1 APWA APWA International Congress and Expo International Congress and Expo Creating Livable Communities Creating Livable Communities Dave Zelenok Dave Zelenok Merrick & Company Manager Colorado Springs Office Director of Transportation & Public Works City of Colorado Springs • [email protected]Livable Communities Livable Communities Overview Overview • Smart Growth – What it really means to Public Works Departments • Housing Trends from Public Works’ Perspective – Examples of Traditional Neighborhood Designs – 2 New Urbanism Examples – Co-Housing • Traffic Calming – Examples • Lessons Learned Part I Smart Growth Part I Smart Growth… WHAT IS IT? WHAT IS IT? A profound change in community planning, A profound change in community planning, A A “flash in the pan, flash in the pan, ” or or – A A “wolf in sheep wolf in sheep’s clothing (?) s clothing (?)” • Sooooooo…. . • Who is in favor of Smart Growth?? – Pro Growth Interests (Developers, Speculators, Financiers, etc.) – Anti - Growth Interests (Neighborhoods, etc.) – Downtown Interest Groups (Proponents of stadiums, CBD’s, etc.) – Environmental Groups • Who is opposed to Smart Growth?
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APWAAPWAInternational Congress and ExpoInternational Congress and Expo
• Smart Growth – What it really means to Public Works Departments
• Housing Trends from Public Works ’ Perspective– Examples of Traditional Neighborhood Designs – 2 New Urbanism Examples– Co-Housing
• Traffic Calming – Examples
• Lessons Learned
Part I Smart GrowthPart I Smart Growth……WHAT IS IT?WHAT IS IT?
A profound change in community planning, A profound change in community planning, A A ““flash in the pan,flash in the pan, ”” or or ––
A A ““wolf in sheepwolf in sheep’’s clothing (?)s clothing (?)””• Sooooooo…..
• Who is in favor of Smart Growth??
– Pro Growth Interests (Developers, Speculators, Financiers, etc.)
– Anti - Growth Interests (Neighborhoods, etc.)
– Downtown Interest Groups (Proponents of stadiums, CBD’s, etc.)
– Environmental Groups
• Who is opposed to Smart Growth?
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Smart Growth (?): Smart Growth (?): Colorado Springs Colorado Springs Past Decade: 4,000 Past Decade: 4,000 –– 5,000 new homes per year5,000 new homes per year
• Street and highway design standards– Multi-modal boulevard design
• Transit Oriented Design– Station area planning, SOV’s, LRV’s, BRT’s, RR’s – Rubber-tired mass/paratransit
Part II Part II -- Emerging TrendsEmerging Trends -- Housing Housing
• Traditional Neighborhood Developments (TND’s)• Median Size: 1,500 - 2,000+ SF• Often Lacking…
– Continuity with other neighborhoods, schools, employment centers,
– Mass transit, pedestrian and – Alternative modes amenities– Affordability– Recreation centers– Inclusiveness and diversity
• Still automobile-centric– one and two car garages, often detached,
but still in typical suburban settings
Traditional Neighborhood DesignTraditional Neighborhood Design
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Traditional Neighborhood DesignTraditional Neighborhood Design……..
Traditional Neighborhood DesignTraditional Neighborhood Design……..
4,000 SF lots, 4,000 SF lots, vsvs 66--8,0008,000
Minimal Front Yards, but > > porchesMinimal Front Yards, but > > porches
OnOn--street parking, often one waystreet parking, often one way
Reduced rightsReduced rights --ofof--way (20way (20’’ curbcurb--toto--curb) and curb) and infrastructure per unit, increased infrastructure per unit, increased infrastructure and traffic volumes per acre (?!)infrastructure and traffic volumes per acre (?!)
Increased densityIncreased density
Minimal setback (15Minimal setback (15--2020’’))
Increased prices (?!)Increased prices (?!)
Traditional Neighborhood DesignTraditional Neighborhood DesignSingle Family Single Family –– ““CottagesCottages””
What?? Narrow Streets and no Driveways! (?)
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Traditional Neighborhood DesignTraditional Neighborhood DesignSingle Family Single Family –– As BuiltAs Built
……and share a and share a ““CoCommon Housemmon House””
……where guests can staywhere guests can stay
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……and have supper togetherand have supper together
……And share the chores And share the chores ---- fairly (?)fairly (?)
……and a and a ““Common Common HouseHouse””
……And everybodyAnd everybody’’s s cooocooo--happy happy --all the time (?)all the time (?)
