Designing Walkable Urban Thoroughfares: A Context Sensitive Approach

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Ralph Smith
5 years ago
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Balanced land use/transportation functions Safe and attractive streets

1 Designing Walkable Urban Thoroughfares: A Context Sensitive Approach Communities Want: Flexibility Compatibility with adjacent land uses Balanced land use/transportation functions Safe and attractive streets Multimodal facilities Streets as quality public space Fewer design exceptions

suburbs, town and city centers, neighborhoods Mix of interactive land uses

2 Focus of the Recommended Practice Walkable urban thoroughfares based on urban contexts Major roads : Arterials and collectors Urban : Walkable suburbs, town and city centers, neighborhoods Mix of interactive land uses Viable, attractive choices Walking Biking Transit Photo: Skidmore, Owings and Merrill LLP

3 Tenets of CSS Bring place and thoroughfare design together Balance Safety Mobility Community objectives Environment Multimodal Involve public, stakeholders Interdisciplinary teams Flexibility in design Incorporate aesthetics Source: Minnesota Department of Transportation

4 CSS: Bringing Place and Thoroughfare Design Together Context Sensitive Solutions in Designing Major Urban Thoroughfares for Walkable Communities E14th Corridor - San Leandro, CA Source: Community, Design + Architecture

5 CSS: Bringing Place and Thoroughfare Design Together Context Sensitive Solutions in Designing Major Urban Thoroughfares for Walkable Communities E14th Corridor - San Leandro, CA Source: Community, Design + Architecture

6 CSS: Bringing Place and Thoroughfare Design Together Context Sensitive Solutions in Designing Major Urban Thoroughfares for Walkable Communities E14th Corridor - San Leandro, CA Source: Community, Design + Architecture

7 CSS Design Framework Context zones: Suburbs to urban cores Street classification: Functional class Arterial Collector Thoroughfare type Boulevard Avenue Street Compatibility and mutual support

8 Context Zones An Organizing System for Thoroughfare Design Source: Duany Plater-Zyberk and Company

9 Features That Create Context Land use Defines urban activity Major factor in design criteria Site design Arrangement of buildings, circulation, parking and landscape Vehicle or pedestrian-orientation Building design Height, massing shape context Create enclosure/pedestrian interest

10 Zumbrota Land Use/Zoning

11 CSS vs. Conventional Thoroughfare Design Approach Context: -Urban -Rural Conventional Design criteria primarily based on: -Functional class -Design speed -Forecast travel demand -Level of service CSS Approach Context: -Suburban -General urban -Urban center -Urban core Design criteria primarily based on: -Community objectives -Functional class -Thoroughfare type -Adjacent land use

12 Thoroughfare Design Changes as Context Changes The thoroughfare both responds to and contributes to shaping the context and defining the place

13 Context Zone Descriptions

14 Zumbrota Context Zone Examples

15 Thoroughfare Type Characteristics

16 Avenue Arterial or collector (4 lanes max) Target speed (25 to 30 mph) Land access Curb parking Primary ped and bike route Local transit route Freight, local deliveries Optional: landscaped median

17 Avenue Excelsior Blvd St Louis Park Context Sensitive Solutions in Designing Major Urban Thoroughfares for Walkable Communities

18 Thoroughfare Components

19 CSS Elements in Urban Contexts

20 Thoroughfare Type and Land Use Establish Design Criteria

21 Downtown Zumbrota Main Street Avenue Thoroughfare Type & Land Use Example

Context Sensitive Solutions A Process to Achieve Better Results

Context Sensitive Solutions A Process to Achieve Better Results Brian Bochner 1 Context Sensitive Solutions Collaborating with stakeholders to develop projects that meet their needs Stakeholders views