2010-04-29 Olden Avenue Presentation

8/9/2019 2010-04-29 Olden Avenue Presentation

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Olden Avenue Redevelopment PlanPhase II - Roadway Designhase II - Roadway Design

CWL Planning / Urban Engineers

Presentation April 29, 2010

Creating a New WayCreating a New Way


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I nca rna t ion Chur ch

Rou t e 31Penn ing ton

Road

Sho p Ri te Cent er

Prospect St reet

I n g h a m A ve .

Home Depo t

Pr in ceton Ave

Spr uce St

Pub l ic W ork s Yard


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Existing Conditionsxisting Conditions


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Existing Conditionsxisting Conditions


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Start Imagining New PossibilitiesStart Imagining New Possibilities


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Why a Plan at All?Land Use Plan-Land Use Plan-AdoptedSeptember 2009Formulates A Economic Development Strategy with Incentives

Encourages expansion of existing businesses whileenhancing opportunities for new investment.

Protects and strengthens surroundingneighborhoods.

Leverages investments

Pursu it of a Stable, Sustainable Tax BasePursu it of a Stable, Sustainable Tax Base

Sets a Standard where currently chaos andconfusion exists .

Organizes development to improve consumer comfort levels

Creates predictability for investors and enhances property valuesthrough increase land use entitlements to attract long-term

economic investment and reinvestment.

Incentivizing qualitydevelopment could beginto create an attractiveplace


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Generally,Generally,

Connects the disconnected- coordinates property ow ners to avoidconfusing turning movements and conflicts

Encourages a mix of land uses in certain specific areas:

Housing Growth- To enhance t h e m a r k e t a n d s t a b il i ze s u r r o u n d i n g N e i g h b o r h o o d s

( I n spec i f i c loca t ions - see the P lan ) Economic Growth- Retail w ith Office Opportunities above

Embraces the pedestrian (a.k.a. people/ consumers)

Links transportation needs w ith development needs

Diversifies the marketplace- offering choice

Not a Main Streetdown Olden Avenue, but maximizing development potentialw ith Aesthetic improvements, traffic calming, pedestrian safety and sensibledevelopment patterns!

Working Together to Create a Better Place to do Businessorking Together to Create a Better Place to do Business ANDNDSpend moneypend money

Components of the Plan


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OARP Phase II (TODAY)Redesigning the Roadsedesigning the Roads

Tasks Include:

On-going coordination w ith the Planning Board, business leaders, andother local stakeholders to maximize potential

Creating road design types, traffic calming features, and better access

Conceptual road design will include preliminary cost estimates

Developing a phased-in implementation plan and schedule

Scope and Schedule

Schedule:Schedule:

To be Finalized in September


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Roadway RedesignRoadway Redesign

Continue gathering input (4-29-10and then with planning Board in

May/June)

Finalize Recommendations(JULY/AUGUST)

Put Ewing in a place to be eligible

for implementation funding

Working to Create CompleteCompleteStreetsStreetsthat work for all users

Business, Shopping, Residents, Traffic, Pedestriansusiness, Shopping, Residents, Traffic, Pedestrians

Today... The Next Steps


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SO!Why Redesign Our Roads?

#1 - Safety and Mobility#2 Enhanced Economic Development Opportunity

Organized access and mobility improves Consumer comfort levels

Safety and Aesthetics works to enhance property values by creating apleasing atmosphere that not merely enables pedestrian and automobileaccess but creates a more rational approach to it

Increasing economic opportunity throughout the district protects andstrengthens surrounding neighborhoods by making it a better place to liveand invest in

Coordination works to enhance property values and businessopportunity

Roads and Development together working to createoads and Development together working to createA Place Worth Traveling To!Place Worth Traveling To!


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While Unique for Mercer County,NOT UnprecedentedUrban Land Institute (ULI)

TTenenPrinciples for Reinventing Americas Suburban Strips

Provide Leadership and Nurture Partnerships

Anticipate Evolution

Know the Marketplace

Prune Back Retail-Zoned Land and Diversify

Establish Pulse Nodes of Development

Tame the Traffic

Work to Create Place

Diversify Character

Eradicate the Ugliness

Put your Money (and Regulations) Where Your Policy Is

Complete Streets Spark Economic Revitalization, www.completestreets.org


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Streets Working to Define a PlaceA Well Designed Street Creates a Great Place:

Accommodates all potential users (ie. CUSTOMERS) of the roadway,including pedestrians, bicyclists, moto rists, and transit users. Land useand roads working to create a place

vs.

