This document discusses the economic benefits of placemaking and complete streets. Placemaking creates great public spaces that improve quality of life and economic development by attracting businesses and talent. Complete streets that accommodate pedestrians, bicyclists and public transit alongside vehicles make communities more livable and boost economic indicators like property values, retail sales, and development. Case studies show projects that converted roads to be more multimodal generated hundreds of millions in economic output and private investment. Walkable communities with good public spaces are shown to have higher property values.

1. Placemaking through Complete Streets…the
economic bang for your
SNEAPA – October 21, 2016
Joe Wanat, VHB
Martina Haggerty, City of Providence
Steve Rolle, City of Worcester

2. OVERVIEW
 The Benefits of Placemaking
and Complete Streets
 Providence Experience… The
Creative Capital
 Worcester Experience… The
Heart of the Commonwealth
 Tell us your thoughts…
Audience interactive polling
exercise
 Open Discussion/Questions

3. The Benefits of Placemaking and Complete Streets

4. PLACEMAKING IS…
 about creating great places!
 they are easy to get to, they are
fun, safe, memorable and
attractive places to visit
 capitalizes on the unique assets of
a community and promote
people’s health, happiness and
well being
 these special places are
memorable and desirable places
to live, work and play in
 they have the ability to create an
economic return on investment

5. ‘What Makes People Happy with their Communities?’
The top 3 drivers indicating how emotionally connected
someone is to their community.
The Gallup and Knight Foundation surveyed 26 U.S. cities/43,000 people and asked:
Social Offerings Aesthetics Openness

6. Fewer millennials are getting a driver’s
license

7. Examples of Successful Public Places
Orlando

8. Examples of Successful Public Places
Winter Garden

9. Examples of Successful Public Places
Indianapolis

10. Examples of Successful Public Places
New York City

11. Examples of Successful Public Places
Washington DC

12. Public Places Boost the Economy
“Neighborhoods, cities and regions are awakening to the importance
of ‘place’ in economic development.”
They recognize the critical importance of:
1. quality of life to attracting talent
2. entrepreneurship
3. supporting local businesses
This work has been described as a “sense of place” or “place-based
economic development” or simply “placemaking.”
Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, 2011

13. Companies are moving to downtowns
 Walkable neighborhoods
 Transportation options
 Retain and recruit talented workers
 Amenity rich environment
 Great office space & culture

14. Incomplete Streets
 Incomplete streets are designed for cars only
 Dangerous
 Unhealthy
 Unattractive

15. Incomplete Streets

16. Complete Streets
 Addresses all users; pedestrians, bicycle, transit, auto & freight
 Increases safety for all users
 Increases livability
 Enhances destinations & employment centers
 Increases Economic Development potential for communities

17. What does a Complete Streets Look Like?
Sidewalks

18. What does a Complete Streets Look Like?
Street & Patio Furniture

19. What does a Complete Streets Look Like?
Pedestrian Signage

20. What does a Complete Streets Look Like?
Enhanced Pedestrian Crossing

21. What does a Complete Streets Look Like?
Bike Lanes/Sharrows

22. What does a Complete Streets Look Like?
Separated Bike Lanes

23. What does a Complete Streets Look Like?
Low‐Impact Development

24. Complete Streets = Economic Revitalization
 Provide:
• Retail sales increase
• Property values increase
• Spurs private investment

25. Lancaster Boulevard, CA
Nine block, five-lane road w/ travel speeds up to 50 mph

26. Lancaster Boulevard, CA
 Cost: $11.6 million street renovation project
 Streetscape Improvements: narrow travel lanes, wider sidewalks,
pedestrian-plaza, street trees, gateways and public art
 Development: 110,000 SF commercial space & over 800 low-
income apartments

27. Lancaster Boulevard, CA
 Jobs: 800
 Sales tax revenue: 26%
 Safety: collisions down by 50%
 Investment: $400 million in economic output

28. Clematis Street, West Palm Beach
Three lanes, converted to a two-way street with on-street parking

29. Clematis Street, West Palm Beach
 Cost: $1.8 million for redesign and redevelopment
 Streetscape Improvements: redesign of cross section, wider sidewalks,
landscaping, street furniture, transit shelters, on-street parking, curbless
intersections and mid-block pedestrian crossings
 Investment: $500 million in private investment
 Property values: risen from $20/SF to +$100/SF
 Place: 80,000 visitors each week

30. Edgewater Drive, Orlando
Four lanes, converted to a two-way street with central turn
lane, on-street parking & bike lanes

31. Edgewater Drive, Orlando
 Cost: $50,000 beyond what repaving would have cost
 Jobs: 560 new jobs, 77 new businesses
 Property values: 80% increase along corridor & 70% w/in ½ mile
 Safety: 40% decrease in collisions
 Place: 23% increase in pedestrian activity & 30% increase in bicycle activity

32. N.Y.C. - Attracts Retail Sales
 A 2013 NY DOT study measured the economic effect of street
redesign before and after a project was implemented.
 They concluded that a street’s gain in retail sales can be attributed to:
• Improved accessibility
• A more welcoming street environment
 Retailers often see a change within a year after implementation.

