Item B - Street Plan Amendment - Laserfiche WebLink

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Design Standards In addition to the classification issues noted above, substantial concerns have been voiced by several committee members regarding the feasibility of applying current standards to future improvement projects on these streets. As indicated in the Study objectives, city staff and the committee have been examining the current design standards for major streets, including a review of the design standards contained in the ACSP, which has 13 alternatives for the neighborhood collector classification. We also examined two design alternatives that were developed as a part of the Royal Nodal Development Plan that proposes utilizing bioswales with intermittent curbs rather than a more traditional piped stormwater collection and conveyance system. In addition to this example, we also discussed the recent reconstruction of Delta Highway, north of Green Acres Road that made use of an existing perforated pipe subsurface drainage swale that was functioning well by incorporating intermittent curbs along that frontage. Another design feature that the committee discussed at length was the sidewalk element of streets in the south hills. Currently the ACSP requires setback sidewalks on one or both sides of all neighborhood collector streets. While setback sidewalk could be constructed on at least one side of most roadways in the Crest Drive area, existing trees and the optional stormwater collection and conveyance techniques, as discussed above, some flexibility needs to be applied to the standards. We propose to permit meandering concrete sidewalk where trees, steep slopes or swales/drainage ditches would be impediments in compliance with ADA, or as close as practicable. We further propose and on the opposite side consideration could be given to constructing an alternative materials pedestrian path that could be surfaced with bark chips, crushed rock, asphalt or other suitable materials. The above drainage and walkway options are examples of Context Sensitive Design (CSD), an emerging roadway design technique that is flexible and sensitive to community values. CSD is a collaborative, interdisciplinary methodology that involves all stakeholders throughout the project development process to design a transportation facility that fits its physical setting and preserves scenic, aesthetic, historic, and environmental resources, while maintaining safety and mobility. CSD is an approach that that considers the total context within which a transportation improvement project will exist. CSD requires an early and continuous commitment to public involvement, flexibility in exploring new solutions, and an openness to new ideas. Community members play an important role in identifying local and regional concerns and solutions that may better meet and balance the needs of all stakeholders. Context Sensitive Design promotes six key principles, including: 1. Balance safety, mobility, community, and environmental goals in the project. 2. Involve the public and affected parties early and continuously. 3. Use an interdisciplinary team tailored to each projects needs. 4. Address all modes of travel/transportation.