1. Once we win over
the Engineers…
How do we show
the Public that
Big Streets can be
Great Streets?
Phil Erickson, AIA
President
Community Design + Architecture
Oakland, California
CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What?
June 13, 2009

2. Project Goals – El Camino Real in Palo Alto
• Make El Camino Real a center of community activity
rather than a barrier
• Create an aesthetically attractive corridor
CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What?
June 13, 2009

3. CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What?
June 13, 2009

4. AM Southbound Peak Hour
Run 4, May 14, 2002
CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What?
June 13, 2009

5. Potential Reduction in Number of Lanes
• The number of existing travel lanes will be
maintained at all intersections with high traffic
volumes.
Two street segments where less than 3 traffic
lanes in each direction are a possibility.
CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What?
June 13, 2009

6. Today’s Shortcomings
El Camino Real @ Los Robles / El Camino Way - Existing Conditions
CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What?
June 13, 2009

7. Proposed 4-Lane Cross Section -
Additional Improvements
El Camino Real @ Los Robles / El Camino Way - PROPOSED 4-Lane
Design by CD+A and Fehr & Peers – Visualization by Urban Advantage
CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What?
June 13, 2009

8. Planning Area Definition
• 5 mile long corridor in Tucson, Arizona
CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What?
June 13, 2009

9. Context Sensitive Solutions… Meeting of Three Contexts
Community Values
Neighborhood & Business Built & Natural Environment
Meetings, Workshops Economic Vitality, Quality of
Life & Development, &
& Open Houses
Landscape
Multi-modal Transportation
Impact Mitigation,
Design Guideline &
Preliminary Plans
CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What?
June 13, 2009

10. Demographics & Market
• 85 percent of study area
establishments are
independently owned
• Some neighborhoods have
concentrations of poverty
CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What?
June 13, 2009

11. Urban Form
• Much of Grant Road lacks a
quality relationship between
public realm and private
building
• Major intersections add to the
sense of discomfort for
pedestrians
CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What?
June 13, 2009

12. Transportation
• The study area has areas with high levels of
walking, cycling, and transit use
• Multi-modal infrastructure and amenities are
inconsistent and need improvement
CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What?
June 13, 2009

13. Existing Grant Road
CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What?
June 13, 2009

14. Existing City Standard for Widening
• Sales Tax Measure defines widening to 6-lanes
CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What?
June 13, 2009

15. Street Sections
• 11 ft. travel lanes • Pedestrian Realm
• 7 ft. bike lane widened from 9 ft. to
20 ft.
• Local access lane for
• Water harvesting
residential frontage &
business access
CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What?
June 13, 2009

16. Protected Pedestrian Crossings
• Signalized intersections • Toucan crossing
• Pelican crossing opportunities
opportunities • Increase from 26 to 50
CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What?
June 13, 2009

17. Protected Pedestrian Crossings
• Signalized intersections • Toucan crossing
• Pelican crossing opportunities
opportunities • Increase from 26 to 50
Design by CD+A and Kimley-Horn
Visualization by Urban Advantage
CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What?
June 13, 2009

18. Speed Recommendation
• Target speed: 35 mph
• Posted speed limit: 35 mph
• Design speed: 35 mph (per ITE
Recommended Practice for CSS in
Designing Major Urban Thoroughfares
for Walkable Communities)
CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What?
June 13, 2009

19. Citizen Task Force
• 18 member Task Force composed of businesses,
neighborhood representatives, and cyclist, disabled,
& regional stakeholders
• Charged with developing the roadway alignment
and street cross section for Grant Road, and
landscaping, access and land use plans.
CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What?
June 13, 2009

20. Guiding Principles
Issue Areas
• Mobility & Access
• Character & Vitality
• Aesthetics &
Environment
• Vision &
Implementation
CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What?
June 13, 2009

21. Public Participation
• September 2006 – October 2008
– 39 public meetings held with 1,000 + participants
– 1,250 web, paper, & phone surveys completed
– 5,000 + comments received
CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What?
June 13, 2009

22. Task Force Recommended Alignment
• Propose an alignment concept, and in some places,
alternative alignments
• Provide tools for Task Force to move towards a
recommended Grant Road alignment
CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What?
June 13, 2009

23. Task Force Reviewed a Range of Options
• Concerns about impact to • Some wanted minimal
Walgreens & Bookman’s impacts
• Some wanted strategic
impacts
CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What?
June 13, 2009

24. Task Force Recommended Alignment
• 5 Task Force Meetings • 6-1 vote of Mayor &
during summer of 2008 Council to approve
• Community Open
House in January 2009
CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What?
June 13, 2009

25. Proposed Alignment Concept
CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What?
June 13, 2009

26. Comment Methods
• 440 Total Comments Received
early October-November 17th
CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What?
June 13, 2009

27. CSS and the Public
• Involve the public in making
the tough choices… to do this
they must be well informed
• Define project scope with
serious investment in public
process:
– Conversation & Listening
– Visioning Positive Future
Change
– Education & Case Studies
– Clear & accessible assessment
• Time and cost
• Safety and health
• Economic and social vitality
CNU17 – Denver, Colorado The Street Manual Hits the Streets: Now What?
June 13, 2009