33. NYC - Street Improvements = Increase in Retail Sales
Columbus Ave.
 20% increase in revenue
Ninth Ave.
 49% increase in revenue
Fordham Road
 71% increase in revenue

34. Walkability Raises Property Values
 Walk Score provides a baseline measure for walkable
communities
 Assigns a ranking from 0-100 based on pedestrian friendliness
and access to services
 Website: https://www.walkscore.com/

35. Walk, Transit & Bike Score
 New York City
• Walk Score – 88
• Transit Score – 81
• Bike Score – 65
• Very Walkable
 Boston
• Walk Score – 80
• Transit Score – 75
• Bike Score – 70
• Very Walkable
 Orlando
• Walk Score – 30
• Bike Score – 53
• Auto Dependent
 Providence
• Walk Score – 78
• Transit Score – 48
• Bike Score – 67
• Very Walkable
 Worcester
• Walk Score – 56
• Transit Score – 35
• Bike Score – n/a
• Somewhat
Walkable

36. Walkability Raises Property Values
 Benefits
• A score of 70 and above indicates a neighborhood that is not
dependent on automobiles
• A one-point increase raised home values by $500 to $3,000
• A 10-point increase increases commercial property values by 5% - 8%

37. Orange County Trails
 Jobs: 516
 Revenue: $42 million annually
West Orange Trail
 Revenue: $5 million
 Revenue attributed to trail users: 25%

38. Monon Trail, Indianapolis
“It may not have sand and crashing waves, but the Monon Trail is the
equivalent of beachfront property in the Indianapolis area.”
-Bill Ruthhard, Indianapolis Star
 Cost: $7 million for first segment
 Improvements: Converted rail bed to multi-use trail
 Users: 1.2 million in first year
 Property Value: 11% increase within ½-mile
 Marion County Trails: $140 million in total property value increase

39. Indianapolis Cultural Trail, Indianapolis
 Cost: $63 million to redesign and rebuild
 Streetscape Improvements: multi-use trail, landscaping, signage,
specialty paving, street furniture, green infrastructure
 Jobs: 11,000
 Investment: + $800 million in total economic impact
 Property Value: w/in 1 block of trail increased 148% or $1 B
 Place: Community reinvestment & increased property value

40. American Tobacco Trail in North Carolina
 Cost: $11.2 million
 Improvements: 22 miles and new bridge built connect two trails
 Gross business revenue: $4.9 million
 Jobs: 43 jobs
 Average Spending of Trail Users: $16
 Trail Use: 133% increase

41. Why We Measure Economic Impacts
Influence lawmakers and transportation officials to:
 Increase funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects
 Inform project prioritization
 Measure transportation plan performance in favor of all
modes
Affect local development through:
 Complete street ordinances and policies
 Local land plans supporting mixed use and walkable
communities
 Partnerships with local businesses to provide
accommodations

42. Economic Impacts of Bike Trails
Transportation Mode Automobile Bikeway/Bike Lanes
Construction $60 million/mile (Urban freeway) $170,000-$250,000/mile
Net Economic Benefit -$.20/mile +$.42/mile
(per mile traveled)

43. Transportation and Job Creation

44. National Statistics and Reports
Bicycling Means Business League of American Bicyclists (2012)

45. National Statistics and Reports
Outdoor Industry Foundation (2005)

46.  Yard and Street Trees 2% -15% increase
 Tree Retention 18% - 37% increase
 Parks & Open Space 10% - 32% increase
 Views of Forest 5% - 8% increase
 Street trees in front of homes in Portland, Oregon add more than $7,000 to
selling prices.
 Community Gardens – 9.4% increase within 1000’ within 5 years
Trees & Parks Raise Property Values

47. Summary of Physical Attributes of Walkable
Communities
Compact Development Mixed Use Mixed Income Public Space
Shade Trees Street Lighting Signage Accessibility
Connectivity Safety Multimodal Security

48. Providence Experience… The Creative Capital

49. Worcester Experience… The Heart of the
Commonwealth

50. Audience interactive polling

51. Placemaking through Complete Streets…the
economic bang for your
SNEAPA – October 21, 2016