This document provides an overview of traditional architecture and street design principles from historical examples and experts. It discusses the importance of balancing technological advances with human-scale design. A key lesson is that public policies can shape built environments to prioritize pedestrians, bicycles, and public transit over vehicles alone. International best practices in street design manuals show how to transform auto-oriented streets into complete, multimodal corridors that support community goals.

1. Northampton Charrette

3. Timelessness: Lessons From History & Tradition
They are simple and sublime. More cannot be said. They are not the brat of a
whimsical conception never before brought to light, but copied from the most
precious, the most perfect model[s].
Thomas Jefferson, 1786, On traditional architecture.
Tradition is the tending of the fire,
not the worship of the ashes.
-Goethe

4. Same Land Uses,
Very Different Travel Behavior

7. This is a two-way, two-lane LA Street: 56 wide

9. To
Washington
for
Research

10. The record shows there is far
less danger of over-designing than
there is of failing to keep pace
with the technological advances
of the motor vehicle... 1
1
Mr. George T McCoy, Past President of AASHO
1955 speech at AASHO convention.

11. First Published 1942, Harvard University Press- This is a 1947 Edition.

12. Destructive
Best
Effects Greatly
Target
Reduced

13. Tools & Concepts

14. Original Design Vehicles

15. Vehicular Speed:
A
Common
Problem-­‐
both
Real
and
Perceived

18. Portsmouth, NH

19. Portsmouth
5-Minute Walk
Theory

22. 110 22

23. 111 23

34. Park-Once

36. 36

37. Portsmouth s
10-Minute
Walk Reality

38. Same Town
Very Different
Pedestrian Environment

39. 5-Minute
Walk Theory

42. Vehicular
Walking
“Parkalot”

43. 30 Second Walk
Reality

44. 30 Second Walk
at Market Square

45. Huge Potential for Change
45

46. Public Policies Matter

47. Policies Are Important

48. Policies Are Important

49. Policies Are Important

50. GREAT STREETS + COMPLETE STREETS

51. Street Design:
An International Issue

52. A Very Complex Design Problem

54. Street
assignments

55. Abu
Dhabi’s
Urban
Street
Design
Manual
Chester
“Rick”
Chellman,
P.E.

56. LEARNING FROM BEST PRACTICES IN THE WORLD
STREET DESIGN MANUAL

57. Key Design Principles-Priorities

58. Key Design Principles
1. The best transport plan is a good land
use plan
2. Good street design starts with
pedestrians
• A well-designed street network provides
safety for all modes of transport
• Street connectivity enhances capacity
and allows smooth traffic flow
• Street design reflects Plan 2030 goals for
Abu Dhabi Emirate
• Street design supports estidama
principles

59. Bicycles

60. Happy
Biker
&
a
Sharrow

61. Cycletrack

62. Bare Street

63. Add Landscape & Cycletrack

64. Begin Infill

65. More Infill

66. More Infill & People

67. More Infill, People & Transit

68. Fully Mature Street

69. St. Louis Example: Road Diet & Complete Street
69

70. St. Louis, Existing Conditions
70

71. St. Louis Example
71

72. Complete
Systems:
South
Grand
Boulevard

76. St. Louis Example
76