Auto-Dominated (Auto-Dominated (ieie Olden)Olden) Complete, Active StreetComplete, Active Street


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Streets for Economic Revitalization Studies show that Streets (like Olden Avenue) have a hostile

shopping environment w hich restricts Economic Viability.

Nearly 3.6 mill ion people (1/ 2 of all seniors)stay home due tolack of transportation options1

2006 study in Pittsburgh

Lack of options limited the pool of potential employees

30% of employers indicated transportation #1 barrier in hiringqualified employees2

Nearly 50% of employees cited lack of bus amenities a problem

Others said they dont use buses due to lack of sidewalk s

1. Surface Transportation Policy Partnership. Aging Americans: Stranded Without Options. 2004.

2. Airport Corridor Transportation Association (ACTA). Study of Improved Shared Ride Transportation Services to the Robinson/North Fayette Employment. 2006.


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Additional StudiesWest Palm Beach, Fla(added traffic calming, streetscaping)

20% occupancy before 80% after

Property values up 600%

New $50 0M development

Valencia Street in San Francisco(added bike lanes, narrowed roadway)

40% merchants increased sales

60% reported more residents shopping

Washingt on D.C.s Barracks Row(redesigned pedestrian environment:new sidew alks, streetscaping)

44 new businesses

200 more jobs

Economic activity tripled

Most quantifiab le case studies


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Simple Treatments can go a long wayimple Treatments can go a long way

What if we Started Treating the Avenue with Respect?


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Start By Using What Weve GotExamples of Traditional Suburban Arterials w ithComplete Streets Retrofits

Large frontages can allow room for landscaping and pedestrianor transit amenities.

This improves the feeling of safety

Columbia Pike, VA

(Photos from GoogleMaps and Bing Maps, except where noted)


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Examples of Traditional Suburban Arterials with

Com ple te St r ee ts Retrofits

Softening the Edges

Landscaping can help soften harsh landscapes

and calm traffic

The r i gh t t ype o f t r ees can s t i l l al l ow v iew s o f merchand ise

Columbia Pike , VAColumbia Pike, VA Baltimore Pike, MDBaltimore Pike, MD

(Photos from GoogleMaps and Bing Maps, except where noted)


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Providing Flexibility for Access

Example of modified internalparking and circulation that link

multiple businesses with directedaccess

Examples of Traditional Suburban Arterials w ithCom ple te St r ee ts Retrofits

Columbia Pike, VAColumbia Pike , VA San Francisco, CA*San Francisco, CA*

Bike lanes provide separationbetween vehicles and cyclists andallow lanes to be narrowed thus

reducing auto speeds

** www.pedbikeimages.org - Dan Burden


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Coordinating the Development Patterns

Encouraging new developm ent to be more pedestrian-friendly and lessauto-dominan t can change the character of an area. This is accomplished by

defining the street edge with buildings and landscaping

Examples of Traditional Suburban Arterials withCom ple te St r ee ts Retrofits

City Line Avenue, PACity Line Avenue, PA


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A Number of Tools at our Fingertips Design Elements

Traffic Calming Measures (signage, crosswalks, intersection improvements, etc) Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities Gateways treatments Lighting/Furniture

Access Management (providing options and improved access)

Transit Amenities


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Source: www.completethestreets.org

Often, simply adding roadside amenities to create a completestreet can change the character of a roadw ay

The Options Available: Design Elements


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Source: www.completethestreets.org

Added Ingredients: Landscaped Median, Bike Lanes, StreetTrees, Wide Sidewalks, and Access Management

The Options Available:Design Elements


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The Options Available:Additional Road Network

Manages Speed

Reduces Congestion Provides Choice

More Frontage! -More Frontage! -

Images: Glatting, Jackson, Kercher, Anglin

Adding network strengthensAdding network strengthensthe connections between land use and accessibility.the connections between land use and accessibility.This provides more Economic Development OpportunitiesThis provides more Economic Development Opportunities


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The Options Available:Access Management Creates rational access to business

Reduction in number of driveways reducesconflict points between vehicles andpedestrians or cyclists

Allow s for a continuous sidewalk netw ork

Imp roves safety and comfort forpedestrians

Allow s removal of center turn lane infavor of median with formaliz ed left-turnlanes

