queens boulevard: a book of precedents
DESCRIPTION
A book comparing living boulevards from around the world.TRANSCRIPT
QUEENSBOULEVARDA BOOK OF PRECEDENTS
INTRODUCTIONThis booklet shows streets that are similar in size to Queens Boulevard, but have different uses in place of traffic lanes, including transit, space for pedestrians and cyclists, and parks. Use this booklet to explore these other streets, as examples of how Queens Boulevard could be a safer place for all road users.
For too long, New Yorkers have adapted to the dangerous conditions of Queens Boulevard. Though only 46 percent of New Yorkers own cars, Queens Boulevard is designed for fast travel by private vehicles, to the detriment of others. The prioritization of the car comes at a steep price – for the past 15 years, ever since traffic crash data was made public and mapped, Queens Boulevard topped the list of most dangerous streets every year.
In Spring 2010, the Transportation Alternatives (T.A.) Queens Volunteer Committee with T.A.’s Bicycle Advocacy Director, Caroline Samponaro, embarked on a campaign to win pedestrian and cyclist safety in Queens. T.A. is a New York City-based sustainable transportation advocacy organization. Working with Planning Corps, a non-profit, volunteer network of urban planners, tools were developed to build public support for changes to the street.
One major insight from our analysis is there is enough space on Queens Boulevard to accommodate all the communities’ needs. The only thing missing now is political will.
A project like this is a collective effort. Thank you to the many people who attended Planning Corps working sessions over many months. In particular, we would like to thank Mike Lydon of Street Plans Collaborative, Eric Galipo of H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture, and Anthony Denaro of OpenPlans for working so diligently on this booklet.
The dynamic Queens Volunteer Committee motivated the entire project, and we would be remiss not to mention David Dubovsky, the former committee chair, and Jessame Hannus for their continued engagement with Planning Corps.
Finally, this whole collaboration would not have been possible without the support of Transportation Alternatives. Thank you Paul White and Caroline Samponaro.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
MULTIWAY BOULEVARD 200’ 150’25%
LAND USE: URBAN, SUBURBAN
Residential, Light Industry, Retail
MEDIUM, LOW
15’ SidewalksSparse Street Trees, Amenities
14
10’ - 11’ Traffic Lane Width7.5’ Parking Lane Width
N/A
n/aBike Rack
BUS, SUBWAY
Bus Stops, Shelters
Subway Stations/Viaduct
Right-of-Way WidthMotor Vehicle Space Allocation
Pedestrian/Bicycle/Transit Ratio
LAND USE CHARACTER
GENERAL USES
PUBLIC FRONTAGE QUALITY
Outer Sidewalk WidthLandscape Type
# VEHICULAR, PARKING LANES
Traffic Lane WidthParking Lane Width
BIKEWAY TYPE
MovementBicycle Parking
TRANSIT TYPE
Bus Accommodation
Rail Accommodation
Queens Boulevard features 14 vehicular lanes (including parking) and 5 different configurations over its 6-mile trajectory. The Boulevard’s auto-centric design, mix-ture of suburban/urban forms, lack of tree coverage, and oversized intersections do very little to enrich the quality of the pub-lic realm. Furthermore, access lanes are used as heavily as the thru-lanes, further degrading the pedestrian experience.
QUEENS BOULEVARDNew York, NY; Urban Suburban. Residential, Light Industrial, Retail
14 TRAFFICLANES
15’15’
SIDEWALKLANE
WIDTHS
NO MEDIAN AMENTITIESBUS STOPS W/ SHELTERSBIKE RACKSSPARSE STREET TREES
AMENITIES
10’11’
TRAFFICLANE
WIDTHS
SUBWAYNO BUSLANES
NO BIKE LANES
7.5’PARKING
LANEWIDTHS
Like Queens Boulevard, the 5-mile Avinguda Diagonal accommodates very high volumes of regional traffic, and features many large, complex intersection configurations. Yet, two 30’ medians separating the center roadway from the access lanes accommodate bicycling, walking, scooter parking, tram/bus stations, generous tree plantings and other public amenitie. These tame what would be an otherwise unpleasant thoroughfare.
