Living Streets

Lesley Bain, AIA, LEED, is an architect, urban designer, and Principal at Weinstein A|U Architects + Urban Designers LLC. Lesley has played prominent roles in many of Seattle's urban design efforts including pedestrian planning, station area development, campus planning, and incorporating transportation into neighborhoods.Barbara Gray is an urban planner with eighteen years of professional experience in community design and transportation planning. She currently manages the Transportation Systems Design and Planning group for the Seattle Department of Transportation.Dave Rodgers, PE, LEED, is recognized nationwide as being at the forefront of innovative sustainable design. He is a Principal at SvR Design Company.

• ACKNOWLEDGMENTS xi OVERVIEW xiiiChapter 1 PLACEMAKING IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY 1The Function of Places 2Why Invest in a Quality Public Realm? 4Placemaking and Design 5Encouraging the Use of Public Space 11Reclaiming Right-of-Way for Public Places 14Considering All the Elements in the Right-of-Way 21Chapter 2 MOBILITY 23Connecting People to Places 24Why Have Walkable, Bikeable Communities? 25The Size and Shape of Movement 26The Pace of Movement 34A Shift in Thinking 35Chapter 3 NATURAL SYSTEMS 39Reconnecting Cities to Nature 40Urban Biodiversity 41Natural Systems and Opportunities in the Right-of-Way 42Why Reconnect Nature and the City? 49Chapter 4 ELEMENTS 51Places to Move Through 52Materials 58Intersections 59Bicycle Facilities 61Signage 68Street Furniture 70Street Trees and Landscaping 74Swales and Rain Gardens 74Curbs, Gutters, and Alternatives 77Parking 79Chapter 5 INFLUENCES 83Considering Context 84Policy Foundation—Policies That Infl uence Street Design 87Codes, Guidelines, and Standards 93Reality Factors 99Chapter 6 TYPOLOGIES 113Typologies Overview 113Residential Streets 115Green Streets 123Alleys 139Main Streets 154Thoroughfares 171Shared-Use Streets 182Festival Streets 193Chapter 7 CASE STUDIES 207Mint Plaza 208Nord Alley 217Central Annapolis Road 22578th Avenue SE Shared Use 235High Point 243Barracks Row 255New York City 263Terry Avenue North 271Chapter 8 WHAT'S NEXT 285Biophilic Cities: More Nature in the City 286New Technologies 287Building the Dream 290Conclusions 296RESOURCES 301INDEX 311

"A chief purpose of Living Streets is to encourage designers to see streets as "more than just places to drive." The book explores how intelligent street planning can create good places for living, working, and playing; strengthen community interaction; encourage healthier ways of life; develop local economies; and promote urban patterns that are less dependent on fossil fuels." (Better! Cities & Towns, September 2012)