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The statsThe stats……•• 4 Acres4 Acres•• 34 units34 units•• Cost Cost -- $350K ($100K over median)$350K ($100K over median)•• Size: 2,000 Size: 2,000 –– 3,000 SF (Cost/SF 3,000 SF (Cost/SF –– 2x)2x)•• Garages Garages -- $10K / space, Carports $10K / space, Carports -- $6K$6K•• 1.5 spaces per unit1.5 spaces per unit•• Association dues Association dues -- $190 / month$190 / month•• Dining Dining –– VoluntaryVoluntary•• Sold outSold out•• Minimal infrastructureMinimal infrastructure•• Good for Public Works Good for Public Works •• Coming to a community near you (?) Coming to a community near you (?)
New Urbanism & Smart Growth:Emerging Trends
•Median Size: 1,500 - 2,000+ SF•Enclaves, often lacking continuity with:
•Other neighborhoods and schools •Employment centers •Mass transit and alternative modes links•Affordability•Recreation centers
•Still automobile-centric•Still in typical suburban settings
From local governmentFrom local government’’s s perspective... Lessons Learnedperspective... Lessons Learned
• Planning must be regional and comprehensive• Market forces and lifestyle choices drive both demand and
financial support • One size won’t fit all
– What’s “smart” in Colorado Springs might be “dumb” in New York• “Smart growth” is embraced by everybody:
– No & pro-growth, pro-downtown, environmental • Policies must be crafted at the local level• Set your “sights” low• Change the zoning codes• Builders sell what sells
– New trends always emerging– Listen for “Traditional” in ads
• Try to achieve Smarter Growth
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Lessons LearnedLessons Learned““15 15 Ways to Fix the SuburbsWays to Fix the Suburbs”” by Peter by Peter CalthorpeCalthorpe
• Give up Big Lawns• Bring back the Corner Store• Make the Streets Skinny• Drop the Cul-de-sac• Draw Boundaries• Hide the Garage• Mix Housing Types• Plant Trees Curbside• Put New Life into Old Malls• Plan for Mass Transit• Link Work to Home• Make a Towne Centre• Shrink Parking Lots• Turn Down the Lights• Think “Green”
Part IV Part IV –– Traffic CalmingTraffic Calming
• Function• Design• Lessons Learned
Roundabouts in Vail, Colorado – Interstate 70
RoundaboutsRoundabouts
•• Safety Safety -- Reduction in accidents, slower Reduction in accidents, slower speeds and reduced conflict pointsspeeds and reduced conflict points
•• Low Maintenance Low Maintenance -- Compared to traffic Compared to traffic signals and electricity cost are reducedsignals and electricity cost are reduced
•• Reduced Delay Reduced Delay -- Yielding at entry rather Yielding at entry rather than stopping and waiting for a green lightthan stopping and waiting for a green light
•• Capacity Capacity -- All vehicles turn rightAll vehicles turn right
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Roundabouts Roundabouts –– Yeah, buttsYeah, butts……• Additional right-of-way required• High cost to implement• Pedestrian crossing problems• Emergency response time slower• Driver confusion – New double roundabout –
Highest Accident Rate in City• Speed Reductions: 2-6 mph (Triple)
you can live with them for a long time• Don’t use new signals/stop signs
without warrants• Don’t expect speed limit signs or spot
enforcement to reduce speeds for long
2 - Roundabouts can be effective if:ADT is reasonably balancedDesign requires ALL vehicles to slowDelineated: Signs and MarkingsPedestrians: “low & outside”Double Lanes – Extra CautionGet some professional help Drainage/Snow RemovalWork with the neighbors, look for partnersAvoid Double Roundabouts in early years
BIGGERBIGGER is BETTER
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3. 3. ““NeighborhoodsNeighborhoods””Think carefully about how to Think carefully about how to define the define the ““NeighborhoodNeighborhood”” ..Groups will form based on impactGroups will form based on impact
1. Recipients of 1. Recipients of ““new trafficnew traffic””Distributed over several streetsDistributed over several streets
2. Nearby but ambivalent2. Nearby but ambivalent
3. Directly on Cut3. Directly on Cut--through streetthrough street
4. Cut4. Cut--through users: Status Quo through users: Status Quo Uninvolved unless motivatedUninvolved unless motivated
4. Time4. Time
Neighborhood Survey
Identify Identify problemproblem
ExploreExploreOptionsOptions
Agree on Agree on SolutionSolution
TestTestSolutionSolution
5. Know the Vehicles5. Know the Vehicles
•• Early concern: Fire vehicles: Maneuverable Early concern: Fire vehicles: Maneuverable and Mountable Designsand Mountable Designs
Traffic Calming DO’S:Do - double the amount of time you think you think you need to gain consensusDO - decide what you want to achieve–
lower speeds, volumes OR happy neighbors?