Additional space created for park ing inshared lots

Additional space for pedestrian or transitamenities


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The Options Available:Traffic Calming Measures

Source: PennDOT Pub 580

RoundaboutsRoundabouts

Fewer conflicts than a signalizedintersection

Geometry lowers vehicle speeds

Less severe crash types 90%

reduction in fatalities & 76%reduction in injuries

Can result in 30% -50% increase intraffic capacity

Some examples exist at Alexander Rd@ Princeton Junction; Rutherford;

Denow Road; All over Europe

Source: NJDOT, Modern Roundabouts in New JerseyNot a Circle


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Elements of a Roundabout


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Pedestrians and Roundabouts


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Bicylists and Roundabouts


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Trucks and Roundabouts


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Example of Roundabout at a Commercial Driveway

BEFOREBEFORE

Roundabouts

Source: NE Roundabouts


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Example of Roundabout at a Commercial Driveway

Roundabouts

Source: NE Roundabouts

AFTERAFTERAt a slightly different angle


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Source: NJ Walks and Bikes

Source: Oregon Pedestrian and Bike Plan

Provide formalized, dedicated, crossingopportunities for pedestrians

More visible for vehicles

Can reduce pedestrian dart-outs

Often used in conjunction w ith medianisland to allow 2-phase crossing

The Options Available:Mid-Block Crossings


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Source: Oregon Pedestrian and Bike PlanSource: Oregon Pedestrian and Bike Plan

Source: FHWA, Bike Lanes versus Wide Curb LanesSource: FHWA, Bike Lanes versus Wide Curb Lanes

Wide Outside Shared Lanes

Provides additional space for bikes

Easy to implement

Separated Bike Lanes

Separates bikes from traffic

Preferred by most cyclists

4 min, 5 preferred

The Options Available:Bicycle Amenities


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Source: Cope Linder Architects

Can help to define a place

Provide a sense of arrival

Source: Center for Transportation Research and Education,

Iowa State University

The Options Available: Gateway Treatments


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Ground Signs

Calms traffic

Helps define place

Works w ith road design

More pedestrian scale

The Options Available:Signage


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The Options Available: Transit Amenities

Poor Amenities for

Transit Riders

Good Amenities forTransit Riders

Trash Receptacles

Benches

Shelters


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Comments/Issues from the Public Comments from 12/9/09 Public Meeting, 2/4/10

Planning Board Meeting, 2/23/10 Workshop

Our Understanding of Corridor Wide Issues- Driveways/Access conflicts- Driveways/Access conflicts

- Bicycle/Pedestrian safety- Bicycle/Pedestrian safety

- Motorist Behavior- Motorist Behavior

- Quality of place- Quality of place


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Issues the Public is Concerned With

Bicycle/PedestrianAdd bicycle lanes/sidewalksComplete sidewalksBicycle and pedestrian crashes on OldenAvenueFrequent midblock pedestrian crossings nearshopping areasNo space dedicated to cyclists

Uneven, damaged, excessively pitchedSidewalks obstructed by utility poles andmanholesMissing ADA ramps at intersectionsVehicles in parking lots encroach onpedestrian pathsOpportunity for pedestrian utilization of old raillines

Motorist BehaviorTraffic calming is necessaryExcessive speed throughoutNeed efficient, not fast, traffic flowLane weaving is a problemTurn lanes used for passingEnforcement is an issue

VariousMake improvements during repaving (Summer 2010, Parksideto Prospect)Start limit of project at High School/Parkway AveCorner properties with expansive pavement needsstreetscaping

Insufficient building setbacks make circulation problematicEvidence of blocked storm water drainageSignificant congestion, especially during the PM peak periodFaded and sometimes missing lane markings and signsSun glare compromises view of signals and inhibits safe drivingFuture green medianWho will maintain improvements?

Driveways/AccessBusinesses may be concerned about accessDuplicative driveways adds conflict points and contributes to thecrash frequencyDuplicative driveways also present additional conflict points forpedestriansMany driveways are poorly delineatedExiting driveways difficult due to sight distance and high speedson Olden Avenue


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Issues map (add workshop?)

