Integrating a Health Impact Assessment into District-Wide School Travel Plan...
#14 Part 2: Presenting the Model Design Manual for Living Streets (Implementation) - Schwartz
1. 10 TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING MYTHS
THAT HAVE THWARTED THE BEST OF PLANS
Presented at Pro Walk Pro Bike 2012 Conference
Samuel I. Schwartz, P.E.
September 11, 2012
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
and Visionary in Expression
2. MAKING IT WORK, PLANNING IN A CONNECTED WORLD
10 Transportation Engineering Myths
1. We will never get people out of their cars
2. Americans won’t walk or bike in significant numbers
3. Reshaping city transportation is expensive & takes a long time
4. Fatter lanes are safer lanes
5. A “B” is better than a “D”
6. It’s a zero sum game between peds, traffic and public space
7. Closing or narrowing a congested street leads to gridlock
8. Adding highway capacity is key to reducing congestion
9. Knocking down a highway will cause gridlock
10. “You can’t make an omelette without breaking a few eggs”
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
and Visionary in Expression
3. 1. WE WILL NEVER GET PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR CARS
“The future ain't what it used to be.”
-Yogi Berra
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
and Visionary in Expression
4. 1. WE WILL NEVER GET PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR CARS
Trends: Younger people driving less, walking & biking more (active
transportation)
Source: The Sightline Institute The Future Isn’t What It Used To Be, Victoria Transport Policy Institute
• Portion of 19-yr-olds with a driver’s license fell from 92% in 1977 to 77% in 2008
• Average VMT by drivers aged 16 to 34 dropped by 23% between 2001-2009*
• Bike trips for 16 to 34-year-olds jumped 24% between 2001-2009*
*Source: National Household Travel Survey
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
New York, NY and Visionary in Expression
5. 1. 2012 TRANSIT RIDERSHIP TRENDS
1st Quarters 2012 vs 2011
% Change
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
and Visionary in Expression
6. 2. AMERICANS WON’T WALK OR BIKE IN SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS
SHARE OF COMMUTERS WHO WALK AND BIKE
Sources: J. Pucher and R. Buehler,2010. “Walking and Cycling for Healthy Cities” and
2007 -2009 ACS (3-year average)
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
and Visionary in Expression
7. 2. AMERICANS WON’T WALK OR BIKE IN SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS
ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION
Any method of travel that is all or partly human-powered. It refers
to transportation that supports walking, stair use, cycling, and
transit. It includes long-term land use and transportation planning
to encourage alternate (non-motor vehicle) forms of transport.
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
and Visionary in Expression
8. 2. ENCOURAGING ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION
• Dense cities, mixed land-use generate short trips
• Safe convenient cycling including bike parking
• Connected, direct, and pleasant sidewalks and paths
• Traffic systems and designs with pedestrians and cyclists in mind
• Calm residential neighborhoods
• Walk-to-School programs
• Good transit
• Coordinate transit + cycling + walking
• Laws + enforcement to protect peds + bikes > cars
• Education programs
• Equitable cost of transportation by mode
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
and Visionary in Expression
9. 2. VEHICLE TRIPS GENERATED PER DAY
Suburban Houses vs. Urban Apartment
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
and Visionary in Expression
10. PEDS: WALKING
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
and Visionary in Expression
11. BICYCLE
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
and Visionary in Expression Bike Share, B-cycle, Chicago
12. 2. NYC PEDESTRIAN / BIKE ‘RIBBON’ BRIDGES
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
and Visionary in Expression
13. 2. MILLENNIUM FOOTBRIDGE – LONDON, ENGLAND
Cost: $38 Million
Total Length: 1,214 Ft
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
and Visionary in Expression
14. 2. GATESHEAD MILLENNIUM BRIDGE - TYNESIDE, ENGLAND
Cost: $35 Million
Total Length: 344 Ft (rotates 40 degrees to permit vessels to pass)
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
and Visionary in Expression
15. 2. BOB KERREY PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE - OMAHA, NEBRASKA
Cost: $22 Million
Total Length: 3,000 Ft
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
and Visionary in Expression
16. 2. MILLENNIUM BP PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE – CHICAGO, ILLIONOIS
Cost: $14.5 Million
Total Length: 935 Ft
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
and Visionary in Expression
17. 2. OTHER PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES
EXPO BRIDGE PAVILION – ZARAZOGA, SPAIN
Max-Eyth-See Bridge - Stuttgart, Germany Expo Bridge Pavilion - Zaragoza, Spain
Kokonoe Bridge – Oita, Japan YAS Marina Link Bridge, Abu Dhabi
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
and Visionary in Expression
18. 3. RESHAPING CITY TRANSPORTATION IS EXPENSIVE & TAKES A LONG TIME
DESIGN
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
and Visionary in Expression
19. WORLD CLASS STREETS
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
and Visionary in Expression
20. 3. POP-UP CAFE
Sullivan St., NYC
Pearl St., NYC 44th & 3rd Ave., NYC
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
and Visionary in Expression
21. 3. RESHAPING CITY TRANSPORTATION IS EXPENSIVE & TAKES A LONG TIME
AMSTERDAM AVENUE
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
New York, NY and Visionary in Expression
22. 3. RESHAPING CITY TRANSPORTATION IS EXPENSIVE & TAKES A LONG TIME
MELROSE AVENUE
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
West Hollywood, CA and Visionary in Expression
23. 4. FATTER LANES ARE SAFER LANES
a) This may be true on higher speed roads but..