DO – assign one Point of Contact per neighborhood
DO – gain political support for the PROCESS before focusing on SOLUTIONS
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8. Strange, but True Stories8. Strange, but True Stories……Measuring SuccessMeasuring Success
••Sometimes approaches with no technical Sometimes approaches with no technical effectiveness (e.g., speed and volumes) effectiveness (e.g., speed and volumes) are wellare well--received by neighborhoodsreceived by neighborhoods
••Speed Limit Sign Changes:Speed Limit Sign Changes:Carlson Drive Carlson Drive –– 25mph RAISED to 30mph25mph RAISED to 30mph
Speeds Speeds droppeddropped 2 mph2 mphMirage Drive Mirage Drive –– 30 mph RAISED to 3530 mph RAISED to 35
““Neighbors working Neighbors working together to reduce together to reduce neighborhood neighborhood speeding through speeding through public awareness.public awareness.””
9. Measuring Success9. Measuring Success•• Placebo effect Placebo effect •• Process is sometimes a solution in itself.Process is sometimes a solution in itself.•• ““PERCEPTIONS CAN BE REALITYPERCEPTIONS CAN BE REALITY””
Calming Our StreetsA Handbook on Traffic Calming for ExistingNeighborhoods
• American Planning Association• National Center for Smart Growth Research and Education• Urban Land Institute • American Public Works Association• Beth Denniston, Director, RTAP• Saleem Khattak / City Public Works• Lowell Development Partners, LLC• Morey Bean, AIA, Colorado ’s Architect of the Year• Gold Hill Mesa, Bob Willard
FINAL Q&AFINAL Q&ANext UP: John German, Vice President
PBS&J - San Antonio, TX, APWA Board of Directors –
Engrg & TechDirector of Public Works
San Antonio & Austin, TX
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Creating Livable CommunitiesPresentation at 2007 APWA Congress
In San Antonio
By John L. German, P.E.Vice President, PBS&JSan Antonio, Texas
Boulder, Colorado
Creating Livable Communities
• Purpose of this Session– To learn about state-of -the-art
traffic engineering techniques and smart growth concepts that are aimed at improving a sense of community, enhancing neighborhood safety, and reducing traffic volumes and speeds.
– To learn more about Context Sensitive Solutions and consider one or more case studies that illustrate such solutions.
Creating Livable Communities
Competing Interests
• Planners and architects want to improve the image and aesthetics of streets and public spaces
• Per Sinclair Black, Austin Planner, they want to return downtown streets to pedestrians
• In the past, streets were largely dominated by vehicles.
• In the future, streets will be more pedestrian oriented
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A Planner’s View of Streets
Creating Livable Communities
Competing Interests
• Traffic engineers and public works professionals want to move traffic expeditiously and in large volumes
• Generally arterial and collector streets perform this function
• In urban settings, we often have both arterials and local streets carrying traffic and providing access
• Residents and general public want local streets to have low volumes and low speeds “in their front yard”
• Many conflicts arise when residential streets also carry high volumes of traffic or have high operating speeds
• In these cases, “traffic calming” is often required
Arterial Street for Moving Traffic
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Creating Livable Communities
Traffic CalmingITE Definition of Traffic Calming
• Traffic Calming is the combination of mainly physical measures that reduce the negative effects of motor vehicle use, alter driver behavior and improve conditions for non- motorized street users.1
Traffic calming objectives include: • achieving slow speeds for motor vehicles, • reducing collision frequency and severity, • increasing the safety and the perception of safety for non-motorized users of
the streets, • reducing the need for police enforcement, • enhancing the street environment (e.g., street scaping), • encouraging water infiltration into the ground, • increasing access for all modes of transportation, and • reducing cut-through motor vehicle traffic.1
FHWA Scanning Tour to Europe in 2000Context Sensitive Solutions
APWA Participated• Fifteen (15) highway and public
works engineers made the trip• John Okamoto, now the At-Large
Director for Transportation on the APWA Board, and John German represented APWA
• Toured Denmark, Sweden, Holland, Germany and Great Britain to study the use of Context Sensitive Solutions in the planning, development and operation of their highways and major roadways
• Concept not well known at the time, but traffic calming was common in the U.S.
