dra l design and land use op ons booklet - salem€¦ · this booklet summarizes the street design...

Dra Design and Land Use Op ons Booklet

March, 2015

2 Commercial-Vista Corridor Plan

This page was inten onally le blank.

Design and Land Use Options 3

This booklet summarizes the street design and land use alterna ves for the Commercial‐Vista Corridor Plan project area that are discussed in greater detail in the Street Design and Land Use Alterna ves Memorandum. The street design alterna ves address poten al changes to travel lanes, bicycle facili es and the sidewalk corridor. Land use alterna ves address opportuni es to modify the design character of building setback areas and to develop specific Ac vity Centers previously iden fied in the Urban Design, Streetscape and Land Use Booklet. The recommenda ons are described programma cally with illustrated design concepts to follow this spring. In addi on to streetscape and land use alterna ves and discussion, this booklet also includes a traffic analysis summary and the results from the er 1 screening process.

The figure below illustrates the four corridors in the project study area in which cross‐sec onal alterna ves have been evaluated; Commercial Street, Liberty Road, Salem Heights Avenue, and Triangle Drive. General informa on regarding the facility and the alterna ves are given for each segment under the color‐coded segment heading. Poten al pedestrian crossing loca ons are highlighted in blue with details discussed further in the Traffic Analysis Summary sec on of this booklet star ng on page 9.

Liberty Road S

Salem Heights Avenue S/Ratcliff Drive

Commercial Street SE

Classified as a Major Arterial Facility

Currently a Five‐Lane Cross‐Sec on with Narrow Sidewalks

Two Alterna ves were Analyzed for this Segment

Buffered Bike Lanes

Enhanced Pedestrian Corridor

Triangle Drive SE

Classified as a Local Facility

Currently a Two‐Lane Cross‐Sec on with Significant Sidewalk Gaps

Three Alterna ves were Analyzed for this Segment

TSP Standard

Angled Parking

Parallel Parking

Classified as a Major Arterial Facility

Currently a Four‐Lane Cross‐Sec on with Narrow Sidewalks and no Bicycle Facili es

Three Alterna ves were Analyzed for this Segment

Mul use Pathway

Three‐Lane

Classified as a Collector Facility

Currently a Two‐Lane Cross‐Sec on with no Sidewalks

Two Alterna ves were Analyzed for this Segment

TSP Standard

Angled Parking

‐ Recommended Pedestrian Crossing Loca on (Approximate)

‐ Proposed Signalized Intersec on


Street Design Summary

Roadway Design Elements

Travel and Turn Lanes: Where lane widths are wider, recommenda ons to reduce travel lane widths to the City’s standard width of eleven feet have been included in mul ple alterna ves. No proposed reduc on is less than the minimum widths established in the Transporta on System Plan (TSP).

Median: Where a striped median currently exists to accommodate le turns, the alterna ves maintain it. The recommended width may be less than the current width but s ll conforms to TSP standards.

Curb Extensions: Curb extensions widen the sidewalk corridor at intersec ons or mid‐block crossings, increase the visibility of pedestrians, shorten the me needed to cross the street, provide addi onal furnishing zones area, and could lower motor vehicle speeds due to decreasing the turning radius at the intersec on. However, the curb extensions must be carefully designed to allow turning movements for larger vehicles.

Bike Facili es: Con nuous bike facili es are recommended for the arterial streets (Commercial Street and Liberty Road). Facility types considered include standard striped bike lanes, buffered bike lanes, and shared mul ‐use pathways.

Pedestrian Zone: Accommodates comfortable and unobstructed walking which is the primary func on of the sidewalk corridor. Two people should be able to walk comfortably, this requires at least five feet (which is the City of Salem’s standard). Providing comfort for a third person coming from the opposite direc on to pass requires six to seven feet of pedestrian zone. Furnishing Zone: Accommodates streetscape elements such as u lity and street light poles, planters, trees, benches, bike racks, bus shelters, and sloped driveway approaches. Pedestrian ac vi es also occur in the furnishing zone, such as transit boarding at designated stops, access to bike racks, mid‐block crossings, and access to on‐street parking.

Sidewalk Corridor Examples

Street Ligh ng A repea ng pa ern of two types of lights is recommended: pedestrian‐scale ornamental ligh ng at intersec ons and a rac ve higher eleva on ligh ng at mid‐block loca ons.

An example of pedestrian‐level ligh ng is shown to the le .

