Presentation to NCDOT s Complete Streets Advisory Group. June 22, 2010 Charlotte, NC

Transcription

1 Presentation to NCDOT s Complete Streets Advisory Group June 22, 2010 Charlotte, NC

2 Presenters Norm Steinman, AICP Manager, CDOT Planning and Design Division Mike Davis, PE Manager, CDOT Development Services Division Mark Cole, PE Manager, CDOT Design Section

3 Purpose Explain Why Charlotte Needs Complete Streets Discuss How the USDG Are Intended to Create Complete Streets Describe Some of the Plans and Projects Completed with the USDG Identify Conclusions and Recommendations

4 What Are Incomplete Streets? Prevent/limit travel by pedestrians and bicyclists Physical deficiencies Perceived contraints Provide only short-term capacity for motorists Are not valued positively

5 Why Does Charlotte Need Complete Streets? Existing Deficiencies Public Opinion Growth

6 Existing Deficiencies ~60% thoroughfares - no sidewalks ~70% local streets - no sidewalks ~50% intersections - poor pedestrian level-of-service ~95% intersections - poor bicycle level-of-service ~20% thoroughfares - highly congested

7 2010 Charlotte-Mecklenburg Annual Survey Do you believe streets should be designed to accommodate all users including motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users? 2% 18% Yes No 80% Don't know

8 They Are Coming Charlotte s 30 year population growth equals: St. Louis (348,000) Pittsburgh (335,000) Cincinnati (331,000)

9 Transportation Action Plan (TAP) and Urban Street Design Guidelines (USDG) TAP is Charlotte s longrange comprehensive transportation plan TAP describes policies, projects and programs USDG are applied to design streets and blocks

10 How the TAP and USDG Work Together TAP Goal 2 provide more and better travel choices More (quantity) specified in TAP policies and TAP programs Better (quality) defined by the USDG

11 TAP Policy The City will promote context-sensitive streets (i.e., by designing transportation projects within the context of adjacent land uses, to improve safety and neighborhood livability, promote transportation choices and meet land use objectives), consistent with the City s Urban Street Design Guidelines.

12 Goals of the USDG 1. Context-based streets reflect a variety of urban contexts 2. Complete streets safety and functionality for all modes expanded choices 3. Complete street network variety of ways to create and maintain capacity

13 Key Content of the USDG (17) policy statements (6-step) planning and design process (land-use based) street options design requirements and expectations (dimensions, tradeoffs)

14 Intent of USDG Policy Statements Apply street classifications and design elements throughout Charlotte and ETJ Apply 6-step process Apply USDG to publicly and privately built streets Mutually reinforce land use and transportation decisions

15 Intent of USDG Policy Statements (cont.) Create better network for pedestrians, bicyclists, and neighborhood residents (require appropriate block lengths and creek crossing intervals) Expand tree canopy Design intersections for all modes Include traffic calming

16 Example of Policy Statement By adopting the USDG, the City Council declares that it is the policy of the City of Charlotte to: #1: Apply the USDG to the planning and design of new and modified streets in Charlotte and its Sphere, including State-maintained surface streets.

17 State and City Maintained Streets in Charlotte City-Maintained Classification Total Miles Thoroughfares 250 Local Streets 2,142 Total 2,392 State-Maintained (including ETJ) Classification Total Miles Thoroughfares 362 Local Streets 443 Total 805

18 400 blocks 500 blocks

19 Creating Better Street Network

20 Decision-Making Goals and Objectives Existing and Future Conditions 1. Define Land Use Context 2. Define Transportation Context The Six-Step Process 3. Identify Deficiencies 4. Describe Future Objectives 5. Define Street Type and Initial Cross-Section 6. Describe Tradeoffs and Select Cross-Section

21 Example of Questions in 6-Step Process Step 2: Existing and Future Transportation Daily and hourly traffic volumes? Posted and operating speeds? Bicycle lanes or routes? Bus stops or transit services? Sidewalks and crossings? Relationship to street network? Changes in connectivity and capacity?

22 USDG - A Variety of Street Types Main Street Avenue Avenue Boulevard Boulevard Parkway Local Streets Local Street Pedestrian- Oriented Land Uses and Street Designs Auto- Oriented

23 Context-Based Prescriptive Design

24 Context-Based Not Prescriptive Design

25 Applications of the USDG CIP projects Major Roadways Farm-to-Market Roads Intersections Sidewalks Neighborhood Improvement Connectivity Traffic Calming Area plans Rezonings

26 USDG - Projects and Plans Completed Since 2005 Anticipated /Underway 9 Thoroughfares rebuilt/extended Streetscapes and road-conversions 8 11 Intersections 8 37 Sidewalks 66 9 Area Plans Rezonings

27 Tuckaseegee Rd.

28 Rozzelles Ferry Road

29 Rozzelles Ferry & West Trade

30 Kenilworth Avenue & Romany Road

31 East Boulevard

32 West Morehead Street

33 Stonewall Street

34 Charlottetowne Avenue

35 Old Pineville Road

36

37 Rezonings

38 Let s Go On The Tour!

39 What did we learn earlier today?

40 Key Content of the USDG (17) policy statements (6-step) planning and design process (land-use based) street options design requirements and expectations (dimensions, tradeoffs)

41 Planning for Complete Streets Aim for long-lasting value Strive for mobility, safety, and convenience for: Motorists Bicyclists Pedestrians Transit riders Neighborhood residents Property owners

42 Designing Complete Streets Six-step process encourages tradeoffs among all users (and design elements and dimensions) Process affects products (outcomes)

43 Past Problems at Intersections Congestion/delay occurs at intersections Capacity/travel lanes added Pedestrians/bicyclists often not considered

44 USDG - Intersections New analysis methods for planning and designing signalized intersections Bicycle and pedestrian level-ofservice measures Design details for all intersections (signalized or not)

45 USDG - Intersections Transportation Research Record No Methodology to Assess Design Features for Pedestrian and Bicyclist Crossings at Signalized Intersections Norm Steinman and David Keith Hines

46 USDG - Sidewalks and Planting Strips Sidewalk dimensions that vary by land use Better street tree canopy with wider planting strips and street trees

47 USDG - Provisions for Cycling Bike lanes on higher volume/speed streets Bike routes on lower volume/speed streets Advantages for all users

48 USDG - Built-In Traffic Calming Safer/more appropriate speeds Enhanced livability Expected with more connections Can avoid future retrofits

49 Creating Complete Streets Key Points Rural designs cannot/should not carry over into urban areas Streets are not highways Street designs should be based on area to become urban in future Context-based design is not the same as CSS Complete streets cannot be created by trying to add on some features at the end Street designers should recognize differences even within urbanized areas

50 Lessons Learned by CDOT It is easier to make streets in streetcar-era neighborhoods more complete than it is streets in suburban areas More robust street networks enhance capacity and mobility Transitions are difficult Having more design choices is better Successful projects are possible only with meaningful public involvement

51 Lessons Learned by CDOT (cont.) Cost and value do matter Never lose sight of the future It is worth it! It will be good for NC!

52 Charlotte s Urban Street Design Guidelines For further information, contact: Tracy Newsome tnewsome@charlottenc.gov or Mark Cole mcole@charlottenc.gov