• See this website for more info:http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/csd/index.cfm
FHWA Website Info• What is CSS• CSS is a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach that involves all stakeholders to develop a
transportation facility that fits its physical setting and preserves scenic, aesthetic, historic and environmental resources, while maintaining safety and mobility.CSS is an approach that considers the total context within which a transportation improvement project will exist. CSS principles include the employment of early, continuous and meaningful involvement of the public and a ll stakeholders throughout the project development process.
• SAFETEA-LU Section 6008.Section 109(c) (2) of title 23, USC includes con sideration of identified documents and materials that define the core principles of context sensitive solutions (CSS) by eight "Characteristics of the process that yield excellence" and seven "Qualities that characterize excellence in transportation design". The SAFETEA-LU provisions requiring opportunities for involvement of the pub lic and participating agencies in the development of project purpose and need and the range of alternatives support the intent of these CSS principles. The implementation of a CSS approach to navigating the project d evelopment process will ensure the best possible outcome to the environmental review process.
– Agency Challenges to Integrating Context Sensitive Solutions– Integration of Context Sensitive Solutions in the Transportation Planning Process– CSS & Planning Q&A's
• Safety• Smart Growth and FHWA• Environment• NEPA• Human Environment• Public Involvement• Transportation Enhancements• Value Engineering
Creating Livable Communities
Context Sensitive SolutionsWikipedia Definition
Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS) is a theoretical and practical approach to transportation decision-making and design that takes into consideration the communities and lands which streets, roads, and highways pass through ("the context").
The term is closely related to but distinguishable from Context Sensitive Design in that it asserts that all decisions in transportation planning, project development, operations and maintenance should be responsive to the context in which these activities occur, not simply the design process.
CSS seeks to balance the need to move vehicles efficiently and safely with other desirable outcomes, including historic preservation, environmental sustainability, and the creation of vital public spaces.
Pearl Street Shopping Area and Pedestrian Way--Boulder
Creating Livable Communities
Tradeoffs
Congestion Delays
Increased travel time
Context Sensitive Drainage Design ??
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Creating Livable CommunitiesTraffic Calming/ CSS Case Study
• Alamo Heights High School Traffic Impact on the Sylvan Hills Neighborhood– Northeast area of San Antonio between
Broadway and North New Braunfels– Older, gentrified, upper end neighborhood– Limited east west arterial streets in the area– City of Alamo Heights wanted to resolve long
standing dispute between AHISD and residents over neighborhood traffic problems
Sylvan Hills Neighborhood
Alamo Heights High School
Traffic Issues in the Neighborhood
• High School traffic using area streets to reach school & exit
• Parking in the neighborhood • High School Stadium event
traffic and parking • Other cross town, cut -through
traffic on east-west streets, Claywell and Oakview
• Speeding was occurring on the neighborhood streets
• Long standing, unresolved issues Castano
ClaywellOakwell
Stadium
AH High School
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Other Traffic and Parking Problems
• Problems with E. Fair Oaks (a one-way street with High school parking on either side) exiting onto residential streets- including Fair Oaks, Vanderhoeven, and other streets
• Traffic circulating around the block onto Elmview to get from High School back to Broadway
• Overflow parking occurring in the neighborhood on Vanderhoeven, Halcyon, Retama, and Elmview
• Traffic Congestion on Castano near Broadway next to High School due to curb parking, parents dropping off students, and bus loading and unloading in the street
Impacts of Stadium Parking on Neighborhood
• Traffic cutting through neighborhood
• Congestion• Unwanted parking on
area streets• Debris on streets after
events• Problems for fire, police
and EMS to reach residences
• Noise• Vandalism• Lights shining into homes• Confrontations between
home owners and visitors• Damage to lawns and
landscaping
Stadium Event Traffic and Parking Problems
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Summary of Issues
• Neighborhood leaders could not get AHISD officials to make changes to the street network and traffic patterns.
• AHISD officials believed that the current traffic and parking problems were not significant.
• The City of A.H. wanted to resolve the current problems.
• PBS&J was asked to prepare plans that would resolve each group’s concerns.
• Mayor and City Manager facilitated meetings to begin the dialogue.
PBS&J Planning Process
• Met with AHISD and the High School staff and students to determine their issues regarding parking and traffic flow
• Helped them to understand the neighbors’ concerns
• Identified a shortage of school parking
• Determined traffic signals were needed to help school staff and students get onto busy arterials
• Learned that the northern boundary street of the High School needed to be two-way and more on street parking was needed on that street.
• Looked at a variety of traffic calming solutions to protect the neighborhood from these traffic elements
• Jointly studied the Stadium impacts on the neighborhood
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PBS&J Planning Process (Cont.)
