Courthouse Square Planning & Urban Design Study Transit Advisory Committee October 14, 2014 Andrew D huyvetter, AICP, Associate Planner Center for Urban Design and Research Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development 1
Study Area
Context Area
Courthouse Square Charge of the Working Group & Staff 1. Circulation 4. Cultural Resources 2. Open Space 5. Sustainability 3. Buildings 4
Courthouse Square Analysis Existing Planning & Policy Guidance Arlington County Master Transportation Plan (December 2007, et. seq.) Arlington County s Master Transportation Plan (MTP) streets element (2011): Objectives of the MTP include: A well-connected network of streets Complete streets that accommodate all users and encourage alternatives to driving Enhance the human environment Policies which support those objectives include:
Courthouse Square Analysis Existing Planning & Policy Guidance Policy 2: Maintain and enhance a grid-style street network ; Policy 4: Include appropriate facilities and operate streets to meet and balance the needs of pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, motorists, and freight movement ; and Policy 12: Design and operate streets to be vibrant public spaces. Actions: a. Identify and implement opportunities for new streets through sector plan efforts. b. Develop a list of street connections that could be developed to create new linkages that enhance existing street network.
Courthouse Square Analysis - Circulation 7
Courthouse Square Analysis Open Space 8
Courthouse Square Analysis - Buildings ACTIVE STREET FRONTAGE EXISTING FRONTAGE FUTURE FRONTAGE SERVICES RESTAURANT/BAR RETAIL 9
Courthouse Square Process Schedule 10
Civic Engagement March and April Community Workshops & Online Survey #1 11
Civic Engagement July 23 Workshop & Online Survey #2 1. July 23 Workshop Unveiled 3 design concepts and solicited input on the Big Ideas Over 100 people in attendance Nearly 70 attendees submitted surveys 2. Online Survey Replicated the paper preference surveys Survey open from July 29 August 10 645 survey entries 12
Courthouse Square is the civic and cultural heart of Arlington a gathering place for Arlingtonians and visitors an opportunity for entertainment and activities a premier address for new development a place that offers a variety experiences for the visitor, resident and worker flexible enough to adapt to current and future needs for the individual and community innovative and technologically savvy timeless and simple sustainable and environmentally friendly where the revolution begins 15
Courthouse Square Presentation Schedule September 2 Working Group #11 9 Transit Advisory Committee 9 Economic Development Commission 11 Housing Commission 17 HALRB 17 Working Group #12 22 E2C2 23 Parks and Recreation Commission 24 Arts Commission 25 Urban Forestry Commission October 2 Transportation Commission 6 Bicycle Advisory Committee 8 Pedestrian Advisory Committee 13 Lyon Village Civic Association 14 Transit Advisory Committee 15 Working Group #13 16 LRPC 21 Clarendon/Courthouse Civic Association 29 Working Group #14 November 18 Radnor/Ft. Myer Heights Civic Association?? Colonial Village Civic Association December TBD PC TBD County Board 16
Synthesized Design Concept of Big Ideas Based on input from 3 Stakeholder Groups and Design Team: 1. 1,000 Residents and businesses via 3 workshops, 2 surveys, 30 interviews 2. 12 Working Group meetings 3. 64 Interdepartmental Coordination meetings 4. Cooper Robertson + Partners, New York Planning & Urban Design Consultants
Concept Sub-areas
Wilson / Clarendon Sub-area
Wilson / Clarendon Sub-area Bethesda Row Kiosk 15 th Street
Central Square Sub-area
Central Square Sub-area Promenade New Metro Plaza Great Lawn
South Square Sub-area
South Square Sub-area Cultural Plaza Civic Presence on the Square Cultural Facility Concept Entrance from Veitch Flexible Market Space Open Air Market Shed
Recommendations Uhle Street Promenade Create a curbless pedestrian promenade using special paving materials New Metro Plaza
Recommendations Uhle Street Promenade Create a curbless pedestrian promenade using special paving materials New Metro Plaza
Recommendations Uhle Street Promenade Create a curbless pedestrian promenade using special paving materials New Metro Plaza
Recommendations Metro Access Relocate to new Courthouse Plaza location on the Square New Metro Plaza Great Lawn
Recommendations Wilson/Clarendon Blvds Improve pedestrian experience and narrow perceived street width with a road diet. Widen sidewalks and create better pedestrian crossings. Kiosk
Recommendations Wilson/Clarendon Blvds Improve pedestrian experience and narrow perceived street width with a road diet. Widen sidewalks and create better pedestrian crossings. Kiosk
Recommendations Wilson/Clarendon Blvds Improve pedestrian experience and narrow perceived street width with a road diet. Widen sidewalks and create better pedestrian crossings. Kiosk
Recommendations 15 th Street North Create a shared street curbless except transit drop off Kiosk
Recommendations 15 th Street North Create a shared street curbless except transit drop off S
Recommendations 15 th Street North Create a shared street curbless except transit drop off
Recommendations N. Courthouse Road Improve pedestrian crossings, particularly near the Judicial Center, while introducing traffic calming to this important access to and from Arlington Blvd. Kiosk
Recommendations N. Courthouse Road Improve pedestrian crossings, particularly near the Judicial Center, while introducing traffic calming to this important access to and from Arlington Blvd. Kiosk
Recommendations N. Courthouse Road Improve pedestrian crossings, particularly near the Judicial Center, while introducing traffic calming to this important access to and from Arlington Blvd. Kiosk
Recommendations 14 th Street North Consider a shared street curbless except sloped portion between N. Uhle and N. Veitch Kiosk
Next Steps 1) Framework Plan to the County Board in December 2) Circulation Recommendations Finalized Post-December 3) Develop Sector Plan Addendum in early 2015
~ 10 acres ~ 3.3 acres of public space ~ 1.5 million square feet of Gross Floor Area Courthouse Square is the civic and cultural heart of Arlington a gathering place for Arlingtonians and visitors an opportunity for entertainment and activities a premier address for new development a place that offers a variety experiences for the visitor, resident and worker flexible enough to adapt to current and future needs for the individual and community innovative and technologically savvy timeless and simple sustainable and environmentally friendly where the revolution begins
Questions & Discussion