2013 Session: 449

• Framework for Innovative Public Spaces
  Abstract: BackgroundThe NYC Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Plaza Program was initiated to quickly create new public spaces in the public right-of-way throughout the City’s five boroughs. The most high profile projects involved reallocating road space to public plazas along Broadway with the goal of improving pedestrian movement and safety without compromising traffic flow. Creating public plazas in space constrained cities is not a simple task. Removing traffic lanes is politically contentious, as business owners fear reduced vehicular access to their businesses, and local drivers fear an increase in congestion. There are significant costs involved in the planning, construction and maintenance of public spaces, and ownership can often be an issue. The innovative aspect of the DOT plazas is that by using paint, planters, folding chairs, rotating public art and other temporary materials, construction time and costs are minimal when compared with traditional raised plazas. Analyzing five reclaimed spaces, this paper evaluates how people interact with these newly created plazas, with each other and with traffic as well as explores how these new spaces create new view corridors for pedestrians to view adjacent landmarks and the City. The primary goals of this paper are to understand how plaza design elements impact use of the space and to provide recommendations to inform the development of plazas for other cities. This project was conducted in collaboration with Project for Public Spaces (PPS).Methodology & FrameworkSite SelectionFive reclaimed streets, parking lots and intersections in NYC are included in the study. These sites span geographically across three boroughs and vary in the land use context in which they are located. The five spaces include:• Gansevoort Plaza (Manhattan); • Meat Market Plaza (Manhattan); • Pearl Street Pocket Park (Brooklyn); • Broadway Boulevard Plaza at Madison Square (Manhattan); and• “The Hub” at Roberto Clemente Plaza (Bronx). Observational AnalysisObservational data collection was used to gain information about the physical aspects of the site as well as patterns of use by patrons. Each site was filmed from a bird’s eye view, usually a rooftop overlooking the plaza, for two hours at midday (between 11:30pm and 2pm) and two hours in the early evening (4pm – 6pm)- peak periods of weekday plaza use based on site observations. The video data was then used to conduct the following analyses:• Site geometry and features: Using a combination of observation and any existing plans or designs for the plazas, we created plans of each space showing the location of all features including furniture, bollards, planters, vendors, crosswalks, bicycle lanes and nearby transit stops.• Activity mapping and spot counts: From the video, common activities that occur in various areas of the plaza were mapped. This helped understand how certain features or geometries are conducive to different activities, whether sitting and eating, socializing, or reading.• User path tracking: User paths were tracked and mapped through the plazas.Video With our bird’s eye view video recordings, time-lapse videos were created to document the overall movement in the plaza throughout the day. Video montages help illustrate travel paths, activity clusters and how users interact with the public space. Direct User FeedbackSurveys were used to gain feedback directly from users on the aspects they liked or disliked about the plaza. After several iterations, and working with PPS, the following factors have been identified as important in understanding how the design of the space affected the pedestrian experience and overall appeal of the space:• Comfort and Image; • Uses and Activities; and• Plaza Accessibility. In addition to the survey, we asked patrons about the purpose of their journey (work, shopping, home) to try to understand why users typically pass through the space.Results & FindingsPreliminary findings provide guidelines for the reallocation of street space for pedestrians to maximize its use and appeal. Key observations and recommendations focus on: • Locational principles; • Design elements to attract users to a space;• Connectivity and navigation;• 24-Hour plazas for a 24-hour city; • Definition of the space;• Creating destinations within a corridor; and• Programming and maintenance.
  Authors: Harvey, Nina; Jaynes, Carla; Khuong, Yennga Thi; Riscica, Vincent
  Authors: Harvey, Nina; Jaynes, Carla; Khuong, Yennga Thi; Riscica, Vincent
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Society; Passenger Transportation; Public Transportation; Design
  Session: 449
  Paper Number: 13-2839
  Practice-Ready: Yes
• Examples of Road and Rail Projects from Sweden
  Abstract: Review of examples of road and rail projects provided by the National Road/Rail Administration (s) in Sweden, where design, human scale, and local environment quality have played a big role. Comments and reflections please se PDF file attached
  Authors: Ingo, Susanne
  Authors: Ingo, Susanne
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Society; Passenger Transportation; Public Transportation; Design
  Session: 449
  Paper Number: 13-3559
  Practice-Ready: Yes
• Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Investments for Vibrant Riverfront Neighborhood: Case Study in Cincinnati, Ohio
  Abstract:

  Settled in 1788, Cincinnati’s reliance on transportation to shape its growth started on the banks of the Ohio River where steamboats served as a vital part of the transportation network. When steamboats gave way to trains, trucks and automobiles, the riverfront was transformed by an interstate highway (I-71) that cut off downtown from the river and rail spurs to serve industrial users. Riverfront Stadium opened in 1970 and was connected to downtown with elevated pedestrian bridges across the ramps of the interstate highway. Social interaction occurred within the stadium during events but pedestrians immediately fled after games. Public investments of the time had created a transient and industrial environment. In the late 1990s, government and civic leaders collaborated to plan investments to spur the growth of the riverfront neighborhood known as The Banks. Together they quickly realized that transportation and public infrastructure investments would shape the development and social use of the neighborhood. The riverfront master plan outlined strategic transportation and public infrastructure investments that set the framework for the neighborhood:1.Reconfigure Fort Washington Way (I-71) – Completed in 2000, the project shrank the width and lowered the mainline interstate to allow downtown streets to flow seamlessly from the downtown core to The Banks neighborhood. With the sunken mainline and downtown scaled boulevards, pedestrians experience a comfortable walk along the planter lined sidewalks. On game days, thousands of event patrons enjoy the interconnectivity of the pedestrian amenities provided in this transportation facility. 2.Riverfront Transit Center – The center provides a below grade transit facility for event bus rider transfer on game days where pedestrians are dropped off in close proximity to the stadia and enjoy a neighborhood walk to the event. 3.Street Grid – The plan also re-established the riverfront street grid within the new neighborhood. Designed with pedestrian scaled amenities, the streets created a neighborhood. 4.Intermodal Parking Facility – Serving as the platform for development and streets above, the facility includes parking for event patrons, downtown workers and neighborhood visitors/residents. Vanpool and rideshare patrons receive special rates. 5.Stadia – Paul Brown Stadium and Great American Ball Park were pushed to the outer edges of the neighborhood to allow the city to grow to the river. Entry gates and ancillary facilities were positioned at street level to encourage a pedestrian friendly environment. 6.Bike Facility and Trails – In 2012, the Bike Center opened within the new Riverfront Park. Commuters and visitors may rent and store bikes in this facility located adjacent to the Ohio River Bike Trail system. 7.Reconfigure Mehring Way – The iconic Roebling Suspension Bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The plan reserved space around this important landmark for the new riverfront park and reconfigured Mehring Way (US 50) from its 1970s rivers edge location to a 2011 tree-lined northern alignment. 8.Transient Boat Dock – The riverfront park includes plans for a transient boat dock in the Ohio River. The dock will serve travelers and boaters on game days. 9.Cincinnati Streetcar – The City of Cincinnati is leading the effort for the initial 4 mile phase of this embedded rail streetcar route that connects the riverfront to urban core. The transportation and public investments outlined above spurred the following private investments: 1.The Banks Development – Key components set the framework for a private mixed use development (2010) that includes museum, hotel, office, retail and residential uses in a neighborhood. The transportation and public investments also spurred many public art opportunities within the neighborhood including:1.Riverfront Transit Center Mosaic2.Art Works Wall Mural3.Black Brigade Monument4.Labyrinth5.Children’s CarouselThese public art features and park amenities created in land adjacent to or made available by transportation investments contribute to the human scale and pedestrian environment. ConclusionThe strategic transportation investments in the Cincinnati riverfront area created a framework for leveraging other investments that maximized the impact of human interaction within the transportation facilities of the vibrant neighborhood.

  Authors: Sharp, Timothy
  Authors: Sharp, Timothy
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Society; Passenger Transportation; Public Transportation; Design
  Session: 449
  Paper Number: 13-4958
  Practice-Ready: Yes
• Examples of Road and Rail Projects from Sweden
  Authors: Ingo, Susanne
  Authors: Ingo, Susanne
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: AICP Certification Maintenance Session; Design; Passenger Transportation; Public Transportation; Society
  Session: 449
  Paper Number: 13-3559
• Framework for Innovative Public Spaces
  Authors: Harvey, Nina
  Authors: Harvey, Nina
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: AICP Certification Maintenance Session; Design; Passenger Transportation; Public Transportation; Society
  Session: 449
  Paper Number: 13-2839
• Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Investments for Vibrant Riverfront Neighborhood: Case Study in Cincinnati, Ohio
  Authors: Sharp, Timothy
  Authors: Sharp, Timothy
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: AICP Certification Maintenance Session; Design; Passenger Transportation; Public Transportation; Society
  Session: 449
  Paper Number: 13-4958
• Creating Places for People: Evolution of Place-Making Analysis and Techniques
  Authors: Rube, Kate
  Authors: Rube, Kate
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: AICP Certification Maintenance Session; Design; Passenger Transportation; Public Transportation; Society
  Session: 449
  Paper Number: P13-5744