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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDowntown Hyannis Great Streets Final ReportGreat Streets Downtown Hyannis: Acknowledgments Town of Barnstable Elizabeth Jenkins Kaitlyn Maldonado James Kupfer Kyle Pedicini Griffin Beaudoin Stantec Speck & Associates Table of Contents 01 / 1 Project Overview 02 / 2 Applying Best Practices to Downtown Hyannis 03 / 3 Street Modifications 04 /Implementation Foreword -- Jeff Speck, FAICP, FCNU, LEED-AP, Hon.ASLA 1 Project Overview Great Streets Downtown Hyannis: A Walkable Heart for Cape Cod Introduction CONTEXT Gateway HyannisHyannis Parking StudyDowntown Hyannis Wayfinding Plan Rapid Recovery Program Plan Hyannis: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow The project began in the Fall of 2022 and went through an interactive and iterative community process, detailed on the following pages. Figure 1 Project Area of Influence PROJECT GOALS Enhance the public realm through placemaking in support of economic development Emphasize and prioritize people walking Address congestion that could increase as residential density is increased Employ traffic calming to enhance safety Encourage multi-modal transportation Project Process • Plan and Data Review. • Site Tour. • Existing Conditions Analysis. • Workshop Week. • Public Meetings. • Identification of Preliminary Plan Alternatives. • Narrowing and Refinement of Alternatives. Final Plan and Celebration! Refine Concepts Develop Concepts and Select Preferred Data Collection and Fact Finding Fall 2022 Winter 2022/23 Spring 2023 Public Meeting #3Public Meeting #1 Public Meeting #2 Project Timeline Public Outreach SUMMARY • Public Meeting #1, • Workshop Week • Public Meeting #2 • Additional stakeholder meetings • Public Meeting #3, Figure 2 Web Portal and Sample Online Survey Project updates, surveys, and past and upcoming meeting information were posted on a well- publicized website. PUBLIC MEETING #1 SUMMARY "When Main Street was two-way in the past, it was much more vibrant!" "Lots of traffic back-up with ferries and hospital, also back-up with E Main from Yarmouth." "Getting anywhere from here like North to community center is hard due to no cross walks and missing sidewalks." "Biking down South Street feels like biking on a highway" KEY COMMENTS The online version of in-person workshop exercises allowed people to participate on their own time. WORKSHOP WEEK Figure 3 Preliminary Sketches from Workshop Week PUBLIC MEETING #2 SUMMARY "Speeding on South St. is a real issue." " I really like the idea of making Main St. two way. Recently during a rainstorm at night I found it confusing even though I know the area well." " Keep [Main Street] one way. Do not allow biking on it. Spruce up the sidewalks" "[The western gateway] is *really* dangerous now—this would be way better." " The intersection at High School Road and South Street is a very dangerous one with a history of numerous accidents." KEY COMMENTS 91 participants.........other facts Figure 4 Public Feedback on Goals Sample Additional Goal Ideas: Place more of an emphasis on pedestrians Employ traffic calming to enhance safety Enhance the public realm through placemaking in support of economic development Address congestion that could increase as residential density is increased Encourage multi-modal transportation Participants were asked to rank the project goals from most important to least important, with a higher number representing most important. 12 34 30 28 31 45 21 22 Splitting Ocean and Old Colony Standard Roundabout Squareabout Central 4-Lane Street Figure 5 Public Feedback on Design Proposals- Six Points 16 11 19 12 24 9 34 15 Proposed Curb Extension at High School Road Western Gateway Proposed Pleasant and South Street Intersection Figure 6 Public Feedback on Design Proposals- Improving Connections Center Street / Old Colony at Main Note: Drawings have evolved slightly since being shared with the public. "Make the area a family friendly walkable, attractive and vibrant destination" "Bring the community together via businesses, transportation (including walking,) the natural environment" "The one-way system prioritizes someone from Dennis getting downtown" "We have a lot of people from 'elsewhere' drive here on our confusing road patterns." Street Approve Don't Approve Stevens Street Sea Street Extension North Street South Street Main Street Bassett Lane High School Road High School Road Extension Winter Street Ocean Street Center Street Old Colony Road Figure 7 Public Feedback on Design Proposals- Street Modifications 2 Applying Best Practices to Downtown Hyannis Introduction A SAFE WALK Figure 8 Crash Clusters in Downtown Hyannis A number of Barnstable's major crash clusters are located in downtown Hyannis. (Source: