Trans Principle 1

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19Principle One: Orientation & Connectivity

To really be a vibrant node of act ivi ty, aneighborhood center must be connectedto other destinat ions in the neighborhood

and other opportunit ies throughout the Districtand the region. It must be easy to access, acces-sible through mult iple routes and pathw ays,and serviced by a variety of transportationm odes .

PRINCIPLE ONE: ORIENTATION & CONNECTIVITY

THE IMPORTANCE OF CREATING CONNECTIONS

CO NCEPT S

Orientation toward the neighborhood center and connections to and from it

Provides mult iple routes to transit and other destinations.

Creates easy and convenient connections with other modes oftrave l.

Enhances sightlines to transit and other destinations to makeconnections easily visual and logical.

Minimizes physical barriers to walking and transit use.

Links neighborhood centers together to maximize access togoods, services and opportunities throughout the region

Wa shingtons traditional street grid is a model of connect ivity.All streets converge on a common center and provide easy andlogical access across the neighborh ood.


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20 Principle One: Orientat ion & Connectiv it y

G U ID ELINES

Not all neighborhood destinations or amenitiescan or should be concentrated in the neighbor-hood center. Schools, large parks, large-s caleretail, or low-density residential developmentsmay be more appropriately located outside ofthe neighborhood center. Access to and linkagesbetween local and regional destinations isimportant to the vitality of the core transit center.

A. Provide mult iple rout es to t ransit and des-ti nations in t he defined center.Neighborhood centers are most successfulw hen they can be accessed easily and logi-cally from many different point s in the sur-rounding neighborhood.

Strengthen or reintroduce an interconnectednetwork of streets and pathways.

Break up super blocks with streets or path-ways. Blocks of extensive length limit pedes-trian movement and convenient access totrans it.

Strengthen or reintroduce a simple street andblock pattern radiating from the neighbor-

hood center; avoid cul de sacs, curvingroads, or dead ends. Street patterns shouldbe simple and memorable.

Use the intersection of major streets or path-ways as opportunities interesting architec-ture, uses, or destinations.

Provide clear, concise, and reliable maps ofthe neighborhood at transit stops and inother locations in the neighborhood.

Improve signage to neighborhood destina-tions such as schools, parks, recreation cen-ters, and historic resources.

Increase lighting and other safety measuresto ensure that a number of different routes

provide safe pedestrian pathways to transitand neighborhood destinations.

N eighborhoods can take advantage of transit by high-lighting easy routes to important local destinations suchas historic sites to attract visitors to the community.

LEnf ants historic plan for Washington DC (left) laidout the city in a grid of streets with diagonal connec-tions to other important destinations in the District.


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B. Provide clear connections from transit t oother modes of travel including w alking,b iking, and transit transfers.

Design transit-area plazas and public spacesto integrate bus access and transfer points.

Incorporate bus shelters into public spacesand the architecture of buildings along transitroute s .

Provide safe bicycle facilities close to transitareas, such as lockers and paths.

Adjust the connection between bus and railservices so that buses do not idle for extend-ed periods or obstruct pedestrian pathways.

Principle One: Orientation & Connectivity

N eighborhood centers should be designed to facilitateconnections between diff erent modes of travel includ-ing transit, bike, and auto.

Transit centers provide dire ctaccess to bus service, majorpedestrian routes and neighbor-hood destinations making transitconvenient and easy to use.

Buildings can be designed to incorporate bus stops or othertransit amenities into the faade of the building itself toenhance connections to t ransit.


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22 Principle One: Orientat ion & Connectiv it y

C. Enhance visual connect ions across theneighborhood center. Visual connectionsprovide a sense of orientation, entice peopleto visit the destination, and promote asense of comfort and safety.

Orient public spaces and building entrancesto transit facilities to increase access to tran-sit and destinations such as shopping andem ploym ent.

Include public art or other landmarks in tran-s it-area developments to help visitors andresidents orient themselves in the neighbor-hood.

Maintain straight streets and consistentbuilding setbacks to extend the line of sightfor several blocks in many directions.

Provide direct pedestrian pathways that fol-

low site-lines to destinations.

REGIONA L CONN ECTIONS

Vibrant neighborhood centers that are pedestrian-friendlyand connected to transit provide local access to housing,employment and service options. Several unique centerswithin the District and metropolitan region reduce re lianceon automobile travel while creating a system of regional des-

tinations or nodes of activity.

The regional benefits of TO D are best recognized through this system of activity nodes.Connected by transit, they provide regional access to services and employment to all citizens,regardless of automobile ownership. In addition, reduced reliance on automobile travel results inimproved air quality and less unplanned, dispersed development that relies on auto travel. In thisway, TO D holds the potent ial for local and regional change that can benefit all District neigh-

borhoods and the re gion.

The proposed Potomac Ya rds plan in Vi rginia is an exampleof a transit corridor with multiple, connected nodes.Source: Cunningh am + Q uill Arc hitects

The transit system provides all residents access toopportunities throughout the metropolitan re gion.


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23Principle One: Orientation & Connectivity

D. Minimize physical barriers to transit use.

Provide safe, convenient and inviting pedes-trian and bicycle bridges and tunnelsover/under barriers such as major roadways,railroad tracks, and steep gullies or streets.

Link development projects to area transporta-tion and circulation plans to ensure consis-tency.

E. Provide convenient, reliable and flex ib leconnections between transit-oriented neigh-borhood centers.

Expand transit service to maximize accessibil-ity to neighborhood centers.

Route transit service to link neighborhoodcenters with m inimal transfers or delay.

Promote service to the neighborhood centerby multiple travel modes including subwaylines, direct bus service, and bicycle path-ways .

At Rhode Island Avenue, pedestrians cut across railro adtracks adjacent to the Metro Station to take the mostdirect route home. Improving access is important toencouraging transit use and providing safe ro utes.


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24 Principle One: Orientation & Connectivity

Public spaces help create an identity for the neighborhood aswell as providing comfortable places to sit, visit, and re lax.

N eighborhood centers should be safe and accessiblefor all members of the community.Source: Washington Regional Network

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Trans Principle 1