b) “There are no studies to support this on urban streets.”
Richard Retting
Former Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Engineer, now with SSE
48’ Lanes = 12ft, 3.66m
14.6m
44’ Lanes = 11ft, 3.35m
13.4m
40’ Lanes = 10ft, 3.04m
12.1m
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
and Visionary in Expression
24. 4. FATTER LANES ARE SAFER LANES (CONT’D)
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
New York, NY and Visionary in Expression
25. 4. FATTER LANES ARE SAFER LANES (CONT’D)
Technical Advisory Committee Findings
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
New York, NY and Visionary in Expression
26. 4. FATTER LANES ARE SAFER LANES (CONT’D)
c) “Analysis of geometric, traffic volume, and accident data has
found… no consistent , statistically significant relationship
between lane width and safety for midblock sections of urban
and suburban arterials. There is no indication that the use of 3.0-
or 3.3m (10-11ft lanes), rather than 3.6m (12ft) lanes for arterial
mid segments leads to increases in accident frequency.
Relationship of lane Width to Safety for Urban and Suburban Arterials
by Potts, Harwood & Richard, TRB 2007
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
and Visionary in Expression
27. 5. A “B” IS BETTER THAN A “D”?
Levels of Service
A. Free Flowing
Speed (MPH)
B. Slightly Restricted
C. More Restricted
D. Substantial Delays
E. Significant Delays
F. Jammed
Volume (Vehicles per Hour)
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
and Visionary in Expression
28. 5. A “B” IS BETTER THAN A “D”
Proposed Level of Service Ratings for Main Streets
A. Traffic moving slowly, 10-15 mph. Good pedestrian density, separated
bike lane. Frequent buses stop every 2-3 blocks. Shoup parking at curbs
B. Traffic moving slow to moderate, speeds 15-20 mph, moderate
pedestrian density, Class II bike lane, metered parking, moderate transit
use.
F. Traffic moving swiftly 25-30mph, few pedestrians, no parking at curb, no
provisions for bikes. Long headways for buses.
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
and Visionary in Expression
29. 5. A “B” IS BETTER THAN A “D”
Old Rating A Old Rating E
New Rating F New Rating A
Broadway - Los Angeles, CA State Street - Chicago, IL
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
and Visionary in Expression
30. 6. IT’S A ZERO SUM GAME BETWEEN PEDS, TRAFFIC & PUBLIC SPACE
BATTERY PLACE – ¾ ACRE PARK ADDED, TRAFFIC BETTER
BEFORE AFTER
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
New York, NY and Visionary in Expression
31. 6. CANAL PARK: HISTORIC PARK EXPANDED, TRAFFIC BETTER
1871-1921 1921-2005
2005 – Present
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
and Visionary in Expression
32. 7. CLOSING/NARROWING A CONGESTED ST LEADS TO GRIDLOCK
Times Square & Herald Square, NYC
Broadway is a pedestrian mall from 47th
to 42nd Sts. and from 35th to 33rd Sts.
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
New York, NY and Visionary in Expression
33. 7. HERALD SQUARE (CONT’D)
Before After
Broadway
Broadway
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
New York, NY and Visionary in Expression
34. 7. HERALD SQUARE SIGNAL TIMING
Existing Signal Timing Adjusted Signal Timing
(90 sec cycle) (90 sec cycle)
30 s 30 s
Broadway 6th Avenue
45 s 45 s
34th Street 6th Avenue
30 s
34th Street
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
and Visionary in Expression
35. 7. CANAL STREET PEDESTRIAN & TRAFFIC SAFETY STUDY
“Canal Street may appear to be a
busy thoroughfare but it is
remarkably inefficient in moving
vehicles.”
“The vehicles are moving so
slowly that, for the most part
they are merely providing
"seating" on Canal Street and
movement is the exception.
Clearly, the existing amount of
road space is not needed to
move so few vehicles.”
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
New York, NY and Visionary in Expression
36. 8. ADDING HIGHWAY CAPACITY IS KEY TO REDUCING CONGESTION
“Adding highway lanes to deal
with traffic congestion is like
loosening your belt to cure
obesity.”