Sidewalk Corridor Design Elements


Commercial Street Alterna ves

Commercial Street Alterna ves

Vicinity Map

Exis ng Condi ons

Alterna ve 1: Enhanced Bicycle Facili es

Alterna ve 2: Enhanced Sidewalk Corridor

Alterna ve 1 Considera ons Maintains five‐lane cross‐sec on

Offers buffered bike lanes to separate bicyclists from motor vehicles

The furnishing zone and buffered bike lane provide pedestrians with a buffer from moving cars

There is poten al to add pedestrian crossing refuges at selected loca ons

The sidewalk corridor can support an a rac ve commercial streetscape along with opportuni es for a wider range of bike parking facili es and public art

Alterna ve 2 Considera ons Maintains five‐lane cross‐sec on

The large sidewalk corridor provides addi onal width for the furnishing zone

There is poten al to add pedestrian crossing refuges at selected loca ons

The sidewalk furnishing easily supports standard transit shelters along with dedicated passenger loading/unloading areas, landscaping, and public art.

The sidewalk corridor can support an a rac ve commercial streetscape along with opportuni es for a wider range of bike parking facili es and public art


Liberty Road Alterna ves

Liberty Road Alterna ves

Exis ng Condi ons

Alterna ve 3A: Mul use Path

Alterna ve 4: Major Arterial TSP Standard

Alterna ve 3B Considera ons Reduces the current four‐lane cross‐sec on to a three‐lane

cross sec on north of Salem Heights Avenue

Cycling would be accommodated by a 5’ bike lane

Would require rerou ng northbound through traffic on Liberty Road onto Salem Heights Avenue

Would change the func on of Salem Heights Avenue from a collector to a major arterial between Liberty Road and Commercial Street

Alterna ve 4 Considera ons Increases the current four‐lane cross‐sec on to a five‐

lane cross sec on which would add a significant motor‐vehicle capacity increase

The width of the sidewalk would be significantly increased

Cycling would be accommodated by 6’ standard bike lanes

The available sidewalk corridor furnishing zone supports an a rac ve commercial streetscape as well as a wide range of opportuni es for ameni es such as bike parking facili es and public art

Vicinity Map

Alterna ve 3A Considera ons Maintains four‐lane cross‐sec on

A 10’ ‐ 12’ mul use pathway that would accommodate bicycle travel along the corridor would replace the exis ng sidewalk

Sharing a pathway with cyclists also introduces complexity for pedestrians and transit riders

Transit shelters and other stop ameni es are not supported in this alterna ve

Without a sidewalk furnishing zone, streetscape ameni es will be limited

Alterna ve 3B: Liberty Road Reroute


Salem Heights Avenue Alterna ves

Salem Heights Avenue Alterna ves

Vicinity Map

Exis ng Condi ons

Alterna ve 5: Collector “C” TSP Standard

Alterna ve 6: Angled Parking

Alterna ve 5 Considera ons Maintains the two‐lane cross‐sec on

The presence of a sidewalk corridor furnishing zone also provides pedestrians with physical separa on and a landscape buffer from moving cars

Cyclists would share the roadway lanes and sharrow markings could be added to enhance the bicycle environment

No transit service is currently provided for this segment

Providing a furnishing zone provides opportuni es for an a rac ve neighborhood streetscape and visual public realm integra on with adjacent land uses

Alterna ve 6 Considera ons Maintains two‐lane cross‐sec on

The sidewalk corridor width on one side provides a furnishing zone buffer from vehicles and parallel parking on the other side provides a pedestrian buffer from moving traffic


The sidewalk provides a furnishing zone on one side to provide an opportunity for streetscape ameni es


Triangle Drive Alterna ves

Exis ng Condi ons Triangle Drive Alterna ves

Alterna ve 7: Local TSP Standard

Alterna ve 8B: Two‐Side Parallel Parking

Alterna ve 8A: Angled Parking

Alterna ve 7 Considera ons Maintains the two‐lane cross‐sec on

The presence of a sidewalk corridor furnishing zone also provides pedestrians with physical separa on and a landscape buffer from moving cars


Alterna ve 8A Considera ons Maintains the two‐lane cross‐sec on

The sidewalk corridor width does not provide a furnishing zone buffer from vehicles


Angled parking supports the streetscape and land use rela onship by providing easier access to surrounding businesses

Alterna ve 8B Considera ons Maintains the two‐lane cross‐sec on

The sidewalk corridor improved pedestrian safety and comfort


Parallel parking supports the streetscape and land use rela onship by providing easier access to surrounding businesses

The proposed pathways do not provide a furnishing zone and will not support streetscape ameni es

Vicinity Map


Wide cross‐sec ons along Commercial Street and long expanses between signalized intersec ons on both Commercial Street and Liberty Road creates a difficult environment for pedestrians to safely and efficiently travel to and from land uses and transit stops within the study area. Four loca ons for pedestrian crossing treatments were iden fied to help enhance pedestrian crossings and are shown in the figure on page 3.

