The document discusses redesigning El Camino Real in Palo Alto to make it more accommodating for pedestrians and a center of community. It outlines goals of making El Camino Real less of a barrier and more aesthetically attractive. It then discusses proposed redesigns, including reducing lanes and adding improvements for pedestrians. The proposed redesigns aim to balance needs of all modes of transportation.

1. 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

2. 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

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

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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

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

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

27. 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