pedestrianization in large cities

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Pedestrianization in large cities The case of 42 nd street, Midtown Manhattan Ronald Woudstra, Master’s Candidate in City and Regional Planning

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Presentation on my proposed master thesis research on pedestrianization in large cities.

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Page 1: Pedestrianization in Large Cities

Pedestrianization in large cities

The case of 42nd street, Midtown Manhattan

Ronald Woudstra, Master’s Candidate in City and Regional Planning

Page 2: Pedestrianization in Large Cities

Structure of the presentation

Statement of the issue; goals & objectives

Literature Review

Historical Precedents: Transforming 42nd St.

Page 3: Pedestrianization in Large Cities
Page 4: Pedestrianization in Large Cities

Statement of the issue

Midtown Manhattan is a heavily congested area, and a major destination for commuters, 85 percent of whom commute to Midtown by train, bus, ferry. Most commuters proceed to their final destination on foot or by local transit.

Especially congested is 42nd street, a corridor which connects major destinations and transportation hubs such as the UN, Grand Central Terminal, Bryant Park, Times Square, and the P.A. Bus Center with the waterfronts, ferries and new developments at the riverfronts (Warren et al, 2008: p.5).

Page 5: Pedestrianization in Large Cities

Traffic volumes: 42nd street

Pedestrians outnumber motorists by 5 to 1.

Page 6: Pedestrianization in Large Cities

Allocation of space: 42nd street

60% of the right-of-way is allocated to motorists

Page 7: Pedestrianization in Large Cities

Statement of the issue

Page 8: Pedestrianization in Large Cities
Page 9: Pedestrianization in Large Cities

Statement of the issue

Page 10: Pedestrianization in Large Cities

Statement of the issue

The implementation of “Vision 42”, or an auto-free boulevard along 42nd street, would:

1. Adress the two main transportation inefficiencies along 42nd street: crosstown transit & pedestrian facilities

2. Improve the overall framework for (re)development in the area

3. Distrupt car traffic in the 10-block 42nd street area to a minimal extent

Despite these advantages; the vision has not been adopted.

Page 11: Pedestrianization in Large Cities

Goals & Objectives

The purpose of this study, therefore, is to explore different approaches to pedestrianization in large cities, in order to make recommendations for a feasible approach to transforming 42nd street in Manhattan into a pedestrian friendly and efficient route.

Page 12: Pedestrianization in Large Cities

Literature Review

Three-part Literature Review:

• The relevance of planning for pedestrians and for a multimodal transportation system

• Recent trends in the Pedestrianization of major streets • The role of incremental planning

Page 13: Pedestrianization in Large Cities

The relevance of planning for pedestrians and for a multimodal transportation

system [1/2]:

“Higher density environments typically are characterized by a higher proximity of amenities, which is crucial in establishing a pedestrian friendly environment” (Tilth et al, 2007: p. 376)

Literature Review

Page 14: Pedestrianization in Large Cities

The relevance of planning for pedestrians and for a multimodal transportation

system [1/2]:

“Higher density environments typically are characterized by a higher proximity of amenities, which is crucial in establishing a pedestrian friendly environment” (Tilth et al, 2007: p. 376)

“extensive reliance on the car has a negative, long-term effect

on the character and the physical form of urban areas.” (Vuchic, 2005: pp.35-36)

Literature Review

Page 15: Pedestrianization in Large Cities

The relevance of planning for pedestrians and for a multimodal transportation

system [1/2]:

“Higher density environments typically are characterized by a higher proximity of amenities, which is crucial in establishing a pedestrian friendly environment” (Tilth et al, 2007: p. 376)

“extensive reliance on the car has a negative, long-term effect on

the character and the physical form of urban areas.” (Vuchic, 2005: pp.35-36)

“The more accommodations for the car are provided (highways, streets, parking), the less attractive the city is for people” (Vuchic, 2005: p.73)

Literature ReviewLiterature Review

Page 16: Pedestrianization in Large Cities

The relevance of planning for pedestrians and for a multimodal transportation

system [2/2]:

“cities that have been primarily concerned with enhancing livability have touted the importance of pedestrian activity. In combination with pedestrian traffic, public transit contributes to a city’s human character, as well as increases the city’s appeal and its overall efficiency.” (Vuchic, 2005: p.88)

Literature Review

Page 17: Pedestrianization in Large Cities

The relevance of planning for pedestrians and for a multimodal transportation

system [2/2]:

“cities that have been primarily concerned with enhancing livability have touted the importance of pedestrian activity. In combination with pedestrian traffic, public transit contributes to a city’s human character, as well as increases the city’s appeal and its overall efficiency.” (Vuchic, 2005: p.88)

“Cities that value multimodal transportation systems recognize the social equity aspects of transportation and the need to offer the complete population a means of mobility” (Vuchic,

2005: p.27).

Literature ReviewLiterature Review

Page 18: Pedestrianization in Large Cities

Recent trends in the Pedestrianization of major streets:

The “Pedestrian Mall” or “Transit Mall” as the ideal model of a pedestrian-priority Street for 42nd

street.

Literature Review

16th street Transit Mall, Denver, CO

Literature Review

Page 19: Pedestrianization in Large Cities

The role of incremental planning:

“Enhancing the vitality of our communities and neighborhoods often starts at the scale of the building, the block or the street. […] incremental improvements and piecemeal planning interventions are “increasingly seen as a way to stage more substantial investments” (Lydon et al, 2011: p.1).

“In a trial-and-error approach, where results may be observed

after implementation and can be measured in real-time.”

Literature Review

Page 20: Pedestrianization in Large Cities

42nd street has long captured the imagination of urban planners & designers:

• The Regional Plan Association, 1969

• Department of City Planning’s Urban Design Group, 1978

• The Institute for Rational Mobility, 2000s

Historical Precedents: Transforming 42nd St.

Historical Precedents: Transforming 42nd St.

Page 21: Pedestrianization in Large Cities

Labeled as a “Prototype of the cross-town pedestrian axes”, the 1969 study advocated for a further reinforcement of the street as a pedestrian corridor (Okamoto, 1969: p. 88).

Historical Precedents: Transforming 42nd St.

Historical Precedents: Transforming 42nd St.

Page 22: Pedestrianization in Large Cities

Urban Design Group: 1978 study

• 2,000,000 pedestrian trips generated in the 42nd street area daily

• Pedestrian traffic caused severe pedestrian congestion • Pedestrian space along the 42nd street corridor is deficient• “curb cuts” impede pedestrian travel• River-to-river transportation, including the crosstown bus

that runs along 42nd street, was found to be both inefficient and slow

Historical Precedents: Transforming 42nd St.

Page 23: Pedestrianization in Large Cities
Page 24: Pedestrianization in Large Cities

Historical Precedents: Transforming 42nd St.

In addition to pedestrian improvements, light rail transit was proposed by the study

Page 25: Pedestrianization in Large Cities

42nd street:• Historically a linear spine that connects major Midtown

“hubs”• Inefficient local transportation decades-old problem• Suggestions for wider sidewalks, enhanced pedestrian

amenities, and local public transit have been proposed over and over again, yet progress has been slow at best

Historical Precedents: Transforming 42nd St.

Page 26: Pedestrianization in Large Cities

Table of ContentsChapter 1 Introduction§1.1 Statement of the Issue§1.2 Goals and Objectives of the Study§1.3 Literature Review§1.4 Methodology§1.5 Organization of the Study

Chapter 2 Historical precedents regarding the transformation of 42nd street§2.1 Regional Plan Association: Urban Design Study of Manhattan, 1969§2.2 New York Department of City Planning – Urban Design Group: 42nd

Street Study§2.3 Vision 42

Chapter 3 Pedestrian projects in New York: Benefits, Processes, and Issues

§3.1 The Potential Benefits of Pedestrian Projects in New York City§ 3.2 Pedestrian projects in New York: trends and processes§ 3.3 Pedestrian projects in New York: Issues

Chapter 4 Recommendations regarding the pedestrianization of 42nd street

Chapter 5 Conclusion§5.1 Summary of Findings§5.2 Suggestions for Future Research