1 Alternatives in Progress 2016.01.20
Meeting Agenda 2 1. Progress & Schedule 2. Utilizing the Street Design Manual 3. Site Characteristics and Input Received 4. Street Geometry What can we accomplish within our Budget? What can we accomplish outside of our Budget? 5. Street Character 2015.12.16
3 Progress & Schedule 2015.12.16
Downtown Street Design Projects What is the timeline? 4 Nov-Dec 15 Jan 16 Feb 16 March April 16 May Sept 16 March 17. Existing Conditions Design Options / Ranges Select a Design Concept Refine Design Construction Prep + Contractor Selection Bidding + Construction Administration (CA) FG PO FG PO PO FG PO FG - NEXT CIC Meeting: February 17 th - Workshop on Wheels Public Outreach (11/5) - South U Area Association (12/1) - University of Michigan (12/7) - CIC (12/16 - Internal charrette 12/21 - DDA Staff Discussion 01/05/16 FG PO = Focus Groups = Public Outreach 2016.01.20
5 Utilizing the Street Design Manual 2015.12.16
Street Framework & Typologies: Framework Map 6 SOUTH UNIVERSITY Destination Commercial and Pedestrian & Access A2Downtown STREET DESIGN MANUAL Boards & Commissions Presentation 11/12/2014
Street Framework Interpreted 7 Frontage Context: Destination Commercial Functional Emphasis: Pedestrian & Access Priority Users: 1. Pedestrians moving, sitting and strolling 2. Service vehicles and short term parking Desired Activities: 1. High attraction destinations and active ground floors 2. Dining, shopping, theaters, and civic space 3. Outdoor retail and café seating 4. Seating and gathering areas Transportation Objectives: 1. Safe and comfortable pedestrian travel and gathering 2. Support to business (loading, short term parking) 3. Slow travel speeds to enhance safety and visibility 4. Accommodation of through and circulating vehicles 5. Safe bicycle travel and adequate bike parking
Design Elements: Prioritization Table by Street Type (excerpt) 8 Required Recommended Restricted Opportunity A2Downtown STREET DESIGN MANUAL Boards & Commissions Presentation 11/12/2014
Design Elements 9 Required Design Elements for Every Street 1. Sidewalk and Amenity Zone 2. Crosswalks with curb ramps 3. Travel lanes and appropriate corner geometry 4. Street Lighting 5. Street Trees 6. Stormwater Management (per City s Green Streets Policy) Required Design Elements for Destination Commercial/Pedestrian areas 1. Pedestrian Signals 2. Corner Bump-outs 3. Bi-directional Travel, low speeds 4. On-Street Parking 5. Café Seating 6. Sharrows 7. Trash Receptacles Recommended Design Elements include: 1. Benches/Seating 2. Wayfinding 3. Midblock Bump-outs 4. Loading zones/short Term Parking and Drop-off 5. Bike Corral and parking/bike Lanes 6. Bus Stops and Shelters 7. Landscape Planters
10 Site Characteristics and Input Received 2015.12.16
Analysis Framework 11
Design Agreements: 12 LANDSCAPE and LIGHTING Planters need to be re-done-collect trash, take up space, heaving pavement Keep the street green with trees Protect trees to insure health Light poles look dated DESIGN Keep it Funky, student-proof, and adaptable South U is a gateway to the community and Campus-could enhance this function More interactive elements in the design STREET FUNCTION and PARKING No real consensus! SIDEWALKS Walk adequate for traffic, but need more space for cafes, seating, and any other activity Crossing of Washtenaw is difficult; Forest Intersection is wide MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE Better looking trash cans! Provide more loading/passenger/taxi zones in core area Gum is a problem on walks! Pavement should not heave, and be simplified for maintenance
Design Variables: 13 LANDSCAPE Design should consider range of tree planting options, raised planters, curbs, tree grates DESIGN Can design influence retail mix and target market? How should design prepare for new future growth? SIDEWALKS Does widening of walks contribute to vitality of street enough to outweigh costs? MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE STREET FUNCTION and PARKING Consider closing street to traffic or one way Level of improvement for bike travel/parking Reduce or shift parking to gain walk space
14 Curb Configuration: What Can We Accomplish Within Budget? 2015.12.16
Budget Parameters Base Design 15 Included Items: Sidewalk (concrete) and amenity zone (special paving) materials Removal of landscape planters Replacement trees (on-grade, 30x) and landscaping (lawn) Furnishing allowance (benches, receptacles, seat walls) Adjusting utilities as needed (e.g. fire hydrants) Curb ramps & crosswalks (re-paint), pedestrian signals (x4) NOT Included: Major curb modifications / adjustments In-road changes (parking & drive lanes) Replacement of street lights Bike facilities (in-road markings and/or parking) 2016.01.20