MassDOT Highway Safety Improvement Program, https://gis.massdot.state.ma.us/topcrashlocations/) Keeping drivers at or below 25 mph is essential to pedestrian safety in downtown (Source: UK Department of Transport) Figure 9 Pedestrian Injuries at Impact Speeds A significant change in downtown speeds typically results in a minimal change to commute times. (Source: Nelson\ Nygaard) Figure 10 Downtown Speeds and Commute Times 2.1 AVOIDING ONE-WAYS Figure 11 The Current One-Way Network Downtown The Welcome to Main Street sign appears just as all visitors are diverted away from it. (Source: Google Maps) Making Streets Great HOW ONE-WAYS WORK The absence of opposing traffic on South Street contributes to drivers’ propensity for speeding. (Source: Google Maps) Governing RECENT EXPERIENCE In 2009, Governing Magazine documented some of the benefits of two-way reversion. (Source: Governing Magazine) LOOPING AND DOUBLING VS. DISPERSING The one-way system requires an inordinate number of trips to rely on a few key intersections. The same trips as above, redistributed through a two-way network. Figure 12 Trips Through Downtown Hyannis in One-way Network Figure 13 Trips Through Downtown Hyannis in Two-Way Network A MORE RATIONAL AND LEGIBLE NETWORK Proposed changes to street direction downtown. Figure 14 Trips Through Downtown Hyannis in Two-Way Network A yard sign in New Albany, Indiana. (Source: Jeff Speck) THE CHALLENGE OF SIX POINTS Proper systematic restoration of two-way traffic demands a redesign of Six Points, where three major one-ways converge. It is worth noting that the two grass triangles to the south comprise about a half acre of wasted space, serving no civic function. Figure 15 Six Points Today The proposed short-term roundabout at Six Points has a mountable center to accommodate the largest vehicles. It does not require the relocation of any utilities. This most conventional option places a standard modern roundabout at Six Points. This solution requires partial erosion of the Walkway to the Sea's green, and has the disadvantage of requiring pedestrians to cross just as many streets and to go some distance out of their way. This most artful solution requires reconfiguration of the Harbor Overlook but replaces it with a more dramatic and amenitized spatial progression to the harbor. Effectively a square roundabout, or “squareabout,” it would require no signals. This most expedient solution concentrates all traffic on a single central 4-lane street that would require signals at both ends but allows the current Walkway to the Sea to remain unchanged. Preliminary analysis suggests that this solution would handle somewhat fewer cars per hour than the other alternatives. Figure 16 Short Term Six Points Figure 17 Standard Roundabout Figure 18 Squareabout Figure 19 Central 4-Lane Street THE WESTERN GATEWAY The existing road network where Main Street and South Street diverge. Figure 20 Existing Western Gateway Figure 21 Proposed Western Gateway The proposed road network creates a true gateway to Main Street, while adding valuable open space, room for outdoor dining, a safe protected bicycle lane, and a significant increase in nearby on-street parking. SOU T H S T R E E TSTEVENS STREETMAIN STREET 2.2 REPLACING UNWARRANTED SIGNALS WITH ALL-WAY STOPS There are currently 9 signalized intersections in the study area. Many are already unwarranted and could be replaced by stop signs today. Figure 22 Existing Signalized Intersections THE EVIDENCE As reported by KRQE in Albuquerque in 2018, stop signs have been found to improve both safety and traffic flow downtown. (Source: KRQE, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3MLZkZdjjk) ADDITIONAL OUTCOMES APPLICATION TO DOWNTOWN HYANNIS This Plan recommends removing all traffic signals within the study area with the exception of the one at Main Street and Lewis Bay Road. This plan shows the recommended stop control conversions with the number of stopped approaches. Many existing stops in downtown would remain and are not shown unless changed. Figure 23 Proposed Stop Signs and Signalized Intersections 2.3 THE PROPER NUMBER OF DRIVING LANES As it approaches Center Street in front of the Transit Center, Main Street holds 4 lanes in 67 feet of asphalt. Both the number and width of lanes can be reduced. (Source: Google Streetview) THE EASTERN GATEWAY Figure 24 - Proposed Eastern Gateway Eliminating extra lanes and excess lane width from Main Street makes room for the extension of the Transportation Center curb to create a gateway plaza. A gateway monument at the corner would receive views from four directions. 