestrian Design Guidelines This Page Intentionally Left Blank 1.0 RATIONALE for the DESIGN GUIDELINES
    Appendix C: Pedestrian Design Guidelines This page intentionally left blank 1.0 RATIONALE FOR THE DESIGN GUIDELINES Designing streets so that they encourage people to walk by providing an experience that is safe, comfortable and attractive is an important element to creating vibrant and active urban areas. The purpose of the Pedestrian Design Guidelines is to integrate existing resources and current best practices into one coherent set of guidelines aimed at improving the pedestrian experience in Chula Vista. These guidelines are meant for inclusion in the City’s Street Design Standards. They should be used by engineers, planners, policy makers, and the public to guide decisions related to new construction as well as retrofitting existing infrastructure. The following guidelines recommended for use by the City of Chula Vista primarily address issues of pedestrian safety, and secondarily, issues of urban design, design character, and the many other amenities that make streets and sidewalks attractive places to travel and spend time as a pedestrian. It is clear that safety concerns can significantly influence a person’s decision to walk or use other modes of transportation. Where people aren’t walking, it is often because they are prevented or discouraged from doing so. Either the infrastructure is insufficient, has serious gaps, or there are safety hazards. These design guidelines present many design and infrastructure improvements that will help the City of Chula Vista to better accommodate pedestrians’ needs and build a stronger walking community. The guidelines included in this chapter are supplemental to the City of Chula Vista’s currently adopted development policies, as well as State and Federal standards.
    [Show full text]