TheseIssue

swereUtilized

toMakethe

Preliminary

Recommendati

onsthatFo

llow


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Objectives for the Roadway Design Projectbjectives for the Roadway Design Project Improve safety and mobility for all users

Maxim ize pedestrian and bicycle safety and accessibility between sitesand adjacent neighborhoods

Create a visual identity that bolsters economic opportunity andstabilizes neighborhoods

Develop streetscape concepts in concert with the Mercer CountyTransportation Department

Provide adequate parking that max imizes access while m inimizing

number of required trips Coordinate and improve access to businesses through new road network

that reduces the need for access on Olden Avenue

Building on the Land Use Plan Adopted in SeptemberAugmenting the Economic Development Strategy:

Much more complex than can be solved by mere speed limit postingsuch more complex than can be solved by mere speed limit postings


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Existing Conditions Along Olden Four 12.5 lanes with 16 center turn lane east of Pennington Road

(NJ Route 31)

5 sidewalk adjacent to road- Much in state of disrepair

- 1600 missing links

- Few connections to buildings

- Numerous utility pole conflicts

Numerous driveways

Pedestrian crossings limited to signals- Some lack push buttons and countdown signals

No provisions for bicycles or transit Several buildings vacant or underutilized

Each property generally has separate private parking lot

No consistent landscaping


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Existing Network

Big Hole inBig Hole in

the Networkthe Network

Existing Roads lined in Black. Lack of network limits options andfunnels all traffic to Olden thus overloading the system and impairing

safe efficient access to business.


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Enhanced Network

What a healthy road network could start to look like.

More frontage= more ratables

CONC

EPT

DRAFT


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Developing Block Structure: Parkside toArctic

A well-designed Block structure usually ranges from 200- 400 feet. Olden hassome blocks close to 2000 feet in length. Providing network options increaseseconomic opportunity and pedestrian walkability.

DRAFT


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Hierarchy of New Connections System Connector

Local Connector or MajorDriveway

Local alleyway or

Minor Driveway

DRAFT

DRAFT

DRAFT

New connections to supplement Olden Avenue couldutilize these cross-sections.


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Developing Network:Parkside to ArcticA Case ExampleCase Example

Applied to the redevelopment Area; Coordinating Land Use and Transportation Optionscould provide between 2 to 3 times the RatableRatableas compared to leaving the District to its owndevices

CON

CEPT

ONLY


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Arctic toPrincetonBlockStructure

The current 2700 foot block structure could

be improved by coordinating access into abetter structure that provides propertyowners with enhanced opportunities.Extending Calhoun Street could alsoaddress regional circulation needs. Theseconcepts will require more analysis anddiscussion with existing property owners.

DRAFT


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Typical Sections Proposed for Olden

DRAFT


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Mid-Block CrossingsUnsignalized

Ped-Actuated Signal HAWK

Ped-Actuated Flashing Beacon

Potential Candidate Locations:Potential Candidate Locations: Parkside Plaza / AutoZoneParkside Plaza / AutoZone

Burger KingBurger King

ShabakunkShabakunkCreek ParkCreek Park

Incarnation Church/ McDonaldIncarnation Church/ McDonaldss


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Candidate RoundaboutsParkway Avenue Pennington Avenue Parkside Avenue

Prospect Street Arctic Parkway

DRAFT

DRAFT

DRAFT

DRAFT

DRAFT

We analyzed 5 Intersections from Parkway to Arctic


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TOP 3 CANDIDATESOP 3 CANDIDATES Roundabouts to work to calm traffic, announce a

motorists arrival into the district, and create identityfor Ewing.

Roundabouts could make these dangerousintersections much safer and more efficient.

Prospect St, in the Core Area of Olden could workto create a central focus for the commercial district

Arctic and Parkside could act as gateways orbookends to the Core, thus allowing Prospect tostay a more traditional intersection.

Prospect Street

Arctic Parkway

Parkside Avenue

CONCEPT

DRAFT


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Typical Segment with Roundabouts

CONCEPT

DRAFT

Driveway access positioned to maximize future development potential Round-a-bouts positioned to calm traffic, ensure pedestrian safety, and allowmotorists the ability to efficiently move through the Area, make u-turns, etc

Widening sidewalks and working with the existing business community toimprove the aesthetics of the street edge along Olden could work to maximizesales.


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Questions?? Feedback

- Additional network?

- Roundabouts Concepts?

- Crosswalk locations?- Other thoughts or considerations?

Please emaillease email [email protected]@gmail.com for more information andfor more information andfeedbackeedback

Documents

2010-04-29 Olden Avenue Presentation