Posts tagged Pedestrians
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Convention center plans nice except for skybridges
DCMud summarizes plans for the new development at the old convention center site. They look good, with mixed-use, street level retail, public spaces… but what’s that? Skybridges? Keep reading…
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The Complete Streets Act
Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa introduced a Complete Streets Act to push cities and towns to design their streets for people, bicyclists, and traffic all together. Streetsblog is cautiously pleased but sees “Hummer-sized loopholes”. Here’s Smart Growth America’s analysis (they’re strongly for it.)… Keep reading…
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NoMA Public Radio, not New Parking-Lot Radio. Nice for Pedestrians Radio?
NPR is moving its headquarters to NoMA, the area north of Union Station that is experiencing major revitalization. I just hope their new building is better than their old one in terms of engaging the streetscape, and that the old one can be turned into something that, unlike many of the newer buildings around Mt. Vernon Square, presents something other than a blank wall to passing pedestrians. Keep reading…
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Skybridges don’t make the connection
It sounds simple and appealing. Your city has a major road with a lot of traffic, but city planners and citizens want to make it more pedestrian-friendly, encouraging more walkable stores in place of purely big box strip development. How about pedestrian overpasses? With a walkway, people can cross in complete safety and not interfere with the existing traffic. You can even build… Keep reading…
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LA radically changes nothing
The LA Times thinks LA traffic planners “do a 180” when they shift from building freeways (that increase traffic) to… adding traffic lanes on major boulevards (that increase traffic). But the city’s chief planner thinks the city isn’t ready to talk about better solutions like “complete streets”. Street Heat LA begs to differ. Meanwhile,… Keep reading…
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A better 14th Street coming soon
Last week was the latest public meeting to review the proposed streetscape improvements to 14th Street, from Florida Avenue to Thomas Circle. I wasn’t able to make the meeting, which conflicted with the Columbia Heights parking meeting, but I was able to get copies of the presentation. This street is becoming a major restaurant and bar corridor, and improvements that make… Keep reading…
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South Capitol: L’Enfant strikes back
From the South Capitol EIS:As a primary corridor in L’Enfant’s 1791 Plan for the City of Washington, South Capitol Street was envisioned as one of the symbolic gateways to the city and its Monumental Core. … Today, South Capitol Street lacks any characteristics of its historic and intended function as a gateway. … South Capitol Street is an urban freeway that has… Keep reading…
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DC sidewalks are for people, not backhoes
Everyone is blogging about DC’s decision to require developers to build a covered sidewalk or provide a walkway next to construction projects. This is common practice in New York and elsewhere and seems obvious—a walkable city requires, first and foremost, that you actually be able to walk around it. Good for DC. Keep reading…
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“Structure of voids” and chain restaurants in Ballston
Last weekend, we visited a friend who recently bought a condo in Ballston. Zachary Schrag highlights the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor as the region’s biggest success from Metro’s original construction, creating a new transit-oriented Smart Growth development around the subway, and it’s true: there were people and shops and other signs of life everywhere,… Keep reading…
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LA: smart move on parking, dumb move on roads
Today on Street Heat LA, the LA DOT took a knee-jerk position around moving cars smoothly at the expense of pedestrians when it insisted that the LA County Museum of Art remove a traffic light and crosswalk across Wilshire in front of its entrance and actually fill in the median to prevent people from crossing the street. On the other hand, the LA City Council is pushing for greater compliance… Keep reading…