Northampton Charrette

Timelessness: Lessons From History & Tradition

“They are simple and sublime. More cannot be said. They are not the brat of a whimsical conception never before brought to light, but copied from the most precious, the most perfect model[s].”  Thomas Jefferson, 1786, On traditional architecture.

“Tradition is the tending of the fire,  not the worship of the ashes.”  -Goethe

Same Land Uses,

Very Different Travel Behavior

This is a two-way, two-lane LA Street: 56’ wide

To  Washington  for  Research  

“The record shows there is far  less danger of over-designing than  

there is of failing to keep pace  

with the technological advances  

of the motor vehicle...”1

1 Mr. George T McCoy, Past President of AASHO  

1955 speech at AASHO convention.

First Published 1942, Harvard University Press- This is a 1947 Edition.

“Best  Target”

“Destructive  

Effects Greatly  

Reduced”

Tools & Concepts

Original “Design Vehicles”

Vehicular Speed:    

A  Common  Problem-­‐  both  Real  and  Perceived  

Portsmouth, NH

Portsmouth  5-Minute Walk  Theory

22  110

23  111

Park-Once

36  

Portsmouth’s  10-Minute  Walk Reality

Same Town

Very Different Pedestrian Environment

5-Minute Walk Theory

Vehicular  Walking

“Parkalot”

30 Second Walk  Reality

30 Second Walk  at Market Square

45

Huge Potential for Change

Public Policies Matter

Policies Are Important

Policies Are Important

Policies Are Important

GREAT STREETS + COMPLETE STREETS

Street Design:

An International Issue

A Very Complex Design Problem

Street  assignments  

Abu  Dhabi’s  Urban  Street  Design  Manual  

Chester  “Rick”  Chellman,  P.E.  

LEARNING FROM BEST PRACTICES IN THE WORLD

STREET DESIGN MANUAL

Key Design Principles-Priorities

Key Design Principles 1.  The best transport plan is a good land

use plan

2. Good street design starts with pedestrians

•  A well-designed street network provides safety for all modes of transport

•  Street connectivity enhances capacity and allows smooth traffic flow

•  Street design reflects Plan 2030 goals for Abu Dhabi Emirate

•  Street design supports estidama principles

Bicycles

Happy  Biker  &  a  Sharrow  

Cycletrack

Bare Street

Add Landscape & Cycletrack

Begin Infill

More Infill

More Infill & People

More Infill, People & Transit

Fully Mature Street

69  

St. Louis Example: Road Diet & Complete Street

70  

St. Louis, Existing Conditions

71  

St. Louis Example

Complete  Systems:    South  Grand  Boulevard  

76  

St. Louis Example