LDP #7: Morris Avenue Vision Plan Township of Springfield - Union County - Springfield Business Improvement

District

March 11, 2014

Project Contributors & Team

2

Project Partners

Together North Jersey

NJ TRANSIT

North Jersey Transportation Planning

Authority

New Jersey Department of Transportation

Springfield Patriot Chamber of Commerce

Springfield Public Library

Springfield Environmental Commission

UnionCounty

Township ofSpringfield

Springfield Business Improvement District

Looney Ricks Kiss

VHB

Equity Environmental Engineering

TimHaahs Associates

McManimon, Scotland & Baumann

Phillips Preiss & Grygiel

Creating a walkable and

bike friendly downtown that

is attractive to residents,

visitors and businesses

Providing safe and

convenient pedestrian,

bicycle and transit facilities

Optimizing the locations of

NJT bus stops

Ensuring an adequate

supply of efficient and

convenient parking

locations

Mitigating future flooding

Study Area & Project Goals

4

TOWNSHIP’S REDEVELOPMENT AREA

INVENTORY CATEGORY

1 Municipal Lot 1 99

2 Municipal Lot 2 65

3 Municipal Lot 3 30

A Walnut Ct. Lot 52

B Caldwell Pl. Lot 24

C Center St. Lot – West 30

D Center St. Lot - East 11

E Lot for 243 & 247 at Morris Ave. 22

F Seabra Lot – North 140

G Seabra Lot – South 189

On-Street 30

PARKING ANALYSIS

6

ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS

WHERE AREWE NOW?

WHERE DOWE WANT TO GO?

HOW DO WE GET THERE?

Street Interviews

Open House Workshop

Community Vision Survey

Virtual On-Line Meeting

Meeting with NJDOT

Meeting with NJ TRANSIT Bus Planning

43.84%

8

COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE WORKSHOP – November 2013

Select the 3 most important improvements from high to low you would like to see in downtown Springfield.

MORRIS AVE.

A

B

C

D

E

Attract new retail businesses

Attract new dining establishments

Provide/Identify Convenient Parking

Improve Pedestrian Crossings & Safety

Attract New Downtown Residential

Provide/Improve Public Spaces

None of the Above

F

G

#1 Rated

#2 Rated

#3 Rated

35.21% 5.63%

4.23%

MORRIS AVE. - STREETSCAPE

45.07%

9.86% None

1.37%

15.07% 32.88%

43.84%

MORRIS AVE. – BUILDINGS 6.85% None

12

Outreach Feedback

Speeds in Downtown area too high

Poor maintenance of sidewalks &

properties is major concern

Attracting the right businesses

Perception that I-78 underpass is unsafe

(lighting, fencing, maintenance) and a

barrier to Downtown

Clear traffic direction at the

Morris/Mountain Intersection

Identification and maintenance of parking

WHERE AREWE NOW?

WHERE DOWE WANT TO GO?

HOW DO WE GET THERE?

Implementation Agenda

State Agency Walk-Talk-Act Meeting/Tour

Coordination with Redevelopment Efforts

14

Township Redevelopment

Morris Ave

Mou

ntai

n Av

e

16

Dedicated Left & Right Turn Lanes

Lane Delineations to Maintain Flow

Morris Ave

Mou

ntai

n Av

e

18

Bus 52 EBBus 66 EBBus 114 NB

Bus 70 EB

Bus 52 WBBus 70 WB

Current Bus Stops – Morris & Mountain Avenues

Morris Ave

Mou

ntai

n Av

e

Bus 66 WBBus 114 SB

Bus 114 NBBus 66 EB

Bus 52 EBBus 70 EB

Bus 52 WBBus 66 WBBus 70 WBBus 114 SB

Morris Ave

Mou

ntai

n Av

e

20

PROPOSED STOP RELOCATIONS

Safer for riders with less crossing movements and potential for jaywalking

Creates hub in Downtown with more room & locations for amenities (shelters, seating, bike rakes, trash/recycling)

Maintained bus routing

Reduces post-intersection stopping to help traffic flow

RECOMMENDATIONS

21

Improve intermodal connectivity with bike racks at bus hubs

Posted schedule information

Longer & more open shelters with seating

Township & BID to work with bus shelter program to create new shelters & maintenance

Partner with 3rd party advertiser –install "upgraded" shelters with rotating ads on them - the revenue assists with paying for routine maintenance

22

Payment in Lieu of Parking

Communications & Marketing

Administrative, Management, & Enforcement

RECOMMENDATIONS: Parking

23

ENVIRONMENTAL AND INFRASTRUCTURE

RECOMMENDATIONS: Environmental

24

General cleanup to remove natural & manmade debris - limit damming/flooding & improve aesthetics

Stormwater capacity & flood mitigation controls

Pocket parks

Greenway connections

25

Morris Avenue

Mou

ntai

n Av

enue

“Daylighting”

Open piped sections for more natural streambed

Could include opening buildings on Morris and/or creating public space near the library

Connection to a larger green system

A

C D

69%

OPEN SPACE – NATURAL SYSTEMSE None of the choices

27

MostLiked

MostLiked

29

Traditional “Colonial” style

Individual facades rather than larger-appearing uniform buildings

3-story “expression line” – deep cornice or setback upper floor

Active street frontage

Quality signage and materials

RECOMMENDATION: Redevelopment Design Guidelines

30

Quality signage, lighting and materials

31

MostLiked

32