Lewis Mumford
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
and Visionary in Expression
37. 8. NYC IS ONLY MAJOR CITY WITHOUT AN INTERSTATE IN CBD
Yet cross town speeds in the
1940’s were 6-7 mph about the
same as today. 388,000 vehicles
entered CBD in 1948, 762,000
enter today.
Source:
Traffic and Parking Study, 1943
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
and Visionary in Expression
38. 8. IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL DRIVE
The Fundamental Law Of Road Congestion Evidence From U.S. Cities
by Duranton and Turner, 2009
• VMT increases proportionally to roadway lane miles for interstate
highways and probably slightly less rapidly for other types of
roads
• People drive more when the stock of roads in their city increases
• A new roadway diverts little traffic from other roads.
THE COROLLARY “IF YOU KNOCK IT DOWN, THEY WILL
DISAPPEAR”
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
and Visionary in Expression
39. 9. KNOCKING DOWN A HIGHWAY WILL CAUSE GRIDLOCK
December 16,1973 NYC’s West Side Highway Collapses
The Start of Highway Teardowns
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
New York, NY and Visionary in Expression
40. 9. WEST SIDE HIGHWAY RAN FROM 72ND STREET TO BATTERY
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
New York, NY and Visionary in Expression
41. 9. WHERE DID THEY GO?
Of the 89k people no longer using West Side Highway
Parallel roads
Transit
Circumferential routes
?
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
and Visionary in Expression
42. 9. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE TRAFFIC?
10% of traffic disappeared
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
and Visionary in Expression
43. 9. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PEOPLE?
37K
Cars
Transit grew by 36K
Note: The number of people entering /exiting CBD increased by 25,000 people 1973 vs. 1975
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
and Visionary in Expression
44. 9. CROSS SECTION OF WEST SIDE HIGHWAY
Looking North of Chambers St.
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
New York, NY and Visionary in Expression
45. 9. EMABARCADERO FREEWAY
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
San Francisco, CA and Visionary in Expression
46. 10. “YOU CAN’T MAKE AN OMELETTE WITHOUT BREAKING A FEW EGGS”
Robert Moses, 1951 NY Times
“When you operate in an overbuilt metropolis you have to
hack your way with a meat ax.”
Robert Moses, 1964 NY Times
Modern highways standards require wide lanes, wide
shoulders and buffers
Proposed Typical DRIC Cross Section With 6 Highway Lanes And 4 Service Road Lanes
80-160m
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
and Visionary in Expression
47. 10. HOW TO DO IT RIGHT: CENTRAL PARK
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
New York, NY and Visionary in Expression
48. 10. MANHATTAN’S BIGGEST HIGHWAY: CENTRAL PARK, 16 LANES
6 lanes North-South
10 lanes East-West
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
New York, NY and Visionary in Expression
51. 10. DOING IT RIGHT IN WINDSOR
GREEN OPPORTUNITY
CAR-FREE COM
M UNIT
Y
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
and Visionary in Expression
52. 10. CREATING USABLE SPACE
Narrow the right of way by moving the access roads closer to the
highway, minimizing inaccessible, non-functional space between
roadways wherever possible
HWY 401
Innovation
in Sustainable
2012 Engineering Award
Bottom line = put added green areas in places people can enjoy
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
Windsor, ON and Visionary in Expression
53. 10. BELLEWOOD / HURON ESTATES COMMUNITY TUNNEL
Cross section at Bellewood / Huron Estates Community Tunnel
SOUTH-BOUND NORTH-BOUND
SERVICE ROAD SERVICE ROAD
HIGHWAY 401
A
(Section A-A’) A’
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
Windsor, ON and Visionary in Expression
54. 10. EXAMPLES: ELYSIAN PARK OVER ARROYO SECO PARKWAY
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
Los Angeles, CA and Visionary in Expression
55. 10. EXAMPLES: I-71 FORT WASHINGTON WAY
The old way of highway thinking… A more compact highway—converting asphalt
to park
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
Cincinnati, OH and Visionary in Expression
56. 10. EXAMPLES: CANTILEVERED GRAND CENTRAL PARKWAY
Depressed Roadway, Cantilevered Service View of Streetscape of Cantilevered
Roads to mitigate roadway visual impacts Service Roads
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
Brooklyn, NY and Visionary in Expression
57. 10 TRANSPORTATION
ENGINEERING MYTHS
THAT HAVE THWARTED
THE BEST OF PLANS
Presented at Pro Walk Pro Bike 2012 Conference
Samuel I. Schwartz, P.E.
sschwartz@samschwartz.com
September 11, 2012
Brilliant in Design, Clear on Message
and Visionary in Expression
