Placemaking through complete streets

Placemaking through Complete Streets…the economic bang for your

SNEAPA – October 21, 2016Joe Wanat, VHBMartina Haggerty, City of ProvidenceSteve Rolle, City of Worcester

OVERVIEW

The Benefits of Placemakingand Complete Streets

Providence Experience… The Creative Capital

Worcester Experience… The Heart of the Commonwealth

Tell us your thoughts… Audience interactive polling exercise

Open Discussion/Questions

The Benefits of Placemaking and Complete Streets

PLACEMAKING IS… about creating great places!

they are easy to get to, they are fun, safe, memorable and attractive places to visit

capitalizes on the unique assets of a community and promote people’s health, happiness and well being

these special places are memorable and desirable places to live, work and play in

they have the ability to create an economic return on investment

‘What Makes People Happy with their Communities?’ The top 3 drivers indicating how emotionally connected

someone is to their community.

The Gallup and Knight Foundation surveyed 26 U.S. cities/43,000 people and asked:

Social Offerings Aesthetics Openness

Fewer millennials are getting a driver’s license

Examples of Successful Public Places

Orlando


Winter Garden


Indianapolis


New York City


Washington DC

Public Places Boost the Economy

“Neighborhoods, cities and regions are awakening to the importance of ‘place’ in economic development.”

They recognize the critical importance of: 1. quality of life to attracting talent 2. entrepreneurship 3. supporting local businesses

This work has been described as a “sense of place” or “place-based economic development” or simply “placemaking.”

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, 2011

Companies are moving to downtowns

Walkable neighborhoods

Transportation options

Retain and recruit talented workers

Amenity rich environment

Great office space & culture

Incomplete Streets

Incomplete streets are designed for cars only

Dangerous

Unhealthy

Unattractive

Incomplete Streets

Complete Streets

Addresses all users; pedestrians, bicycle, transit, auto & freight

Increases safety for all users

Increases livability

Enhances destinations & employment centers

Increases Economic Development potential for communities

What does a Complete Streets Look Like?

Sidewalks


Street & Patio Furniture


Pedestrian Signage


Enhanced Pedestrian Crossing


Bike Lanes/Sharrows


Separated Bike Lanes


Low‐Impact Development

Complete Streets = Economic Revitalization

Provide:

• Retail sales increase

• Property values increase

• Spurs private investment

Lancaster Boulevard, CA

Nine block, five-lane road w/ travel speeds up to 50 mph


Cost: $11.6 million street renovation project

Streetscape Improvements: narrow travel lanes, wider sidewalks, pedestrian-plaza, street trees, gateways and public art

Development: 110,000 SF commercial space & over 800 low-income apartments


Jobs: 800

Sales tax revenue: 26%

Safety: collisions down by 50%

Investment: $400 million in economic output

Clematis Street, West Palm Beach

Three lanes, converted to a two-way street with on-street parking

Clematis Street, West Palm Beach

Cost: $1.8 million for redesign and redevelopment

Streetscape Improvements: redesign of cross section, wider sidewalks, landscaping, street furniture, transit shelters, on-street parking, curblessintersections and mid-block pedestrian crossings

Investment: $500 million in private investment

Property values: risen from $20/SF to +$100/SF

Place: 80,000 visitors each week

Edgewater Drive, Orlando

Four lanes, converted to a two-way street with central turn lane, on-street parking & bike lanes

Edgewater Drive, Orlando

Cost: $50,000 beyond what repaving would have cost

Jobs: 560 new jobs, 77 new businesses

Property values: 80% increase along corridor & 70% w/in ½ mile

Safety: 40% decrease in collisions

Place: 23% increase in pedestrian activity & 30% increase in bicycle activity

N.Y.C. - Attracts Retail Sales

A 2013 NY DOT study measured the economic effect of street redesign before and after a project was implemented.