AVINGUDA DIAGONALBarcelona, Spain; Urban. Residential, Retail.
Avenue Marceau is one of 12 thoroughfares radiating from the Etoile. Described by Allan Jacobs as an “everyday boulevard,” the thoroughfare is highly functional, but not the city’s most elegant—two lanes of parking on each access road often spills onto the sidwalk, creating a harsh streetscape. Numerous obtuse and acute intersections and low pedestrian counts are characteristics similar to those found on Queens Boulevard.
AVENUE MARCEAUParis France. Urban. Residential, Office, Light Retail
MEDIAN AMENTITIESBUS STOPS, BUS LANESBIKE RACKSSTREET TREES
AMENITIESSUBWAYBUSTRAM
BIKE LANES10 TRAFFICLANES
——
PARKINGLANE
WIDTHS
8’9’
TRAFFICLANE
WIDTHS
10’11’
OUTERSIDEWALKWIDTHS
BUS SHELTERS CONTRA FLOW BUS LANESNO BIKE RACKSGENEROUS STREET TREES
AMENITIESSUBWAYCONTRA FLOW BUS
LANES
BIKE LANES6
TRAFFICLANES
7’PARKING
LANEWIDTHS
9’10’
TRAFFICLANE
WIDTHS
12’12’OUTER
SIDEWALKWIDTHS
AVINGUDA DIAGONAL
QUEENS BLVDQUEENS BLVD
AVINGUDA DIAGONALAVENUE MARCEAU
Like Queens Boulevard, Commonwealth Avenue features many configurations over its meandering trajectory. The corridor’s access lanes are separated from the thru lanes by two medians, used in three different ways: planted, angled parking, bi-directional trolley tracks/stations. Bicycle lanes were recently added along portions of the thoroughfare, which connects Boston’s Public Garden to its suburbs.
COMMONWEALTH AVENUEBoston, MA Urban, Suburban. Residential, Retail
St. Kilda Road is one of three impressive and historic multiway boulevards radiating from the center of the city. The 4-mile thoroughfare includes dense mixed-use development as well as low-rise neighborhood retail. Almost as wide as Queens Boulevard, this regional thoroughfare sets itself apart by providing transit (trams run down the center of the roadway), bikeways, and a continuous cover of mature London Plane trees.
ST. KILDAROADMelbourne, Australia; Urban. Mixed-Use, Office, Light Retail
BUS SHELTERS CENTER MEDIAN TRAM STOPSNO BIKE RACKSGENEROUS STREET TREES
AMENITIESSUBWAYTRAMBIKE LANES
BUS SHELTERS CENTER MEDIAN TRAM STOPSNO BIKE RACKSGENEROUS STREET TREES
AMENITIESSUBWAYTRAMBIKE LANES10 TRAFFICLANES
7’PARKING
LANEWIDTHS
9’10’
TRAFFICLANE
WIDTHS
17’20’OUTER
SIDEWALKWIDTHS
6 TRAFFICLANES
8’16’
PARKINGLANE
WIDTHS
10’-15’
TRAFFICLANE
WIDTHS
8’25’OUTER
SIDEWALKWIDTHS
QUEENS BLVDQUEENS BLVD
COMMONWEALTH AVENUE ST KILDA ROAD
OCEAN PARKWAY
Context
Detail
Ocean Parkway is a classic multiway boulevard. It handles large volumes of regional traffic (up to 70,000 cars per day), while also providing plenty of amenities within the public realm: generous tree cover, wide sidewalks, and two 30’ medians featuring America’s oldest bike path accommodate high volumes of bicyclists and pedestrians. Despite being wider than Queen’s Boulevard, Ocean Parkway maintains a superior design.
New York, NY: Urban, Suburban. Residentia, Civic, Institutional
AVENIDA DA REPUBLICA
Context
Lisbon, Portugal: Urban, Residential and Retail
One of three boulevard’s connecting the city center with the Campo Grande Park, Avenida da Republica, like Queen’s Boulevard, is too auto-oriented. It’s expanding tree cover and land use make for an attractive destination, yet much of the space has been compromised by making space for motor vehicle traffic, including the conversion of a 20’ median to diagonal parking. Furthermore, few amenities exist for pedestrians or cyclists.
