Design of the Marmion Way Corridor

Fred Glick, PLA • Urban Design • Master Planning • Landscape Architecture

Metro Gold Line Light Rail Transit Project National Transportation Leadership Conference FHWA – FTA – APA Washington, DC 2004

Purpose of Presentation

  Demonstrate extensive public involvement effort resulting in dramatic physical improvements to community

  Consensus building through urban design

  Use of historically compatible and green materials helps achieve sustainability

Principal Challenge

From a physical standpoint, the challenge was

to fit light rail into an existing, historic

community fabric in a way that improved the

quality of the urban environment.

Agenda

  Marmion Way: Overview

  Community Workshops

  Urban Design Process: 1996-2001

  Construction: 2001-2003

  Operations: 2003

Overview: Marmion Way Southbound

Before construction: 100 year old freight corridor, single track, undersized RR worker homes built at turn of 20th century.

Overview: Marmion Way Northbound

Before construction: Utility poles both directions, minimal setbacks from street, poorly delineated intersection.

Overview: Unique History

100 years as freight rail line - single track

LAMTA original lead agency

13.7 mile LRT corridor •  Chinatown - Highland Park •  South Pasadena - Pasadena Marmion Way segment •  Avenue 50 to Figueroa •  Nearly 1 mile long

Overview: Socio-Cultural Composition

Diverse ethnic composition Latino, Asian-American, other minorities Generally low to lower-middle income Mistake to consider Highland Park a “rollover” area •  Language differences •  Little education among some minority residents •  Economic hardship

Well-spoken, well-educated professionals as well Neighborhood is well-organized Relentless in seeking improved quality-of-life

Overview: Project Background

Imminent addition of light rail transitway Pavement - concrete walls - LRV speeds Changing configuration - community concern Urban design process initiated in 1996 Engineering needs vs. community adaptation Urban design analysis implemented •  Support of elected officials •  Two EIS’s had previously overlooked real issues From exclusive transitway to street running

Overview: Major Challenges

Neighborhood: •  Neighborhood character – use of sustainable materials •  Local Historic District (City of Los Angeles) •  Livability •  Pedestrian and bicycle safety •  Functional use of private properties - access & egress

Project:

•  Emergency vehicle access •  Street closings and gated RR crossings •  Noise from LRV’s •  Speed of trains

Overview: Proximity of homes

Narrow setbacks: Majority of homes have minimal setback from public right-of-way; in some cases, as little as three feet.

Overview: Tight tolerances

Circulation movements: Some homes have unsafe driveway locations relative to intersections. Note how utility poles crowd the intersection.

Overview: Zero setback multi-family

Setback dilemma: Narrow gate openings create turning movement difficulty for motor vehicles.

Overview: Garages @ ROW Line

Setback dilemma: Proximity of garage doors to public right-of-way creates turning movement difficulty for motor vehicles.

Overview: Kids play here

Open space? Kids used the existing right-of-way for parks and recreation space.

Overview: Narrow driveways

Turning movements: Narrow driveway gate openings create access-egress difficulty for motor vehicles.

Overview: R.O.W. used for parking

Parking. Residents and visitors previously used the BNSF RR-ROW for parking.

Overview: Alleyways @ mid-block

Turning radius issues: Narrow alleyways create access-egress issues onto Marmion Way.

Overview: Avenue 57 Station Site

Proposed Highland Park Station Site: Right-of-way widens at the station location shown center above; Marmion Way street corridor runs south of and parallel to station site (in left of photo).

Community Workshops: 1996

Initiate new round of dialogue & build consensus Cost containment measures – Redesign Stations

mandated by MTA Board Clarify MTA’s position - Design Marmion Way - Gain

community support Facilitation by urban design consultant

Community Workshops: 1996

Initiate new round of dialogue & build consensus Cost containment measures – Redesign Stations

mandated by MTA Board Clarify MTA’s position - Design Marmion Way - Gain

community support Facilitation by urban design consultant

Workshop #1

Place: South Pasadena Library - April 6, 1996 Purpose: •  Revisit project impacts & design with community

•  8’ high concrete sound walls enclosing transitway •  RR crossing gates, bells, horns, etc.