They concluded that a street’s gain in retail sales can be attributed to:

• Improved accessibility• A more welcoming street environment

Retailers often see a change within a year after implementation.

NYC - Street Improvements = Increase in Retail Sales

Columbus Ave. 20% increase in revenue

Ninth Ave. 49% increase in revenue

Fordham Road 71% increase in revenue

Walkability Raises Property Values

Walk Score provides a baseline measure for walkable communities

Assigns a ranking from 0-100 based on pedestrian friendliness and access to services

Website: https://www.walkscore.com/

Walk, Transit & Bike Score

New York City • Walk Score – 88

• Transit Score – 81

• Bike Score – 65

• Very Walkable

Boston • Walk Score – 80



• Very Walkable

Orlando• Walk Score – 30


• Auto Dependent

Providence• Walk Score – 78



• Very Walkable

Worcester• Walk Score – 56


• Bike Score – n/a

• Somewhat Walkable

Walkability Raises Property Values

Benefits• A score of 70 and above indicates a neighborhood that is not

dependent on automobiles

• A one-point increase raised home values by $500 to $3,000

• A 10-point increase increases commercial property values by 5% - 8%

Orange County Trails

Jobs: 516

Revenue: $42 million annually

West Orange Trail

Revenue: $5 million

Revenue attributed to trail users: 25%

Monon Trail, Indianapolis

“It may not have sand and crashing waves, but the Monon Trail is the equivalent of beachfront property in the Indianapolis area.”

-Bill Ruthhard, Indianapolis Star

Cost: $7 million for first segment

Improvements: Converted rail bed to multi-use trail

Users: 1.2 million in first year

Property Value: 11% increase within ½-mile

Marion County Trails: $140 million in total property value increase

Indianapolis Cultural Trail, Indianapolis

Cost: $63 million to redesign and rebuild

Streetscape Improvements: multi-use trail, landscaping, signage, specialty paving, street furniture, green infrastructure

Jobs: 11,000

Investment: + $800 million in total economic impact

Property Value: w/in 1 block of trail increased 148% or $1 B

Place: Community reinvestment & increased property value

American Tobacco Trail in North Carolina Cost: $11.2 million

Improvements: 22 miles and new bridge built connect two trails

Gross business revenue: $4.9 million

Jobs: 43 jobs

Average Spending of Trail Users: $16

Trail Use: 133% increase

Why We Measure Economic Impacts

Influence lawmakers and transportation officials to:

Increase funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects

Inform project prioritization

Measure transportation plan performance in favor of all modes

Affect local development through:

Complete street ordinances and policies

Local land plans supporting mixed use and walkable communities

Partnerships with local businesses to provide accommodations

Economic Impacts of Bike Trails

Transportation Mode Automobile Bikeway/Bike Lanes

Construction $60 million/mile (Urban freeway) $170,000-$250,000/mile

Net Economic Benefit -$.20/mile +$.42/mile(per mile traveled)

Transportation and Job Creation

National Statistics and Reports

Bicycling Means Business League of American Bicyclists (2012)

National Statistics and Reports

Outdoor Industry Foundation (2005)

Yard and Street Trees 2% -15% increase

Tree Retention 18% - 37% increase

Parks & Open Space 10% - 32% increase

Views of Forest 5% - 8% increase

Street trees in front of homes in Portland, Oregon add more than $7,000 to selling prices.

Community Gardens – 9.4% increase within 1000’ within 5 years

Trees & Parks Raise Property Values

Summary of Physical Attributes of Walkable Communities

Compact Development Mixed Use Mixed Income Public Space

Shade Trees Street Lighting Signage Accessibility

Connectivity Safety Multimodal Security

Providence Experience… The Creative Capital

Worcester Experience… The Heart of the Commonwealth

Audience interactive polling

Placemaking through Complete Streets…the economic bang for your

SNEAPA – October 21, 2016

Government & Nonprofit

Placemaking through complete streets