Ann Arbor Downtown Street Design Manual Ann Arbor DDA IDA 2015 Awards Planning Category 1
Ann Arbor s downtown streets are vibrant public spaces that accommodate multi-modal transportation, special events, an increasing downtown population, and diverse commercial activities.
Streets are the entire public right-of-way, from building face to building face, and contain multiple zones where different design elements and best practices apply. The city, DDA, and other agencies impact different street zones through construction and policy. Previously, there was no guiding framework for these activities.
Downtown contains 67blocks, 9 distinct character areas, and numerous historic districts. The street design & management approach needs coordination, flexibility, and context sensitivity.
Street Frontage Vehicle Traffic Network A comprehensive analysis was used to understand overlapping and often competing transportation system needs and the diverse land use context. Ann Arbor Transportation Bus Routes Public Space Use
A diverse set of public engagement approaches were used to understand street usage patterns, issues, and opportunities. Pop-up Workshops announced via Twitter on the day of the workshop were particularly effective.
A Clear Process for Decision Making A holistic street design process, for public and private projects, was established to ensure collaborative decision making towards reaching project goals.
The Street Typology Framework map shows the frontage context and transportation functional emphasis designations for each downtown street determining what design elements are prioritized. The Design Element Prioritization table shows what street design elements are required, recommended, restricted, or are an opportunity for each street type
Street Design: Each of the nearly 50 design elements provides design guidelines, best practice recommendations, and maintenance and management needs to ensure design decisions meet the needs of downtown. PROTECTED BIKE LANES STORMWATER MANAGEMENT Streamlines the private development process and increases investment by making requirements more clear. TRANSIT LANES CAFÉ DINING & OUTDOOR RETAIL
Street Management: Best practices for street management provide direction for policy decisions, by street type, to fit the unique needs of downtown. Topics covered include: Deliveries & Waste Management Special Events & Street Closures Platform Dining & Parklets Sidewalk Construction Closures Food Trucks & Mobile Vending Private Vaults Street Furnishings
Outcomes: Adoption of the Manual requiring quality of place improvements for all public and private projects in the DDA District Increased opportunity for investment in public space as private development continues (In 2014 90% increase in building permit value, 11 private projects provided ROW improvements) Increased opportunity for innovative sustainability treatments to improve stormwater management, urban tree health, & energy use A collaborative process and new inter-agency Street Design Team (4 agencies, 10 City Units, 1 advisory committee, 4 retail associations, and numerous citizens shaped the outcome)
Informed Project Priorities: The Street Typology & Interagency team informed DDA Project Priorities Preserve Destination Commercial areas Preserve the identity, strength of ground floor retail, and concentration of activity PRESERVE & TRANSFORM DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY Transform transitional areas Create opportunity for higher commercial focus and value 4 strategic streetscape projects through 2021 DEVELOPMENT RESTRICTIONS DDA PROJECT COMMITMENTS FOR 2016-2021