Complete Streets Training Module 4a – Understanding Context

Module introduction  Understand the built environment and its relationship to street types  Identify user needs  Balancing of the road users Quality of Service 2

The transportation / land use connection  Walking is most strongly related to: –land use diversity –intersection density (gridded network) –the number of destinations within walking distance  Bus and train use are related to: –proximity to transit –street network design (width, crossings, etc.) –land use diversity (secondary factor) 3

 Policies include: –Zoning –Connectivity –Streetscape –Parking Land use policies affect transportation 4

Networks of streets, blocks, and sidewalks 5

Connectivity creates a pedestrian-friendly street system by: Reducing walking distances Offering more route choices, more quiet local streets Dispersing traffic – reducing reliance on arterials for all trips Connected Streets Lollipop pattern 3 left turns! 6

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Case Study Chapel Hill – NC 54

Chapel Hill – NC 54 UNC UNC Hospitals 10

Chapel Hill – NC 54 Durham Bike and Hike Map, 2010  Bicycle facilities in area 11

Chapel Hill – NC 54 Eastern Example  Surrounding development 12

Chapel Hill – NC 54 Eastern Example Google Imagery, August

Chapel Hill – NC 54 Western Example  Surrounding development 14

Chapel Hill – NC 54 Western Example Google Imagery, August

Area types

Area types defined in CS Guidelines  Within North Carolina, three broad categories of land use types exist: –Urban, suburban, and rural  Categories are further divided into 9 sub-area types  Anticipated changes in land use over time should be considered when selecting street type 17

Area types defined in CS Guidelines Example of area type zones from natural/rural to most urbanized Greatest CS needs: Urban, suburban, and town contexts designs. Source: Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company 18

Urban area types  Represent a heavy mix of commercial, residential, and civic activity for a region  Typically the most intense development in terms of the density and the mix of uses  High level of multimodal activity  Experiencing renewed growth in residential and mixed-use activities across NC  Three sub-areas –Central business district –Urban center –Urban residential 19 Pg 34

Urban area types  Central business district (CBD) –“Downtown” employment center –Dense development, mixed use –ROW constrained by existing land uses –Multimodal including transit 20

Urban area types  Urban center –Developed at moderate to high intensity –Downtowns of small – midsize communities –Variety of modes “Park once” destinations 21

Urban area types  Urban residential –Single-family w/ some multi-family interspersed –Often have sidewalks and on-street parking –High levels of pedestrian, bicycle, and transit use 22

Suburban area types  Frequently at the periphery of an urbanized area  Characterized by pockets of development that are often disconnected  Present opportunities for providing more streets and street networks, and more CS designs  Three sub-areas –Suburban center –Suburban corridor –Suburban residential 23 Pg 36

Suburban area types  Suburban center –Higher density, greater mix of uses, and nodal form (compared to suburban corridor) –Access points vary from numerous driveways to shared access points –Transportation network should allow for access by a variety of modes 24

Suburban area types  Suburban corridor –Auto-oriented development, typically linear –Numerous commercial and retail destinations along with medium- to high-density residential –Developments are usually disconnected –The auto-oriented network presents the need to provide more and better streets 25

Suburban area types  Suburban corridor –Greatest challenge for Complete Streets –Requires attention due to lack of facilities and connectivity issues 26

Suburban area types  Suburban residential –Located on the outermost periphery of an urbanized area –Development pockets are typically segregated & disjointed –Streets connecting subdivisions often carry very high volumes due to lack of connectivity –Pedestrian and bicycle activity, occasionally transit 27

Rural area types  Characterized by natural areas, agricultural uses, and limited development, except in towns, villages, or crossroads  Three sub-areas –Rural developed –Rural village –Countryside 28 Pg 38

Rural area types  Rural developed –Characterized by scattered, very low-density development –Some pedestrian activity, may have common weekend bicycle activity –Intention or desire to retain rural character 29

Rural area types  Rural village –Concentrated area of development within a rural area with businesses and civic uses Often an incorporated municipality –Pedestrian activity can be moderate to high. 30

Rural area types  Countryside –The traditional concept of rural open space –Bicyclists may be attracted to roadways that traverse scenic rural areas and/or connect more intensive development types. –Infrequent pedestrian and transit activity 31

Take away messages  Define context (existing and future) first  Land use and context have significant impact on design and use of street –Communities need a vision of how they want to grow  The urban, suburban, and town contexts represent the greatest need for street/roadway designs to be treated differently from freeway designs 32

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