Pedestrian crossing loca ons one through three are across Commercial Street and involve a pedestrian refuge median, striped crosswalk markings, and a rectangular rapid flashing beacon (RRFB) that is pedestrian‐ac vated and requires vehicles to yield to pedestrians when the yellow lights are flashing. The fourth crossing loca on is along Liberty Road and does not include a median due to the lack of a center le turn lane.

A sketch of the third crossing loca on is provided to the right. A transit stop reloca on to a place closer to the pedestrian crossing is also recommended. More detail regarding the pedestrian crossing loca ons can be found in the dra Street Design and Land Use Alterna ves memorandum.

Pedestrian Crossing Treatments

It is currently difficult for southbound bicyclists to con nue along Commercial Street due to the barrier of the Commercial Street‐Liberty Road “Split” which requires bicyclists to cross two lanes of unsignalized vehicle traffic just south of the Commercial Street/

Alice Avenue intersec on. The poten al solu ons are discussed in this booklet and illustrated to the le .

Op on 1: This op on involves a bike box at the Commercial Street/Alice Avenue intersec on. When a red light for the southbound movement at the Alice Avenue intersec on is displayed, bicyclists could move into the bike box and wait in the bicycle are in front of motor vehicles.

Op on 2: A bike box could also be implemented at the Vista Avenue/Liberty Road intersec on which would require southbound bicyclists to travel along Liberty Road through the “Split” to Vista Avenue.

Op on 3: A bicycle phase a Vista Avenue requires southbound bicycles to travel along Liberty Road through the “Split” to Vista Avenue. Once at Vista Avenue, the bicyclists will ac vate a detector and u lize a bicycle‐only phase that will allow them to travel eastbound through the intersec on onto Vista Avenue and turn right at Commercial Street to con nue southbound.

Bicycle Accommoda ons at the Commercial Street SE‐Liberty Road S “Split”

Commercial Street SE/Ratcliff Drive SE Signalized Intersec on This unsignalized intersec on fails to meet the City of Salem’s mobility standards due to the minor street stopped delay. A signal at

this loca on would ensure that motor vehicles on Ratcliff Drive would have a signal phase and would also provide a signalized

pedestrian crossing that would help support pedestrian safety and mobility as well as support neighborhood access on the corridor.

A new signal at this loca on will have a slight impact to the PM peak hour progression of northbound traffic along Commercial

Street due to the exis ng traffic signal spacing.


Ac vity Centers

In general, the City is not considering or planning to propose significant changes in land use in this area and the project team has not recommended any to date, although modest changes could be suggested or considered at a later stage if warranted. The bulk of the corridor is zoned for general or retail commercial use, with a smaller por on of the study area zoned for high density residen al use. Land use issues and op ons for addressing them included the following:

Ac vity centers: Poten al ac vity centers such and plazas or courtyards could be created within the study area. Crea ng such centers would support land uses in the area by crea ng addi onal des na ons for pedestrians, crea ng unique ameni es and enhancing the appearance of the area and opportuni es for social interac on. Ac vity centers are discussed in more detail below.

Building setback and front yard areas: The area between the public right‐of‐way and buildings located on private property, includes any required the “setback” areas adjacent to the right‐of‐way and any addi onal “front yard” areas that extend beyond the required setback. These areas are important for the rela onship between public and private spaces and how they interact with each other.

Rela onship between street design and surrounding land uses: A number of land use strategies can help enhance the rela onship between the design of the streetscape and the businesses, residences and other land uses and ac vi es that occur adjacent to it. In addi on to how setback and front yard areas are used and the crea on of pedestrian ac vity centers, land use issues include direct connec ons between buildings and the sidewalk to allow people to walk safely and easily to businesses and other uses; loca on of vehicle parking, and land use and building design to ensure that buildings are visible and a rac ve to drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists.

Land Use Issues and Op ons

Possible general loca ons for ac vity centers were iden fied in the Urban Design, Streetscape and Land Use Booklet and are illustrated to the right. Those loca ons provide various condi ons and opportuni es suitable for crea on of ac vity centers. The ac vity centers could vary significantly in size and ameni es, depending on their specific loca on, surrounding land uses, and integra on with exis ng or future new land uses, topography or other condi ons.

Two types of ac vity centers have been described for this area– a smaller ac vity center that might be in an area with smaller‐scale retail uses with more limited available space and a larger ac vity center that could be located in an area with larger surrounding uses and more available land. Below is a list of ameni es that could be located in smaller or larger centers.

dra l design and land use op ons booklet - salem€¦ · this booklet summarizes the street design...

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