BUS SHELTERS CENTER MEDIAN TRAM STOPSNO BIKE RACKSGENEROUS STREET TREES
AMENITIES
12 TRAFFICLANES
15’PARKING
LANEWIDTHS
9’TRAFFIC
LANEWIDTHS
SUBWAYBUSNO BIKE LANES
15’15’OUTER
SIDEWALKWIDTHS
MEDIAN AMENITIESTWO WAY BIKE LANEBIKE RACKSGENEROUS STREET TREES
AMENITIES
12 TRAFFICLANES
8’PARKING
LANEWIDTHS
10’15’
TRAFFICLANE
WIDTHS
NO SUBWAYBUSTWO WAY BIKE LANES
15’15’OUTER
SIDEWALKWIDTHS
QUEENS BLVD QUEENS BLVD
AVENIDA REPUBLICAOCEAN PARKWAY
OCEAN PARKWAY
THOROUGHFARE TYPE MULTIWAY BOULEVARD
Right-of-Way Width 210’Motor Vehicle Space Allocation 120’
Pedestrian/Bicycle/Transit Ratio 43%
LAND USE: CHARACTER URBAN, SUBURBAN
GENERAL USES Residential, Civic/Institutional
PUBLIC FRONTAGE QUALITY HIGH
Outer Sidewalk Width 15’, 15’ SidewalksLandscape Type Street Trees, Median Amenities
# VEHICULAR , PARKING LANES 12 Parking Lanes
Traffic Lane Width 10’, 15’Parking Lane Width 8’
BIKEWAY TYPE SHARED USE PATH
Movement Two-wayBicycle Parking Rack
TRANSIT TYPE BUS
Bus Accommodation Bus Stops at Major Cross Streets
Rail Accommodation N/A
AVENIDA DA REPUBLICA
MULTIWAY BOULEVARD
175’120’32%
URBAN
Mixed-Use, Office, Retail
MEDIUM
15’, 15’ Sidewalks Tree Cover
12 Parking Lanes
9’ 15’
N/A
N/AN/A
BUS, SUBWAY
Bus Shelters, Bus Lanes
Subway Stations
AVINGUDA DIAGONAL
MULTIWAY BOULEVARD
165’84’
49%
URBAN
Residential, Retail
HIGH
10’, 11’ SidewalksStreet Trees, Median Amenities
9, 10 Parking Lanes
8’, 9’n/a
BICYCLE LANES
With Traffic, In MedianRack
BUS, SUBWAY
Bus Lanes, Bus Stops, Shelters
Subway and Tram Stations
QUEENS BOULEVARD
MULTIWAY BOULEVARD
200’150’25%
URBAN, SUBURBAN
Residential, Light Industrial, Retail
MEDIUM, LOW
15’ SidewalksSparse Street Trees, Few Amenities
14 Parking Lanes
10’ - 11’7.5’
N/A
n/aRack
BUS, SUBWAY
Bus Stops, Shelters
Subway Stations/Viaduct
ST KILDAROAD
MULTIWAY BOULEVARD
197’90’
55%
URBAN
Mixed-Use, Office, Light Retail
HIGH
17’, 20’ Sidewalks Generous Tree Cover
10 Parking Lanes
9’ - 10’7’
BIKE LANE
With TrafficN/A
TRAM
N/A
Center Median Tram Stations
COMMONWEALTH AVE
MULTIWAY BOULEVARD
200’123’39%
URBAN, SUBURBAN
Residential, Retail
HIGH, MEDIUM
8’, 25’ SidewalksStreet Trees, No Median Amenities
9 Parking Lanes
10’, 12’, 15’8’, 16’ (diagonal)
BICYCLE LANES
With TrafficRack
BUS, TROLLEY