2.4 LANES OF THE PROPER WIDTH Studies show that wider travel lanes correlate with higher vehicle speeds. (Source: NACTO, Transportation Research Record) Urban Street Design Guide Lanes on North Street are 12 feet wide, a highway standard. Highway-style shoulders make them functionally even wider. Figure 25 Travel Lanes and Vehicle Speed An SUV and a truck demonstrate that 10 foot lanes provide ample passing room, even against a narrow parking lane. (Source: Speck & Associates) Streets in Downtown Hyannis today generally have lane widths that encourage higher speeds. Figure 26 Existing Lane Widths in Downtown Hyannis ADVISORY LANES The City of Portland, Oregon created this brochure to encourage the construction of new Yield Streets in the 1990s. High School Road encourages high speeds with its highway-like geometry and is uncomfortable to people walking as well as biking. (Source: Google Streetview) Advisory Lanes in Eastern Road, Scarborough, Maine. (Source: advisorybikelanes.com) 2.5 CONTINUOUS ON- STREET PARKING Urban Retail, Fort Lauderdale: Parking was only allowed on one side of Himmarshee Boulevard until corrected by a study like this one. Sidewalk dining was only successful on the parked side of the street. (Source: Speck & Associates) Purple lines represent parking lost to new loading zones; blue lines represent new parking added. (Source: Stantec) Figure 27 Proposed Downtown Parking and Loading Zones Wayfinding Study North Lot Redesign HYANNIS PARKING.DWG4-Jan-2023 11:04 AMPlotted on30 SCALE: 1" = 30' 0 60 100 2.6 INCLUDING BIKE LANES The insertion of a cycle track on this Brooklyn street dramatically improved safety for all road users without reducing daily car through-put. (Source: NYC DOT) A LOW-STRESS NETWORK There are currently almost no cycling facilities in downtown Hyannis. Figure 28 Existing Bike Network Figure 29 "Armadillo" Bicycle Protection MATERIALS PALETTE · Barrier Elements · 41 BARRIER ELEMENTS: CURBING STRAW WATTLE F Demo (1 day - 1 month)Pilot (1 month - 1 year) Interim (1 - 5 years) Recommended Applications and Installation ɖ Bikeways: Place straw wattle along edge of the bike lane to create continuous curb or use to create protected intersection demonstrations. ɖ Median Islands/Curb Extensions: May be placed along edge of median island or curb extension to create a temporary curb. Provide a minimum 6 ft. break for crosswalk / pedestrian accessibility. ɖ Plazas: Place along edge of plaza area to create curbing as desired. ɖ Roundabouts: May be used to demarcate roundabout area or splitter islands, in conjunction with signs and other design elements. Tips and Considerations »Low profile, combine with reflective materials (cones, free-standing delinea- tors etc. if left out overnight. »Only appropriate for very short-term demonstration projects. Potential Sources »Borrow from city public works or parks department »Purchase from landscaping or hardware store Typical Dimensions: Varied. Typically sold in 25 ft. long, 9 in. diameter rolls.Estimated Cost: $4 / linear ft.Overview: Lightweight and easily shaped into various configurations. As part of the Better Block Philly demonstration projects in Philadelphia, straw wattle curbing was used to create curb extensions and expanded sidewalk space (Better Block Philly). The Austin Transportation Department has used concrete buttons to create a less visually intrusive curb extension barrier. (Michael Andersen, bikeportland.org). Hard plastic “armadillos” provide a low-lying and durable bike lane barrier. Left: Rogers, AR protected bikeway (Street Plans); Right: Washington, D.C. (Street Plans) Note: Washington D.C.’s Department of Transportation removed armadillos — spaced 15 ft. apart instead of 8 ft. or less. — because they failed to prevent u-turning in the bike lane as intended. They were replaced by the parking stops pictured above. The traffic circle west of downtown must be carefully modified to welcome cyclists. Figure 30 Proposed Traffic circle Accommodation for Bicycles This proposed comprehensive bike network provides low-stress access to most addresses downtown. Figure 31 Proposed Bike Network BIKE RACKS MATTER TOO 2.7 REMOVING CENTERLINES Removing centerlines from this and other British streets reduced driving speeds an average of 7 mph. (Source: Google Streetview) Figure 32 Proposed Curb Extension at Barnstable Road 2.8 AVOIDING HIGH- SPEED GEOMETRIES Suggested painted curb extensions on High School Road. Suggested painted curb extensions on Winter Street. Excess pavement at an important intersection. Figure 33 Proposed Curb Extension at High School Road Figure 34 Proposed Curb Extension at Winter Street Figure 35 Existing Pleasant and South Street Intersection Removal of the unnecessary slip lane creates an expanded green. Figure 36 Proposed Pleasant and South Street Intersection 2.9 PROPER PEDESTRIAN ACCOMMODATIONS WIDE, HIGH-CONTRAST CROSSWALKS CURB EXTENSIONS CONCURRENT SIGNALIZATION LEADING PEDESTRIAN INTERVALS SHORT SIGNAL CYCLES Figure 37 High