The only book of its kind to provide an overview of
sustainable street design
Today, society is moving toward a more sustainable way of life,
with cities everywhere aspiring to become high-quality places to
live, work, and play. Streets are fundamental to this shift. They
define our system of movement, create connections between places,
and offer opportunities to reconnect to natural systems. There is
an increasing realization that the right-of-way is a critical and
under-recognized resource for transformation, with new models being
tested to create a better public realm, support balanced
transportation options, and provide sustainable solutions for
stormwater and landscaping.
Living Streets provides practical guidance on the
complete street approach to sustainable and community-minded street
use and design. Written by an interdisciplinary team of authors,
the book brings insights and experience from urban planning,
transportation planning, and civil engineering perspectives. It
includes examples from many completed street design projects from
around the world, an overview of the design and policy tools that
have been successful, and guidance to help get past the predictable
obstacles to implementation: Who makes decisions in the
right-of-way? Who takes responsibility? How can regulations be
changed to allow better use of the right-of-way?
Living Streets informs you of the benefits of creating
streets that are healthier, more pleasant parts of life:
* Thoughtful planning of the location, uses, and textures of the
spaces in which we live encourages people to use public space more
often, be more active, and possibly live healthier lives.
* A walkable community makes life easier and more pleasant for
everyone, especially for vulnerable populations within the larger
community whose transportation limitations reduce access to jobs,
healthy food, health care, recreation, and social interaction.
* Streets present opportunities to improve the natural
environment while adding to neighborhood character, offering
beauty, providing shade, and improving air quality.
If you’re an urban planner, designer, transportation engineer,
or civil engineer, Living Streets is the ultimate guide for
the creation of more humane streetscapes that connect neighborhoods
and inspire people.
Table of Content
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS xi
OVERVIEW xiii
Chapter 1 PLACEMAKING IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY 1
The Function of Places 2
Why Invest in a Quality Public Realm? 4
Placemaking and Design 5
Encouraging the Use of Public Space 11
Reclaiming Right-of-Way for Public Places 14
Considering All the Elements in the Right-of-Way 21
Chapter 2 MOBILITY 23
Connecting People to Places 24
Why Have Walkable, Bikeable Communities? 25
The Size and Shape of Movement 26
The Pace of Movement 34
A Shift in Thinking 35
Chapter 3 NATURAL SYSTEMS 39
Reconnecting Cities to Nature 40
Urban Biodiversity 41
Natural Systems and Opportunities in the Right-of-Way 42
Why Reconnect Nature and the City? 49
Chapter 4 ELEMENTS 51
Places to Move Through 52
Materials 58
Intersections 59
Bicycle Facilities 61
Signage 68
Street Furniture 70
Street Trees and Landscaping 74
Swales and Rain Gardens 74
Curbs, Gutters, and Alternatives 77
Parking 79
Chapter 5 INFLUENCES 83
Considering Context 84
Policy Foundation–Policies That Infl uence Street Design
87
Codes, Guidelines, and Standards 93
Reality Factors 99
Chapter 6 TYPOLOGIES 113
Typologies Overview 113
Residential Streets 115
Green Streets 123
Alleys 139
Main Streets 154
Thoroughfares 171
Shared-Use Streets 182
Festival Streets 193
Chapter 7 CASE STUDIES 207
Mint Plaza 208
Nord Alley 217
Central Annapolis Road 225
78th Avenue SE Shared Use 235
High Point 243
Barracks Row 255
New York City 263
Terry Avenue North 271
Chapter 8 WHAT’S NEXT 285
Biophilic Cities: More Nature in the City 286
New Technologies 287
Building the Dream 290
Conclusions 296
RESOURCES 301
INDEX 311
About the author
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 Sv R Design Company.
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