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Places for People
Street Design Basics
Connecting Transportation & Land Use Planning
Designing streets for peopleGood street design is a key element ofsmart development. Streets areconsidered to be the place where landuse and transportation connect. Themajor components of street design are
• Width of the street• Pattern of the street network• Physical elements along the
streetscape.
In the past, the major concern ofengineers who designed streets werespeed and capacity – to move as manycars as fast as possible. Today, moreconsideration is given to otherconcerns such as the livability ofneighborhoods in the areas that thestreets pass through, and the impor-tance of serving different street users,including non-motorized users such aspedestrians, bicyclists, rollerbladers,and skateboarders
In his pioneering publication LivableStreets, Don Appleyard called streetsthe “most important part of oururban environment.” Appleyard goeson to say, “We should raise our sightsfor the moment. What could aresidential street—a street on whichour children are brought up, adultslive, and old people spend their lastdays—what could such a street belike?”1
Street WidthNarrow streets make motorists driveslower and are thus safer for all streetusers. However, the typical streetstandards produced by federal andstate governments require very wide
streets for new subdivisions. Insteadof following outdated federal andstate standards, a town can requirestreet widths that are consistent withthe needs and desires of its residents.Rick Chellman, a New Hampshiretraffic engineer argues that
“…some of the best-loved streets andthose with the highest values (bothfor economics and livability) arestreets that do not conform tocurrent subdivision criteria.”2
Street NetworkAn irregular cul-de-sac street patternhas very long blocks and lots of deadends. This makes it difficult to getwhere you want to go. With so fewroute options, all of the traffic isforced onto a few arterial roads thatcan get really congested. Having only afew arterial roads means they must bedesigned to be very wide and supportheavy traffic. This makes them veryunpleasant for pedestrians, bicyclists,and motorists alike.
A pattern of streets with lots ofconnections and short blocks, makesit easier to move around - people havemore than one way to reach a destina-tion. Street design that considers thisconcept can help reduce trafficcongestion. It can also make itpossible for children to walk orbicycle to school.
Narrow, shaded streets (above), rather than wide streets(below), can improve livability.
For more information…Neighborhood Street DesignGuidelines; An Oregon Guide forReducing Street Widths. Availableon-line at www.lcd.state.or.us/tgm/publications.htmor call (503) 373-0050 ext. 230
Creating Livable Streets: StreetGuidelines for 2040. Call Metro at(503) 797-1839 to order.
Great Streets website:www.greatstreets.org
ODOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan.Available on-line atwww.odot.state.or.us/techserv/bikewalk/planimag/toc-imag.htmor call Michael Ronkin, ODOT(503) 986-3555
Traffic Calming: State of the Practice.Available on-line at http://www.ite.org/traffic/tcstate.htm#tcsop or callInstitute of Transportation Engineers at(202) 289-0222
Connecting Transportation and Land Use
Streetscape FeaturesOn-street parking can enhance thepedestrian environment. On-streetparking:
• Buffers pedestrians from traffic
• Decreases traffic speed since itnarrows the roadway.
Sidewalks and bicycle paths are otherimportant elements of street design.Their presence allows for pedestriansand bicyclists to have their own pacealong a street. The wider the side-walks, the more enjoyable they are towalk on.
Sometimes a choice may need to bemade between a wide sidewalk and abicycle lane. The decision woulddepend on the type of location. In amain street area, a wide sidewalk ispreferable, since lots of pedestrianswill be using it.
“A shared auto/bike lane is perfectlyacceptable in a main street environ-ment, where travel speeds are slow,and automobiles and bikes can safelyshare a lane. Sidewalks shouldALWAYS be the starting point forallocating right-of-way in a mainstreet redesign.”3
Along these wide sidewalks, manystreetscape features can be used toimprove the pedestrian environment.
These include:
• Benches• Pedestrian scaled lighting• Trash cans• Bike racks• Planters• Street trees
Additionally, buildings that face thestreet provide easy access for pedestri-ans, bicyclists, transit users, and thosewho park on the street.
