Observations and Ideas: Toomer s Corner Streetscape Improvements

Transcription

1 Observations and Ideas: Toomer s Corner Streetscape Improvements AUBURN DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN planning downtown s future August 26, 2013

2 Observations: Vertical Clutter at Corners Excess of vertical elements at corners hides historic buildings, creates issues for crowds, and impedes both pedestrian and driver visibility: 1. Traffic signal pole 2. Game day wire pole 3. Roadway light pole 4. Tree 5. Pedestrian signal Pole 6. Trash and Recycling cans 7. Parking ticket paybox 8. Fencing 9. Shrubs/groundcover Opportunity: consider consolidating traffic signals, roadway lighting and ped. Signal heads on single pole. Consider relocating trees away from corners.

3 Observations: Driver Visibility, Awareness & Pedestrian Safety Tree canopies too low, restricting driver visibility 2. Stop bars located too far back to see oncoming traffic for rights-on-red 3. Vehicles Yield to Pedestrians signs placed too far in front of stop bar 4. Visibility issues cause vehicles to pull into crosswalks, creating safety issues for pedestrians 5. Pedestrian signal phase not automatic (have to push button) 6. Pedestrian signal head difficult to see from other side of street Opportunity: rethink intersection striping and signage in order to improve driver and pedestrian safety

4 Observations: Continuity between street elements Some elements are grey, some are yellow, some are black - does not create a cohesive public realm. Opportunity: create uniform color and material standards for all street elements

5 Other Observations Many existing bulb-outs don t adequately frame on-street parking (parked vehicles extend into perceived travel lane) Opportunity: expand bulbout into roadway to define travel lane and widen sidewalk Bike facilities undefined neither cyclists or vehicles know where bikes are allowed to ride Opportunity: install share-the road (i.e. sharrow markings) where appropriate

6 Other Observations Foundation shrubs not typically appropriate for Historic Downtown retail environments Opportunity: remove foundation plantings and expand sidewalk width Fencing outdated - may not be needed for crowd & pedestrian control if larger intersection issues are addressed Opportunity: remove fencing and landscaping and expand gathering space in areas of high pedestrian activity

7 Observations: Assets Pedestrian Framework - While the details may need some work, the physical framework of the streets and intersection are at a pedestrian scale Existing on-street angled parking good for Downtown businesses but also creates a de facto buffer between sidewalk and roadway, making pedestrians feel safer

8 Toomer s Corner: Assets Unlike most intersections, the middle of the street at Toomer s Corner is actually an important space and should be designed as such Toomer s Corner history of PAIRS pair of University Gates, pair of Oak Trees can be used as design cue for other corners?

9 Potential Inspirations: Signage and Wayfinding Gateway arch over street can act as iconic welcome symbol could be placed at key point(s) on College Street facing southbound and northbound traffic Banner arms on poles and lights can help advertise Downtown events Use of kiosks for advertising and info

10 Potential Inspirations: Seating Creation of seating is very important to promoting Downtown as a place to hang out and not just walk by Raised planters can accommodate both landscaping and seating while serving similar function to existing corner fencing Seating perpendicular to street heightens pedestrian comfort level can see vehicles and pedestrians from same view

11 Potential Inspirations: Hardscape and Other Elements Match paver and sidewalk surfaces from University corner to unify intersection as one contiguous space Consider adding fencing to median to encourage more pedestrian crosswalk use In-ground lit LED pavers could be a way to elevate the intersection s sense of importance perhaps as an extension of the existing Tiger Trail pavers

12 Potential Inspirations: Roadway Treatments Raising grade of entire intersection as a speed table might be considered in order to highlight roadway as a pedestrianfriendly event space (occasional) as well as to increase driver awareness of pedestrians (all times) Recent products are available for colored asphalt / thermoplastic material in roadway that are more durable, less maintenance, and less expensive than conventional pavers

13 Toomer s Corner: recent aerial photo COLLEGE Toomer s Drugs MAGNOLIA

14 University Plan: what will be different from now on? 2 1. Introduces seating, which has not formally been here before 2. Further reinforces open gateway, allowing space for congregating on SW corner 3. New circular ring of seating brings more focus to interior of campus 4. Engages the street a little less new sidewalks bend inward so how can the other three corners complement this new public space?

15 Toomer s Corner: Design Options

16 There are a few fundamental things the following quick design options have in common 3 COLLEGE Toomer s Drugs MAGNOLIA 1.Removal of corner trees and fencing to open northern corners up more space to congregate and increases pedestrian safety by increasing driver visibility 2.Addition of seating better for events and to complement new seating at University corner 3.Match pavers at University corner to help unify the overall intersection as one space 4.Upgraded handicap ramps (all corners) with tactile warning pavers, etc. 5.Crosswalks, vehicular stop bars moved closer to intersection to create better visibility for all users of space

17 Option A 1. Opened corners with minimal vertical elements Addition of shaded seating areas new trees pulled back from intersection corners 3. Slightly expand bulbout at SE corner (parked cars on Magnolia stick out into perceived travel lane) 3 4. Slightly expand bulbout at NW corner (1 parking space removed)

18 Option B Each Downtown corner mimics pairs of trees from University corner - create raised planters with seat walls 2. Additional benches added 3. Expand all bulb-outs to allow more pedestrian/event space (6 parking spaces removed) 4. Colorized pavement added within crosswalks 5. Traffic signal mast arms consolidated onto two posts

19 Option C Seating maximized - trees in raised planter/seat walls. Also additional double-sided brick seat walls that allow user flexibility. 2. Maximize sidewalk space / bulb-out size (10 parking spaces removed) 3. Raised intersection - colorized pavement and change in grade better for pedestrians, slow drivers, and highlight roadway as occasional event space 4. Add overhead gateway elements on College Street can be used as general welcome icon or possible advertising/banners 4