• Met with neighborhood group on many occasions to review their Plans and to understand their issues
• Reviewed Sylvan Hills Neighborhood Plan and relevant traffic data
• Studied the geometrics around the High School and on the boundary streets
• Met individual leaders of the various groups to consider a variety of options
• Divided the planning into three focus areas– the High School traffic
related Issues – the cut through and
speeding issues on neighborhood streets
– the Stadium problems • Looked at a variety of
traffic calming solutions to protect the neighborhood from these traffic elements
Elements of the Sylvan Hills Neighborhood Plan
•Reinforce the boundaries of the residential community.•Confine high school traffic to the high school. •Redirect cut-through traffic to the thoroughfares.•Install traffic calming devices.
Alamo Heights High School
Sylvan Hills Traffic Plan
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Sylvan Hills Traffic Plan
Sylvan Hills Traffic Plan
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Sylvan Hills Traffic Plan
Sylvan Hills Traffic Plan
Sylvan Hills Traffic Plan
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Sylvan Hills Neighborhood Traffic Improvements Plan
Presentation
By John L. German, P.E.and Joan Hudson, P.E.
January 28, 2003
PBS&J
RecommendationsAlamo Heights High School Area• Convert 100 Block of Fair Oaks to two way traffic
• Add new Traffic Signals at Broadway and E. Fair Oaks• Construct landscaped traffic islands at Vanderhoeven
and Fair Oaks to direct traffic south on Vanderhoeven and away from the neighborhood
• Construct landscaped islands on Vanderhoeven from Castano to north of Halcyon, at Retama, and south and north of Fair Oaks.
• Add new traffic signals at Vanderhoeven and Castano
• Eliminate parallel parking (10 spaces) on Castano at High School to allow student unloading and bus parking
Add Signals
Construct LandscapedTraffic Islands to ProhibitAccess to neighborhood streets
Recommended Changes at High School
Convert to two-way traffic
Widen VanderhoevenXXXXXX
Add traffic signal At Broadway
Construct median
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Add Landscaped Islands on
Vanderhoeven
• Prohibit traffic in neighborhood
• Maintain flexibility for AHISD
• Allow emergencyaccess
X
X
Construct landscaped traffic Islands
Prohibit traffic in neighbor-hood
X
High School Parking and Stadium Events
• Add Landscaped Islands on Vanderhoeven North of Castano toBlock turns into 200 Block of Halcyon, Retama, and Fair Oaks
X
Changes on Castano at High School
New Driveway Not Feasible
Remove 10 ParallelParking Spaces to AllowStudent Unloading and Bus Parking
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Recommendationson Neighborhood Streets
Install Chicanes and/or Speed Cushions in Mid-block Locations on selected Streets
RecommendationsInstall Half-closures at
Some Intersections along Broadway and N. New Braunfels
• Prohibits entry to the subdivision but allows exiting traffic
• Adds landscaping• Minimal disruption to
homes on the corner• Discourages cut-
through traffic
Typical
Half-Closure Design
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Other Traffic Recommendations
• Resolve parking issues on area streets• Widen Castano from Vanderhoeven to New
Braunfels to improve traffic flow and add parking• Remove NB left turn lane and signal phase on
New Braunfels at Claywell• Add NB left turn Phase on New Braunfels at
Castano (City of San Antonio)• Prohibit SB left turns from Broadway to Claywell,
Oakview, Edgewood, and Elmview
Resolve Parking Issues
Problems:ü Parking all over the
neighborhoodü Litter left on streets and
in yardsü Driveways blockedü No parking for
neighborhood residents
Recommendation:
§Prohibit parking on one side of all streets§Clean up after all events§Enforce traffic and parking laws
Summary of Recommendations
Speed Cushions Speed Cushions
losures
Speed Cushions
Add All-way Stop
Speed Cushions
Mid-block ChicanesSpeed Cushions
Median
Median
Construct Traffic Islands
Convert to two-way Traffic
AddTrafficSignals
Prohibit SBLeft TurnsOn Broadway
Improve NB Left Turns
Prohibit NB LeftTurns
Speed Cushions Mid-block Chicanes
Mid-block Chicanes
Eliminate Parallel ParkingAnd Provide Student Unloading and Bus Parking Widen Castano
Speed Cushions
Speed Cushions
Add Signals
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Lessons Learned
• High schools and neighborhoods do not mix well
• Stadiums should not be located in neighborhoods
• A multi-jurisdictional approach is often required to address traffic conflicts