Existing Curbline (at Parking) 16 Reconfigure tree pits and consolidate lighting Aligns with Street Design Manual Increase café seating opportunities at Bumpouts Limits tree planting in mid-block Existing Curb Ex. Bump Out Ex. Bump Out Existing Curb
What is NOT addressed by the base design? 17 Intersection & crossing improvements Washtenaw intersection Forest & South U (e.g. larger bump-outs) Raised or high visibility crossing treatments Expanded sidewalk & amenity zone space (especially in narrow sections) potential for Additional street trees (beyond replacement of existing trees) Additional landscaping Additional outdoor space for seating/gatherings/retailing/dining More flexible, interactive, and/or event-focused design elements Curbless designs, power/utility feeds for events, decorative barricades/bollards Gateway / signature features Interactive art and/or interactive street features Adjustments / modification to: Bicycle faculties, parking and loading zones (beyond signage changes)
18 Curb Configuration: What More Could We Accomplish? 2015.12.16
Additional Design Considerations 19 FOREST STREET INTERSECTION Expand bumpouts (reduce crossing distance for pedestrians) and reconfigure lane allocation in the intersection. Consider switching to 4-way stop (remove signals). Anticipated to requires traffic study. WASHTENAW AVE CROSSING Option 1: Refuge Islands (traffic calming + gateway cue) Option 2: Neckdown and tighten intersection ROADWAY RE-CONFIGURATIONS Chicane Design Skinny Street Design VARIABLE BLOCKS Not all blocks need to be designed following the same template/approach. Consider variations block by block where desired
Additional Design Considerations: FOREST INTERSECTION 20 Addresses Concerns we heard about the Forest Intersection Reduces Forest crossing (north side) from ~55-feet to 27-feet. Improve crossing experience Explore option for 4-way stop (remove signal).
Additional Design Considerations: WASHTENAW AVE 21 Addresses Concerns we heard about crossing Washtenaw Tighten radius at NW corner Shortens crossing distances- 22 feet on north side, 12 feet on south side Maintains narrower lane configuration from south to north side of South U on Washtenaw
Off-the-Table Ideas 22 Suggested ideas taken off the table for further consideration due to: Technical or operational limitations Incompatibility with the Street Design Manual Potential costs and need/benefit no demonstrated Traffic flow & street re-configurations One-way conversion Street closure (one or more blocks) Higher level in-road bike facilities Dedicated lanes, protected/buffered lanes, etc. 2016.01.20
Additional Design Considerations: CHICANE STREET 23 Approached based on a desire for additional sidewalk space (seating, pedestrian use, landscaping, trees) while relocating parking Adds space for mid block trees and café s (double row of tables) Existing Curb Ex. Bump Out Ex. Bump Out Existing Curb
Additional Design Considerations: CHICANE STREET 24 Chicane shift occurs midblock (along with midblock crossing) to provide parking on both sides of each block.
Additional Design Considerations: CHICANE STREET 25 Adds outdoor Café space along entire block
Additional Design Considerations: CHICANE STREET ~ Parking Impacts 26 Existing on South U + Transformer Plaza 52 Proposed South U, Transformer Plaza, and Forest 51 10 0 * Forest street parking with lane re-stripping and relocation of (marginal) loading & drop-off zones 6 6 4 3 9 8 4 5 9 10 6 7 * Metering Schedule Explore alternate metering (e.g. loading zones prior to 10am, meter till 11:00pm, 11pm on taxi/loading zones) 4 12
Additional Design Considerations: SKINNY STREET 27 Approach to expanding sidewalk/amenity space while preserving on-street parking. Adds space for mid block trees, café s (single row of 4- tops),, and amenities Existing Curb Ex. Bump Out Ex. Bump Out Existing Curb
Additional Design Considerations: SKINNY STREET 28 No pavement markings between travel lanes. Use tick marks to denote the (wider) parking lane.
Additional Design Considerations: SKINNY STREET 29 Single row café along mid-block; added flexibility at bumpouts
Cost Implications of Additional Design Considerations 30 Costs are in addition to the cost of the base scope. Washtenaw neck down: $90-100k Without signal changes Forest neck down: $125-150k Without signal changes Skinny Street (no trees): $180-205k Includes provision for stormwater management Leaves corner bumpouts Skinny Street - Add trees: +$65k On top of above cost Chicane Concept: $950k $1.25M Includes: special cross walk treatments, mill + resurface road
31 How Do We Capture Street Character? 2015.12.16
Base Design Concepts 32 Range of ideas The M-Go Street Make South U an extension of campus + reflection of college life Glocal Crossroads.Melting pot of town and gown, funky bohemia Timeless Statement.Unique but timeless expression, focused on Green
Base Design: The M-Go Street 33
Base Design: Glocal Crossroads 34
Base Design: Timeless Statement 35