Big Streets can be Great Streets? - Phil Erickson

Once we win over the Engineers… How do we show the Public that Big Streets can be Great Streets? Phil Erickson, AIA President Community Design + Architecture Oakland, California CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What? June 13, 2009

Project Goals – El Camino Real in Palo Alto • Make El Camino Real a center of community activity rather than a barrier • Create an aesthetically attractive corridor CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What? June 13, 2009

CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What? June 13, 2009

AM Southbound Peak Hour Run 4, May 14, 2002 CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What? June 13, 2009

Potential Reduction in Number of Lanes • The number of existing travel lanes will be maintained at all intersections with high traffic volumes. Two street segments where less than 3 traffic lanes in each direction are a possibility. CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What? June 13, 2009

Today’s Shortcomings El Camino Real @ Los Robles / El Camino Way - Existing Conditions CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What? June 13, 2009

Proposed 4-Lane Cross Section - Additional Improvements El Camino Real @ Los Robles / El Camino Way - PROPOSED 4-Lane Design by CD+A and Fehr & Peers – Visualization by Urban Advantage CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What? June 13, 2009

Planning Area Definition • 5 mile long corridor in Tucson, Arizona CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What? June 13, 2009

Context Sensitive Solutions… Meeting of Three Contexts Community Values Neighborhood & Business Built & Natural Environment Meetings, Workshops Economic Vitality, Quality of Life & Development, & & Open Houses Landscape Multi-modal Transportation Impact Mitigation, Design Guideline & Preliminary Plans CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What? June 13, 2009

Demographics & Market • 85 percent of study area establishments are independently owned • Some neighborhoods have concentrations of poverty CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What? June 13, 2009

Urban Form • Much of Grant Road lacks a quality relationship between public realm and private building • Major intersections add to the sense of discomfort for pedestrians CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What? June 13, 2009

Transportation • The study area has areas with high levels of walking, cycling, and transit use • Multi-modal infrastructure and amenities are inconsistent and need improvement CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What? June 13, 2009

Existing Grant Road CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What? June 13, 2009

Existing City Standard for Widening • Sales Tax Measure defines widening to 6-lanes CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What? June 13, 2009

Street Sections • 11 ft. travel lanes • Pedestrian Realm • 7 ft. bike lane widened from 9 ft. to 20 ft. • Local access lane for • Water harvesting residential frontage & business access CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What? June 13, 2009

Protected Pedestrian Crossings • Signalized intersections • Toucan crossing • Pelican crossing opportunities opportunities • Increase from 26 to 50 CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What? June 13, 2009

Protected Pedestrian Crossings • Signalized intersections • Toucan crossing • Pelican crossing opportunities opportunities • Increase from 26 to 50 Design by CD+A and Kimley-Horn Visualization by Urban Advantage CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What? June 13, 2009

Speed Recommendation • Target speed: 35 mph • Posted speed limit: 35 mph • Design speed: 35 mph (per ITE Recommended Practice for CSS in Designing Major Urban Thoroughfares for Walkable Communities) CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What? June 13, 2009

Citizen Task Force • 18 member Task Force composed of businesses, neighborhood representatives, and cyclist, disabled, & regional stakeholders • Charged with developing the roadway alignment and street cross section for Grant Road, and landscaping, access and land use plans. CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What? June 13, 2009

Guiding Principles Issue Areas • Mobility & Access • Character & Vitality • Aesthetics & Environment • Vision & Implementation CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What? June 13, 2009

Public Participation • September 2006 – October 2008 – 39 public meetings held with 1,000 + participants – 1,250 web, paper, & phone surveys completed – 5,000 + comments received CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What? June 13, 2009

Task Force Recommended Alignment • Propose an alignment concept, and in some places, alternative alignments • Provide tools for Task Force to move towards a recommended Grant Road alignment CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What? June 13, 2009

Task Force Reviewed a Range of Options • Concerns about impact to • Some wanted minimal Walgreens & Bookman’s impacts • Some wanted strategic impacts CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What? June 13, 2009

Task Force Recommended Alignment • 5 Task Force Meetings • 6-1 vote of Mayor & during summer of 2008 Council to approve • Community Open House in January 2009 CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What? June 13, 2009

Proposed Alignment Concept CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What? June 13, 2009

Comment Methods • 440 Total Comments Received early October-November 17th CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What? June 13, 2009

CSS and the Public • Involve the public in making the tough choices… to do this they must be well informed • Define project scope with serious investment in public process: – Conversation & Listening – Visioning Positive Future Change – Education & Case Studies – Clear & accessible assessment • Time and cost • Safety and health • Economic and social vitality CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What? June 13, 2009

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Big Streets can be Great Streets? - Phil Erickson

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