Project description
Provide description of project/building program (bullets or a summary paragraph):
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Number of GATRA bus bays: The Transit Contains 3 active loading and unloading bus berths, as
well as two bays for queuing buses awaiting access to loading/unloading berths. All bus stations
(active and queuing) are located within the building ground floor.
Parking spaces are distributed as follows:
On-Grade
(including 2 Handicap Van Accessible, 4 Car Sharing, 4 Electric Vehicle Charging)
nd
2 Floor
(including 2 Handicap Van Accessible)
3rd Floor
(including 2 Handicap Van Accessible)
Roof:
(including 2 Handicap Van Accessible)
Total:
394 (incl. 8 Handicap Van Accessible, 4 Car Sharing, 4 Electric Vehicle Charging)
Net increase: 274 spaces
Visitor Center: The new visitor center doubles the area of the existing visitor center from 600 to
1200sf. The staffed center will provide referrals, reservations, maps, and local information in a
space shared with a coffee shop/café allowing flexibility of interior area for seasonal flux.
Leasable space:
Ground Floor: 1894 sqft;
Mezzanine:
1274 sqft,
Level 2.5:
3411 sqft
Bicycle accommodations: Bicycle parking is to be provided for 20 bicycles. An enclosed area of
300sf has been set aside to house a local bicycle sharing program or bicycle rental facility
Pedestrian connections: A key priority for the project is the provision of enhanced pedestrian
connections between the waterfront and the business and cultural venues along Court/Main
Street. The project contains a 200’ covered walkway along Memorial Drive to facilitate this
connection. On the Water Street face of the building, a widened sidewalk creates a space for
larger numbers of visitors to pass in front of the building, outdoor seating in front of the visitor
center, as well a grand stair to a second level public outdoor room from which visitors and
residents alike can relax and enjoy the harbor views and activity along Water Street.
Plazas/open space: Two new public spaces are created as part of this project: a street level
outdoor sitting area directly adjacent to the visitor Center and public sidewalk; and a second
level covered outdoor space where visitors and residents can look out over the Hedge House
lawn, south to the Mayflower II, and out toward the marina and Plymouth Harbor. These two
outdoor spaces are connected by a grand “sitting-stair” intended as a visual landmark and
meeting place for locals and visitors.
Connections from waterfront to downtown: The project is a true Intermodal Center located
within a 10 minute walk of the main street business district and waterfront historic sites. Sited
at the terminus of Route 44 and the Plymouth Harbor, the project will be a gateway to the Town
of Plymouth, where visitors and tourists may park their cars and transfer to one of several local
modes of transport (foot, bicycle, pedicab, etc.) housed at the Transportation Center. GATRA
buses departing and returning to the facility make numerous stops through the downtown and
waterfront.
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Relationship to Memorial Hall: The intermodal Transit Center is important to the long term
viability and growth of Memorial Hall. The project triples the available parking for events. The
pedestrian colonnade along Memorial Drive links the Transit Center and parking to the
memorial Hall Site with a covered walkway. A walkway adjacent to the sidewalk provides a
direct link between a raised public “living room” on Water Street to Memorial Drive and up to
Memorial Hall. This, combined with a new elevator at the West end of the structured parking
combine to enhance the accessibility of Memorial Hall for the elderly and disabled.
Other uses: Along with the Visitor Center, the project contains several unique leasable spaces on
the side facing Water Street. Not only does this buffer the scale and industrial quality of
structured parking from the historic Plymouth waterfront. This “buffer zone” of occupied spaces
are designed to accommodate a flexible variety of spaces, to house visitor services,
café/restaurant retail, and public social spaces. The combination of commercial and public
spaces help to stitch together the urban and economic ambitions of the project into a single
identity that will enhance the growth, development, and character of the Plymouth waterfront
Innovation elements
Descriptions for innovative technology:
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Smart cards for buses/parking – PGDC to provide –See below
Proposed Parking payment technology –
1. State-of-the-art Pay-on-Foot access control system which features hand’s free AVI
transponders to permit holder regulation. The Pay-on-Foot format is more environmentally
responsible because it reduces vehicle idle time over the traditional Pay-at-Exit format and
allows for higher process rates for vehicles entering or exiting the facility, a critical concern given
that transit integration tends to produce ‘waves’ of vehicles entering or exiting the facility,
rather than the more steady turnover seen in a garage servicing other land uses. (This is also a
consideration during events at the adjacent Memorial Hall.)
2. The AVI system allows for the highest process rate in the industry of all technologies
regulating permit holder usage and also encourages drivers to keep both hands on the wheel
and eyes on the road during transitions in and out of the garage.
3. Design team is recommending inclusion of a simple count system linked to a dynamic signage
package – to be located at the point of entry – giving driver’s real-time data on the number of
available parking spaces on each level of the garage. This will also reduce CO2 emissions and
speed up process rates into the facility. Pending funding, PGDC could consider purchase of a
more elaborate parking guidance package that would direct entering drivers from the opening
gate all the way to the nearest available space utilizing sonic stall sensors and dynamic
signage/light systems
“Next Bus” monitoring – GATRA to provide
Zip Car – 4 spaces have been allocated on-grade to be designated for accommodation of “ZipCar” or other car-sharing services
Electric Vehicle charging - 4 spaces have been allocated on-grade for electric vehicle charging
Green building technology – Lighting Controls, high efficiency lighting (LED), Daylighting controls
for perimeter lighting, MRL Elevator. Passive ventilation & daylighting. Proposing PV panels
pending appropriate approvals. Post industrial (fly-ash) admixtures into precast concrete
elements. Recycled content in steel. Recycling of construction material (construction waste
management). Use of indigenous plants for landscape materials. Stormwater management.
Alternative transportation.
LEED
Development Density and Community Connectivity - Previously developed site within 1/2 mile of
residential zone (10 units/acre) and 10 basic services with pedestrian access.
Alternative Transportation - Within 1/4 Mile of 2 bus line stops or 1/2 mile of rail stop
Stormwater Design: Quality Control - Treat 90% of average annual rainfall using BMPs.
Low Emitting materials – Adhesives and Sealants, Paints and Coatings
Daylight and Views – Daylight 75% of spaces; Views for 90% of spaces
Construction Activity Pollution Prevention – Implement and Erosion and sedimentation control
plan
Construction Waste Management – Divert 75%
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Bicycle parking - Bicycle parking is to be provided for 20 bicycles. An enclosed area of 250sf has
been set aside to house a local bicycle sharing program or bicycle rental facility