Visibility Crosswalk AVOIDING PUSH BUTTONS Postscript THE ANATOMY OF A CRASH There Are No Accidents A pedestrian is hit by a driver while crossing Ocean Street along Main Street. (Source: Merchant security video) 3 Street Modifications STREET NAMEMAIN STREET Summary EXISTING- PROPOSED- Characteristics Existing Proposed Travel Lanes Centerline On-Street Parking Bicycle Facilities Shoulders Existing (Facing East)Main Street Today Proposed (Facing East) STREET NAMESTREET NAMEMAIN STREET- CURB EXTENSIONS Summary EXISTING- PROPOSED- Characteristics Existing Proposed Travel Lanes Centerline On-Street Parking Bicycle Facilities Shoulders Existing (Facing East)Main Street Today Proposed (Facing East) STREET NAMESOUTH STREET Summary EXISTING- PROPOSED- Characteristics Existing Proposed Travel Lanes Centerline On-Street Parking Bicycle Facilities Shoulders Existing (Facing East)South Street Today Proposed (Facing East) STREET NAMESTREET NAMEOLD COLONY ROAD Summary EXISTING- PROPOSED- T Characteristics Existing Proposed Travel Lanes Centerline On-Street Parking Bicycle Facilities Shoulders Existing (Facing North)Old Colony Road Today Proposed (Facing North) STREET NAMESTREET NAMEHIGH SCHOOL ROAD Summary EXISTING- PROPOSED- Characteristics Existing Proposed Travel Lanes Centerline On-Street Parking Bicycle Facilities Shoulders Existing (Facing North)High School Road Today Proposed (Facing North) STREET NAMEHIGH SCHOOL ROAD EXTENSION Summary EXISTING- PROPOSED- Characteristics Existing Proposed Travel Lanes Centerline On-Street Parking Bicycle Facilities Shoulders Existing (Facing North)High School Road Extension Today Proposed (Facing North) STREET NAMEOCEAN STREET Summary EXISTING- PROPOSED- Characteristics Existing Proposed Travel Lanes Centerline On-Street Parking Bicycle Facilities Shoulders Existing (Facing North)Ocean Street Today Proposed (Facing North) STREET NAMESEA STREET EXTENSION Characteristics Existing Proposed Travel Lanes Centerline On-Street Parking Bicycle Facilities Shoulders Existing (Facing North)Sea Street Extension Today Proposed (Facing North) Summary EXISTING- PROPOSED- STREET NAMESTEVENS STREET Summary EXISTING- PROPOSED- Proposed (Facing North) Existing (Facing North)Stevens Street Today Characteristics Existing Proposed Travel Lanes Centerline On-Street Parking Bicycle Facilities Shoulders STREET NAMENORTH STREET Summary EXISTING- PROPOSED- Characteristics Existing Proposed Travel Lanes Centerline On-Street Parking Bicycle Facilities Shoulders Existing (Facing East)North Street Today Proposed (Facing East) STREET NAMEBASSETT LANE Summary EXISTING- PROPOSED- Characteristics Existing Proposed Travel Lanes Centerline On-Street Parking Bicycle Facilities Shoulders Existing (Facing North)Bassett Lane Today Proposed (Facing North) STREET NAMESTREET NAMEWINTER STREET Summary EXISTING- PROPOSED- Characteristics Existing Proposed Travel Lanes Centerline On-Street Parking Bicycle Facilities Shoulders Existing (Facing North)Winter Street Today Proposed (Facing North) STREET NAMESTREET NAMECENTER STREET Summary EXISTING- PROPOSED- Characteristics Existing Proposed Travel Lanes Centerline On-Street Parking Bicycle Facilities Shoulders Existing (Facing North)Center Street Today Proposed (Facing North) 4 Implementation Supplementary Recommendations WALKING CONNECTION FROM TRANSPORTATION CENTER TO FERRY ROUTES Figure 38 Walking Route to Ferry Terminals TRUCK ROUTE TO FERRY Figure 39 Truck Route from Ferry Terminals Short-Term 1. Two-Way to One-Way • All changes in paint • Requires #2, below • Includes restriping and curb adjustment at Western Gateway 2. Convert Signals to Stop Signs • In short-term, can cover signals to eventually remove 3. Implement Loading Zones • Restriping streets will result in a net addition of parking 4. Stripe Bicycle Facilities • Deploy armadillos/stanchions for vertical separation April-November 5. Pilot Curb Extensions • Temporary materials include paint and bollards 6. Six Points Short-Term Solution • Implement quick-build roundabout 7. Crosswalk Improvements • Restripe crosswalks to bold "ladder style," 10-foot-wide crossings Potential Funding Sources: Timeline and Funding Medium-Term Add Bicycle Parking • Consider seasonal addition of 'bicycle corrals' in on-street parking spaces Western Gateway Rebuild • Move curb and create plaza Implement Pleasant/South Design • Move curb to close off slip lane Begin Six Points Redesign Process • Select preferred alternative • Full engineering and construction documentation North Lot Upgrades • Restripe lot and add plantings to increase capacity Potential Funding Sources: Long-Term Main Street Curb Extensions/Changes • Move curbs at intersections to create more space for people Six Points Redesign • Reconstruct Six Points to preferred alternative Potential Funding Sources: