York Boulevard Streetscape Master Plan October 24 th, 2008 The Story of York Boulevard Streetscape Master Plan Design. Chapter 126 Dealing with Engineers. 2 1
Today s Presentation Topics: 1. Show the streetscape MP process. 2. Show the designs we developed. 3. Talk about what are the engineers afraid of? 4. The soft & hard approaches to get byin? 3 York Boulevard Streetscape Master Plan 4 2
York Boulevard Streetscape Master Plan 5 Streetscape Master Plans 8 Downtown master plans to-date. Role of the Streetscape Master Plan in Shaping our Streets. - A planning visioning tool. - Involving the public. - Setting a direction. 6 3
Streetscape Master Plans The Downtown Secondary Plan Putting People First - Public realm improvements as the catalyst for revitalization. - Make Downtown living attractive. All about Pedestrian Friendliness - Build on existing strengths Copps, Central Library, and Farmers Market - Respecting Design and Heritage and to achieve a comfortable and intimate pedestrian environment. - Design objectives for York/ Wilson: Recognize through traffic needs establish safe pedestrian environment with appropriate separation from vehicles. 7 York Boulevard Streetscape Master Plan 8 4
The Boulevard 9 Bay Street Copps Coliseum Philpot Church Coppley City owned parking garage James St. North Hamilton Public Library & Farmers Market City Centre 10 5
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13 5 Visioning Principles Improve the condition, civic image, and the quality of the streetscape by improving all aspects of the streetscape and improving the pedestrian friendliness of the street. Enhance the street presence of the Farmers Market and Library. Improve the built-form character Provide temporary opportunities to close a portion of York Boulevard for public events and festivals. Recognize York Boulevard as an opportunity for place making 14 7
Pedestrian Friendly Streets Pedestrian friendly streets follow one simple rule - the pedestrian is a priority. Pedestrians are effectively separated from vehicular traffic. Through the use of wide sidewalks, on-street parking, and landscaping. Pedestrians can cross the street safely and easily. Crosswalks are designed to reduce pedestrian crossing distances, and clearly aligned with sidewalks. The streets are full of life. With storefronts and buildings that contain many openings creating visual interest and activity. On-street parking is available to support healthy retail. Focus on pedestrian amenity. with clear building entrances, well designed paving, street furniture and lighting make the street a place where people want to be. 15 16 8
DESIGN 17 Design Wide Sidewalks. Urban Braille. What is Urban Braille? Made in Hamilton solution for aiding blind and visually impaired persons navigate our streets. 18 9
Competing interests: -Community Services (farmers market) wanted wide sidewalks. -Library wanted drop off/pick up. -Traffic wanted 5 lanes + efficient intersections -York is a truck route. 19 Design -New ideas about streetscapes Bringing 4 new ideas: Woonerf, Scramble Intersection, Back-in Head-out parking, and Flexible Streets. 20 10
New ideas about streets The Woonerf Characterized by flush surface with paving demarcations of varying types, trees, bollards, and street furniture and reduced traffic signage. 21 New ideas about streetscapes Scramble intersections 'Scramble' crossing allows pedestrians to freely cross an intersections as vehicular traffic waits. Advantages: Reduces the number of crossings pedestrians make. Encourages pedestrians to cross at crossings. Creates a safe zone for crossing. Provides safe crossing for persons with disabilities. 22 11
New ideas about streetscapes Back-in/ Head-out Parking Cars angle park backing in and heading out. Found on high-streets that might typically support parallel parking. Superior to conventional head-in - back out angle parking and parallel parking. Provides a safer environment for bicyclists since drivers are able to see them easier eliminates dooring. Easier than parallel parking, a common task on city streets (less accidents). More space efficient than parallel parking. Puts the trunk at the curb for occupant safety and convenience. Ideal for York Blvd. especially in front of the market. 23 New ideas about streetscapes Flexible Streets. These are streets that are designed to also function as public spaces for specific events such as markets, fairs, performance, parking, etc. This idea is especially relevant for York because of the Farmers market requirement to be open to the street. 24 12
It was time for the Public Meeting What do you see is the primary design role for this street? 25 Street Sections Determine the Primary Goal. 26 13
Streetscape Design Method Determine streetscape design direction given the defined transportation needs. What are the aesthetic and functional primary and secondary goals for York? Parking Cycling Sidewalks Primary Goal Secondary Goals Design 27 Street Sections: Parking 28 14
Street Sections: Parking 29 Street Sections: Cycling 30 15
Street Sections: Cycling 31 Street Sections: Sidewalks 32 16
Street Sections: Sidewalks 33 Wide Sidewalk Concept Bay Street Philpot Church Coppley City owned parking garage James Street North City Centre Copps Coliseum Hamilton Public Library & Farmers Market 34 17
Wide Sidewalk Concept - Central - 2 2 2 3 4 1. Scramble intersection 2. Accesses conflict with streetscape relocate? 3. Library Drop off/ pick up 4. Market entrance 35 Wide Sidewalk 3D Model 36 18
Flexible Parking Concept Bay Street Philpot Church Coppley City owned parking garage James Street North Copps Coliseum Hamilton Public Library & Farmers Market 37 Flexible Parking Concept - Central - 6 2 1 3 4 5 1. Angle parking (back-in/ head-out) 2. Library Drop off/ Pickup 3. Angle parking and stall area 4. Market entrance 5. Scramble intersection 6. Placemaking 38 19
Angle Parking - How to Park 39 Flexible Street How does it work? When a wide sidewalk is not needed such as winter or when the market is not on parking is permitted. A rolled curb and permanent bollards define parking. For special events angle parking is removed and stalls added. Parallel parking can remain providing much needed parking. 40 20
Flexible Parking Concept Non-event parking layout Event parking layout 41 York Boulevard From Bridge Street Scenes 42 21
Image showing festival layout Street Scenes 43 Street Scenes Current Sidewalk and parking condition 44 22
Street Scenes Sidewalk Design with Angle Parking 45 Shadow Study April 21 9am 12pm 4pm September 21 9am 12pm 4pm 46 23
The Changes 1. After further analysis we need 1 more lane to achieve a service level D. 2. No parking on the street Truck route, not enough capacity. 47 48 24
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51 What are the engineers afraid of? 52 26
The my approach 1. Gain initial acceptance of the principles and goals. 2. Recognize that critique is not something they are used to. 3. Ask them to explain things to you like they would to a member of the public. 4. Ask for the detailed work no hunches. 5. Get them to get involved in the design work assignment. 6. Get a hold of their standards. 53 Historic Pictures of York Street and Market 54 27
Thank You 55 28