Traffic CalmingTraffic calming is a term to describephysical devices used on a roadwayto reduce automobile speeds andvolumes. Some common examplesinclude the following:
• Speed bumps and humps
• Curb extensions
• Medians
• Roundabouts
• Raised intersections
• Textured pavements
• Landscaping along the street (i.e.street trees, planters)
Traffic calming can lead to:
• Improved safety for pedestrians(especially children), bicyclists,and auto users;
• Reduced cut-through traffic,truck traffic, excessive speeding,noise, and vibration;
• Reduced crime; and
• Revitalized historic downtownmain streets.
Curb extensions (above) reduce crossing distances for pedestrians and can calm traffic.
Notes1 Appleyard, Donald, Livable Streets, University of California Press, 1981.2 Chellman, Rick, “Street Design: Design Intent, History, and Emerging Concepts”, Land Development, Spring-Summer 1995.3 “Main Street Troutdale,” www.greatstreets.org/MainStreets/MainStTroutdale.html
Connected street networks (right) provide multiple ways for all vehicles to access homes, shops, and otherdestinations. In addition, a connected street system encourages slow, cautious driving.
Typical SubdivisionCul-de-sacs
Well-connectedStreet Network
Places for People
Curb ExtensionsThis curb extension in the City ofSisters was part of a downtownrenewal project in the 1980s. Thisdesign element is used to defineparallel parking bays and calm trafficby forming squeeze points at intersec-tions.
Contact InformationNeil ThompsonPlanning DirectorCity of Sisters150 N. Fir StreetSisters, OR 97759(541) 549-6022 [email protected]
Examples from Oregon
Sisters, Oregon
www.greatstreets.org
Hood River, Oregon
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Streetscape ImprovementsThe City of Hood River established anUrban Renewal Agency to financeimprovements to the downtowninfrastructure. In 1997-1998 the Cityadded bike racks, vintage streetlightsand street trees, as well as burying itsoverhead utility lines.
Contact InformationCindy Walbridge, Planning DirectorHood River City HallPO Box 27Hood River, OR 97031(541) 387-5217www.ci.hood-river.or.us/[email protected]
Connecting Transportation and Land Use
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Independence, Oregon
Contact TGM635 Capital Street N.E. Suite 150Salem, OR 97301Tel- (503) 373-0050Fax- (503) 378-2687www.lcd.state.or.us/tgm
Developed by graduate students in the School of Urban Studies and Planning, College of Urban and Public Affairs, Portland State University, June 2003
This project is partially funded by the Transportation and Growth Management (TGM) Program, a joint program of the Oregon Department ofTransportation and the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development. This TGM project is financed, in part, by federal TransportationEquity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), and the State of Oregon funds.
The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect views or policies of the State of Oregon.
Streetscape ImprovementsIn 2001, the City of Independencebroke ground on an $1.3 millionproject that will completely rebuildtheir main street, with expandedsidewalks, street trees, new streetfurniture, and lighting. The City wasable to pay for the project with statedowntown redevelopment funds,lottery funds, arts grants, and federalTransportation Enhancement funds.
Contact InformationGreg Ellis, City ManagerCity of IndependenceP.O. Box 7Independence, OR 97351(503) [email protected]/~independ/
Redmond, Oregon
Narrow StreetsIn 1995, a developer in Redmond,Oregon proposed a new subdivisionwith narrow, pedestrian-friendly, tree-lined streets. These streets were notallowed under the City’s developmentcode. A public design workshop ledto increased interest in this type ofstreet. The City then applied for, andreceived, a TGM grant to help themchange their development codes toallow for 28 foot streets.
Contact InformationBob QuitmeierCommunity Development DirectorCity of RedmondP.O. Box 726Redmond, Oregon 97756(541) [email protected]
Next stepsApply for a TGM grant to create
a streetscape improvement plan foryour downtown or re-write yourcode.
Change your local developmentcodes to allow for narrow streets.
Hold a visioning session withyour City Council to develop ideasfor improving street design.
Hold a meeting with stakehold-ers, such as public works, firedepartment, waste/recyclingdepartment, developers, engineers,planners, neighborhood groups, andpublic officials, to develop newguidelines for streets.
