A Case Study in Context Sensitive Design
Redesign of the North Tryon Street
Business Corridor Improvement Project
Orientation Map
Policy Framework
In 2007, Charlotte City Council approved a
Business Corridor Revitalization Strategic
Plan
The City will take a leadership role in developing and
implementing public and private collaborative strategies and
investments that aim to:
1. Attract private sector investment
2. Expand the tax base in the business
corridors
3. Support the revitalization of the
corridors
Catalyst Site #2
Project Timeline
• November 2008 - Warren & Associates
completed Redevelopment Study for
North Tryon
• May 2010 - North Tryon Area Plan
approved by Charlotte City Council
• Project funding of
$9.5 million
was approved in
November 2010 for
the North Tryon Street
Business Corridor
Project
Urban Street Design Guidelines (USDG)
• Takes “Complete Streets”
approach
• Designs for all modes of
transportation
• Considers adjacent land
uses as well as safety,
mobility and neighborhood
livability
Urban Street Design Guidelines
Six-Step Process
Land Use, Transportation Contexts
(Steps 1 and 2)
• Gateway into city
from northeast
• Links Uptown
Charlotte to
University City
area
• Rail corridor
(Amtrak Station)
• Industrial area
• Great view of
uptown
Existing Deficiencies (Step 3)
• 10’ Travel Lanes
• Heavily Utilized Bus Route
• Significant Truck Traffic
• Poor Pedestrian
Accommodations
• Limited crossing
opportunities
• Narrow sidewalks
• Little or no separation
from traffic
• Buildings close to road
• Utility Conflicts
Describe Future Objectives
(Step 4)
• Provide a more comfortable driving experience (Median)
• Provide multimodal travel opportunities
• Improved pedestrian facilities
• Enhance access to transit (Rail and Bus)
• Improve aesthetics of corridor
• Minimize impact to existing businesses
• Incentivize reinvestment (Partner with Private
Development Interest)
Initial Cross-Section (Step 5)
Not So Fast:
Concerns Over Initial X-Section
• The median impacts access to industrial uses
requiring large trucks
• The width of the cross section impacts a
number of businesses (22)
• To reduce building impacts significant amounts
of sidewalk located at back of curb
Urban Street Design Guidelines
Six-Step Process
Identify Trade-offs
(Part of Step 6)
What can we build that meets the goals of the
project and what does that mean for the project?
• Can we reduce the sidewalk width?
NO
• Can we reduce planting strips?
NO
• Can we remove bike lanes?
NO
• Can we remove the median?
Maybe…
Tradeoff Analysis
(Part of Step 6)
What happens to the project if we remove the
median (4 lane undivided arterial)?
Positives:
• Access for businesses is not impacted
• Number of physical business impacts reduced
• Flexibility for utility relocations
Negatives:
• Undivided 4 lane Arterial
• Limited in street greenery
• Pedestrian Crossings Problematic!
Initial Section from Step 5:
Median Alternative
One Way Pair Alternative
•
•
•
•
2- 11’ Lanes
1 - 5’ Bike Lanes
2 - 8’ Planting Strips
2 - 6’ Sidewalks
TOTAL R/W Required = 59’
EXISTING R/W = 60’
28th
23rd
Dalton Avenue
RESIDENTIAL
MIXED USE
INDUSTRIAL
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Minimizes right-of-way impact
Improved vehicular capacity
Buffer for pedestrians (Planting Strip)
Shorter pedestrian crossings
Bike lanes
Block spacing
Separation of industrial and residential
30th Street
Proposed New Section:
One Way Pair Alternative
Comparing the Alternatives
Median
Option
X
X
One-Way
Pair Option
X
Aesthetics
X
Safety
X
Function
X
Multi-modal
X
Property Impacts
X
Green Space
X
Redevelopment
X
Public Preference
X
Budget
Extensive Public Outreach for the
One-Way Pair
• 66 (!) total planning meetings were held with
stakeholders, businesses, public, and city
departments
• 2 public planning meetings held
• Key information learned from the business/property
owner meetings:
o
o
o
o
Business operations
Project impacts
Preferred alternative
Minimize plan impacts
Select Final Cross-Section
(Step 6)
28th
30th Street
Dalton Avenue
One Way Pair Alternative…
23rd
Dalton Avenue
30th Street
Median Alternative…
Where Are We Now
• Design Complete by end 2013
• Real estate acquisition 2014
• Utility relocation 2015
• Construction 2016
Lessons Learned
• Divide and conquer, use 2 small streets instead
of one big street
• Utilize extensive public involvement
• Think outside the box, even a really big box
NEVER GIVE UP!
Questions and Comments