Transit-Oriented Communities Design Guidelines Creating more livable places around transit in Metro Vancouver Cover image The inclusion of a wide variety of ground-level retail and service uses – such as grocery stores, shops, and restaurants – in Burnaby Heights has created a more pedestrian-scale, livable, and complete community around frequent transit. Version 1.0 Burnaby Heights, Burnaby, BC. Copyright © July 2012, TransLink. All rights reserved. Transit-Oriented Communities Design Guidelines Creating more livable places around transit in Metro Vancouver Enquiries pertaining to this document can be directed to: TransLink Strategic Planning and Policy: 1600 - 4720 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC V5H 4N2 t. 604-453-4500 translink.ca Foreword FOREWORD In Metro Vancouver we have grown accustomed in recent years to hearing the international press call us one of the most livable, sustainable, and economically vibrant regions in the world. We owe our success to many things – our diverse culture, our location as a gateway to the Pacific, and the natural beauty of our setting, to name a few – but our real strength lies in our ability to develop a broad consensus around a shared vision for the region and to work together to put that vision into practice. The partnership of Metro Vancouver, TransLink, local municipalities, the Province of British Columbia and other stakeholders is particularly evident in matters of shared interest, including growth management, regional transportation, and air quality and greenhouse gas management. The region’s vision for managing growth is expressed through Metro Vancouver’s Regional Growth Strategy, which serves as the “game plan” for how our region will grow and change in the coming decades and how we can collectively work toward achieving our goals of livable, sustainable, and safe communities. Similarly, our shared vision for a sustainable regional transportation system is articulated in TransLink’s Regional Transportation Strategy. We know from research and experience that how we plan and design our communities has a profound impact on travel behaviour, just as how we invest in transportation helps shape the market for new development. We also know that transit-oriented community design fosters transit use and supports other key goals of our region, such as increased walking and cycling. Communities shaped by these approaches, which we call transit-oriented communities, lend themselves to cost-effective transportation networks and services, allowing our region to move people and goods more efficiently and to produce more value for each transportation dollar we invest. We offer this document to our partners around the region as a handbook of ideas and strategies for making all of our communities more walkable, bikable, and transit-oriented. TRANSIT-ORIENTED COMMUNITIES DESIGN GUIDELINES v Contents DESIGN 1. INTRODUCTION p.1 2. p.15 D3: DESIGN p.41 GUIDELINES p.2 Create places for 1.1 Why Transit- people Oriented D1: DESTINATIONS p.19 Communities? p.42 D3.1 Design multi- modal streets p.4 Coordinate land use 1.2 Document Purpose and transportation and Scope Design great p.55 p.20 D3.2 D1.1 Ensure that major public spaces 1.2.1 Purpose of the p.4 destinations are lined p.62 Guidelines up along a reasonably D3.3 Seamlessly integrate direct corridor so development with 1.2.2 Geographic Extent p.4 they can be served frequent transit and of the Guidelines by frequent transit the public realm Encourage the p.22 Design parking to p.65 1.2.3 Intended Audience p.6 D1.2 D3.4 highest intensity support a pedestrian- and Roles of development in oriented urban realm p.7 Urban Centres and at 1.3 Coordinating frequent transit nodes Land Use and D4: DENSITY p.71 Transportation p.24 D1.3 Focus additional p.10 growth toward existing 1.4 The 6 Ds of Concentrate and and planned frequent Transit-Oriented intensify activities transit corridors Communities near frequent transit 1.4.1 Regional Application p.12 p.72 D4.1 Focus density in D2: DISTANCE p.29 Urban Centres and 1.4.2 Considering Scale p.13 around frequent transit corridors and Create a well-connected nodes to support street network a strong demand p.30 for transit service D2.1 Provide fine-grained street networks p.76 D4.2 Plan for density p.33 that supports D2.2 Make walking and cycling access to community character frequent transit as and promotes direct as possible quality of life p.34 D2.3 Plan for coordinated, multi-modal transportation networks p.37 D2.4 Locate frequent transit passenger facilities at accessible places on the street network vi TRANSIT-ORIENTED COMMUNITIES DESIGN GUIDELINES D5: DIVERSITY p.81 3. TAKING ACTION p.103 A. APPENDICES p.129 Encourage a mix 3.1 When to Use p.104 A1 Transit-Oriented p.131 of uses the Guidelines Communities Checklists Encourage a p.82 p.106 D5.1 3.2 Understanding p.135 mix of land uses A2 How the 6 Ds Relate Community to Transportation immediately adjacent Characteristics to frequent transit Outcomes p.106 passenger facilities 