Bus Stops
Tram Stations
AVENUE MARCEAU
MULTIWAY BOULEVARD
134’92’
32%
URBAN
Residential, Office, Light Retail
HIGH
12’ SidewalksGenerous Street Trees
6 Parking Lanes
9’, 10’7’
BUS/BIKE LANE COMBO
With TrafficN/A
BUS
Bus Shelters, Contra-flow Bus Lanes
N/A
51%49%
57%43% 32%
68%RATIO OF
PEOPLEVEHICLE
SPACE 45% 68%
32%55%61%39%25%
75%
Pedestrian
Bike Lane
Planted Green Space
OCEAN PARKWAY
Non Occupiable Median
Motor Vehicle
Parking Lane
Dedicated Mass Transit
CROSS SECTION COMPARISION
AVENIDA DA REPUBLICA
AVINGUDA DIAGONALCOMMONWEALTH AVE
AVENUE MARCEAU
ST KILDA ROAD
QUEENS BLVD
Parking Lane
Motor Vehicle
Non Occupiable Median
Planted Green Space
Bike Lane
Pedestrian
Dedicated Mass Transit
AVENIDA DA REPUBLICA
OCEAN PARKWAY
QUEENS BLVD
COMMONWEALTH AVE
AVENIDA DIAGONAL
ST KILDA ROAD
AVENUE MARCEAU
COMMONWEALTH AVENUE
ST. KILDA ROADBUS SHELTERS CENTER MEDIAN TRAM STOPSNO BIKE RACKSGENEROUS STREET TREES
AMENITIESSUBWAYTRAMBIKE LANES10 TRAFFICLANES
7’PARKING
LANEWIDTHS
9’10’
TRAFFICLANE
WIDTHS
17’20’OUTER
SIDEWALKWIDTHS
BUS SHELTERS CENTER MEDIAN TRAM STOPSNO BIKE RACKSGENEROUS STREET TREES
AMENITIESSUBWAYTRAMBIKE LANES6
TRAFFICLANES
8’16’
PARKINGLANE
WIDTHS
10’-15’
TRAFFICLANE
WIDTHS
8’25’OUTER
SIDEWALKWIDTHS
MEDIAN AMENITIESTWO WAY BIKE LANEBIKE RACKSGENEROUS STREET TREES
AMENITIES
12 TRAFFICLANES
8’PARKING
LANEWIDTHS
10’15’
TRAFFICLANE
WIDTHS
NO SUBWAYBUSTWO WAY BIKE LANES
15’15’OUTER
SIDEWALKWIDTHS
OCEAN PARKWAY
AVENIDA DA REPUBLICABUS SHELTERS CENTER MEDIAN TRAM STOPSNO BIKE RACKSGENEROUS STREET TREES
AMENITIES
12 TRAFFICLANES
15’PARKING
LANEWIDTHS
9’TRAFFIC
LANEWIDTHS
SUBWAYBUSNO BIKE LANES
15’15’OUTER
SIDEWALKWIDTHS
QUEENS BOULEVARD14 TRAFFICLANES
15’15’
SIDEWALKLANE
WIDTHS
10’11’
TRAFFICLANE
WIDTHS
SUBWAYNO BUSLANES
NO BIKE LANES
7.5’PARKING
LANEWIDTHS
AVINGUDA DIAGONAL
AVENUE MARCEAU
MEDIAN AMENTITIESBUS STOPS, BUS LANESBIKE RACKSSTREET TREES
AMENITIESSUBWAYBUSTRAM
BIKE LANES10 TRAFFICLANES
——
PARKINGLANE
WIDTHS
8’9’
TRAFFICLANE
WIDTHS
10’11’
OUTERSIDEWALKWIDTHS
BUS SHELTERS CONTRA FLOW BUS LANESNO BIKE RACKSGENEROUS STREET TREES
AMENITIESSUBWAYCONTRA FLOW BUS
LANES
BIKE LANES6
TRAFFICLANES
7’PARKING
LANEWIDTHS
9’10’
TRAFFICLANE
WIDTHS
12’12’OUTER
SIDEWALKWIDTHS
ALLOCATION OF SPACE BY USES