•  Achieve consensus for Marmion Way design

•  Introduce community to urban design consultants Results: •  Exchanged information

•  Developed communication tools

Workshop #2

Place: Highland Park Senior Center - April 20, 1996

Purpose: Present MTA’s revised scheme for M.W. •  32 foot trackway, fenced both sides •  6’ high chain link fences •  13’ southbound travel lane; 15’ northbound •  Only 4 cross-streets closed to motor vehicles •  High LRV speeds of 45 mph; avg speed of 31 mph Results: •  Community response still negative •  Diverse attendance reflects of Highland Park

Workshop #3

Place: Elementary School in Chinatown - May 4, 1996

Purpose: Present another iteration of Marmion Way •  32’ trackway; 4’ metal picket fence (both sides) •  13’ and 15’ travelways (peds & motor vehicles) •  Pedestrian crosswalks at all intersections (striped paint) •  4 cross-streets closed to motor vehicles •  Highest LRV speed 20 mph; avg speed 15 mph Results: •  Semi-exclusive scheme still non-responsive •  Private property impacts first raised at this meeting

Right-of-Way Analysis

Block-by-block evaluation of public right-of-way and individual properties conducted to determine impacts to private properties.

Workshop #4

Place: Pasadena Doubletree Hotel - May 16, 1996

Purpose: Finalize consensus on preferred scheme •  Analysis done by MTA engineer & urban design consultant •  MTA position - functional impacts to private properties

required scheme minimizing or eliminating such impacts

Results: •  Street running system - preferred approach •  Proposal well-received by community •  Modest center fence prevents errant transitway use by motor

vehicles, while directing pedestrians to intersections

Vision Statement

The Marmion Way Corridor . . . is unique to the overall Pasadena Blue Line Project in that it is the core of the historical neighborhood of Highland Park. The narrow right-of-way requires a sensitive approach to the provision of urban design principles in promoting safety for the accommodation of pedestrians, bicycles, motor vehicles and light rail transit. Neighborhood character and livability are vital aspects the community seeks to maintain. They can be achieved through the efficient and creative composition of various materials, textures and colors that form the separate use areas and provide for a neighborhood compatible corridor that promotes safety, maintains or adds value and preserves the character of the community.

Marmion Way Corridor Metro Gold Line LRT, Los Angeles

Marmion Way Corridor before construction.

Original engineering proposal for design of public right-of-way.

Urban Design Vision: 1997

Right-of-way design concept prepared by urban design team, meeting both neighborhood compatibility and engineering requirements.

Project Shutdown

Project terminated in early 1998 by LAMTA due to forecasted budget shortfalls. All work ceased. All consultants released from contracts.

Project Resumption

Construction Authority formed in January, 1999 •  Sole purpose: to build the project •  Hired Chief Executive Officer •  Retained Program Management Consultant •  Retained same urban design consultant •  Design-Build method chosen

Marmion Way - •  Refined Avenue 50 - 57 segment •  Urban design approach - Avenue 57 – Figueroa

including Highland Park Station Plaza

Marmion Way Right-of-Way

Rooftop photo of Marmion Way after construction.

Marmion Way Right-of-Way

A corridor residents can live with.

Functional & aesthetic transitway materials.

Marmion Way Trackbed

Rough-texture of transitway materials thwarts errant use by pedestrians, bicyclists and even motor vehicles.

Marmion Way Typical Crosswalk

Use of historically compatible materials consistent with Craftsman era – Greene & Greene inspired architecture.

Marmion Way - Ave 56 Intersection

Typical intersection design

Corridor is “emergency vehicle friendly”

Design Character

Street lights on catenary pole

Typical arroyo-stone pilaster

Arroyo stone tactile strip located between mountable curb and trackway

Highland Park Station Plaza

Gateway pilasters at Highland Park LRT Station transit plaza

Highland Park Station Plaza

Heavy timber pergola

Copper light fixture Craftsman-era combinations of timber and arroyo stone

Highland Park Station & Plaza

Note use of Arroyo-Stone washed aggregate in Highland Park Station trackway

Highland Park Station & Plaza

Consistent use of Marmion Way Corridor construction materials at Highland Park Station – stone, steel picket fence & concrete

Project Summary

•  Public involvement process resulted in dramatically upgraded neighborhood – use of green materials, sustainable solution

•  System, civil, urban design all changed •  Pedestrians can now walk safely •  Driveway access/egress maintained •  Residents taking new pride in neighborhood •  Public right-of-way -- neighborhood asset rather

than a liability

Project Summary (cont’d.)

•  Vehicles operate at streetcar speeds - 15 mph avg •  System design functions as streetcar

Traffic lights & signal pre-emption, rather than crossing gates, bells & horns

•  Relates well to neighborhood •  Relates well to private properties •  Community takes ownership of corridor •  System has become well-integrated

Summary: Project Operational

Through four years of revenue service, Marmion Way’s responsive design has functioned well, with no pedestrian accidents to date.

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2004 Transportation Planning Excellence Award

Project Name: Metro Gold Line Light Rail - Marmion Way Corridor

Category: “Safety Conscious Planning”

Co-Sponsors:

• Federal Highway Administration • Federal Transit Administration • American Planning Association

Awards Jury: - Institute of Transportation Engineers - American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials - American Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations - American Automobile Association