3.2.1 Transit Context A3 Glossary p.140 p.84 p.108 D5.2 Encourage a mix of 3.2.2 Street Networks uses around frequent A4 Index p.150 transit nodes to 3.2.3 Making Density Work p.109 create complete neighbourhoods 3.2.4 Land Uses p.110 A5 References and p.152 Resources p.86 D5.3 Provide a mix of uses 3.2.5 Market Readiness p.111 along frequent transit and Potential A6 Photo Credits p.160 corridors to reduce peak crowding and 3.3 Overcoming p.112 spread travel demand Challenges to A7 Acknowledgements p.162 throughout the day Implementation p.87 p.112 D5.4 Provide a mix of 3.3.1 Planning and housing types near Coordination Barriers frequent transit passenger facilities 3.3.2 Regulatory Barriers p.114 to create inclusive communities 3.3.3 Building Community p.116 and promote Support equitable access p.116 to transportation 3.3.4 Technical Challenges 3.4 Collaboration p.117 and Roles D6: DEMAND p.91 MANAGEMENT 3.5 Creating a More p.118 Transit-Oriented Discourage Community in unnecessary driving Lower Lynn, District of North Manage parking p.92 D6.1 Vancouver: An supply and demand Illustrative Process p.96 D6.2 Use TDM measures p.118 to encourage 3.5.1 Context sustainable p.122 modes of travel 3.5.2 Process 3.5.3 Emerging Outcomes p.126 of Neighbourhood Scale Planning TRANSIT-ORIENTED COMMUNITIES DESIGN GUIDELINES vii viii TRANSIT-ORIENTED COMMUNITIES DESIGN GUIDELINES Introduction 1 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Why Transit-Oriented Communities? 1.2 Document Purpose and Scope 1.2.1 Purpose of the Guidelines 1.2.2 Geographic Extent of the Guidelines 1.2.3 Intended Audience and Roles 1.3 Coordinating Land Use and Transportation 1.4 The 6 Ds of Transit-Oriented Communities Transit-Oriented Communities 1.4.1 Regional Application A Primer on Key Concepts 1.4.2 Considering Scale Transit-oriented communities are places that, by their design, allow people to drive less and walk, cycle, and take transit more. In practice, this means they concentrate higher-density, mixed-use, human-scale development around frequent transit stops and stations. They also provide well-connected and well-designed networks of streets, creating walking- and cycling-friendly communities focused around frequent transit. DRAFT: Not for Distribution | June 25, 2010 Communities built in this way have proven to be particularly livable, sustainable, and resilient places. Transit-oriented communities also make it possible to operate efficient, cost-effective transit service. Because of TRANSIT-ORIENTED these benefits, making communities more transit-oriented is one of the COMMUNITIES PRIMER key goals of land use and transportation plans in Metro Vancouver. TransLink has developed a supporting document entitled In order to further the development of more transit-oriented Transit-Oriented Communities: A communities in Metro Vancouver, this document provides guidance Primer on Key Concepts, which for community planning and design – based on best practices – in the is written for a broad audience, areas surrounding transit stations, exchanges, and stops. In support of including the general public, TransLink’s Transit-Oriented Communities: A Primer on Key Concepts, elected officials, and other non- these Transit-Oriented Communities Design Guidelines provide a more technical parties. The Primer also detailed resource for municipalities and other stakeholders involved in serves as a brief introduction community planning processes across the region. As experience is gained to the more detailed material with implementing the Design Guidelines, and as new best practices presented in this document. emerge, this document will be reviewed and updated accordingly. Transit-oriented communities in Metro Vancouver are places that make walking, cycling, and transit use convenient and desirable and that maximize the efficiency of existing transit services by focusing development around transit stations, stops, and exchanges. West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC. TRANSIT-ORIENTED COMMUNITIES DESIGN GUIDELINES 1 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Why Transit-Oriented Communities? 1. INTRODUCTION TRANSIT-ORIENTED COMMUNITIES VS. TRANSIT- ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT Extensive research and experience automobile trips. With reduced fossil The term ‘transit-oriented’ refers have shown that transit-oriented fuel consumption, transportation to planning and design that communities can promote many of in transit-oriented communities facilitates a decreased reliance the region’s greatest shared values, produces fewer greenhouse gas on the automobile through the including livability; environmental, emissions and improves air quality. provision of convenient access social, and economic sustainability; Careful design of streets and public to transit, walking and cycling, and resiliency in the face of change. spaces can reduce the amount and supportive infrastructure and Transit-oriented communities of impervious surfaces, thereby amenities.