Complete Streets :Reshaping the Way We Think

about Urban Street Design8 August 2014

CONTENTS

Value of Human Life in South Africa

Sustainable Transport

Paradigm Shift Needed

Complete Streets Concept

Where Can We Start?

Questions & Answer Session

STATE OF FATALITIES IN SOUTH AFRICA

Low Value of Human Life

• NMT users account for 40% of

road fatalities in South Africa

• Scholars mode of transport

19% PT; 12% PVT; 69%

Walking

• Majority of all NMT-related

accidents occur at

intersections

• NMT casualties costing the

public health system; police

and traffic departments; third

party claims etc

ASK OURSELVES……….

• Ask ourselves : Do we want to live like this?

• Do we want cities for cars or cities for people?

Source : Rehana Moosajee, CoJ

SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT IS NOT….

• Diminishing non-renewable (petroleum) energy reserves

• Global atmospheric impacts – air pollution

• Local air quality impacts

• Fatalities and injuries

• Congestion

• Noise

• Low Mobility

• Biological Impacts

• Lack of equity WR Black

PARADIGM SHIFT NEEDED

Source : Rehana Moosajee, CoJ

Source : Ass Prof Marianne Vanderschuren, UCT

• City of Joburg is implementing a new

approach to ward based safety

• Focus on safer streets – not just

random speed humps

• Supporting a paradigm shift from

roads to streets : COMPLETE STREET

CONCEPT

• Definition of a street : sense of place

(social activity); movement; access to

buildings and public spaces; parking ;

utilities and street lighting

COMPLETE STREETS CONCEPT

• Complete streets

accommodate diverse modes,

users and activities

• Promotion of pedestrian and

other non-motorised modes of

transport

• Street design which helps

create multi-modal transport

systems and liveable

communities

COMPLETE STREETS CONCEPT(2)

COMPLETE STREETS CONCEPT (3)

• Contribute to liveable, vibrant, sustainable communities :

by providing public open space that is integrated amenities, as well as having well-

connected neighbourhoods which reduce dependence on motor vehicles, will

ensure increased personal security, will lead to a sense of ownership

and high quality

environments

Source : Manual for Streets

• Pedestrian first policy

– The walking public are given priority

• Modal Hierarchy

– Modal hierarchy will remain as NMT first; Public transport; motor vehicles.Modal hierarchies influence cross-sections, intersection design, signaltimings, maintenance programmes

• Typology

– Based on the function of the street and

the roadway width

– encourage pedestrian activity.

• Design Values

– Design guidelines are provided for each

element, which support complete streets

HOW DOES THIS LOOK LIKE PRACTICALLY?

WHERE CAN WE START?

Source : Complete Streets Chicago

WHERE CAN WE START (2)

Source : Complete Streets Chicago

• Speed reduction through street design

• Care at intersections : road diets / narrower lanes; kerb extensions; traffic

signal timing; median islands

• Creating rhythms with trees, poles, landscaping

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WHERE CAN WE START (3)

Opportunities to:

• Restripe or slightly widen shoulder for bike lanes through intersections;

• Install sidewalks for pedestrians (both at intersections and to connect different approaches);

• Provide crosswalks;

• Add pedestrian refuges or islands;

• Install curb ramp upgrades/additions to comply with universal design standards

• Incorporate other complete street amenities E.G. street furniture

• Traffic signal installation/upgrades:

– Install pedestrian signal heads and countdown equipment;

– Retime signals to allow for pedestrian phases and/or improve pedestrian safety;

– Incorporate accessible pedestrian crossing signals;

PROCESS (3)

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WHERE CAN WE START (4)

• Pavement restriping (similar to maintenance projects):

– Convert streets or use road diets to provide a full bike lane or pedestrianised streets;

– Reduce lane widths to provide a full bike lane;

– Stripe pavement for a shoulder/edge lines on streets with curb and gutter (may be in conjunction with a street conversion or as a standalone maintenance project);

• Thoroughfare widening:

– Widen street for striped bike lanes with protective separators;

– Widen/pave shoulders to provide wider outside lane, paved shoulder;

– Construct sidewalks to adequate widths and standards; and/or

– Incorporate other complete street amenities or technologies

– Provide bicycle parking / bus shelters / seating at public transport stops / adequate provision for public transport users along streets

Complete Streets Types (3)

8/13/2014 18

Thank you