HOW TO TAME THOSE BIG, MEAN, NASTY, STREETS. ARTERIAL TRAFFIC CALMING: CITY OF GRESHAM'S BOULEVARD PROGRAM

In order to balance the competing interest of vehicular capacities while improving pedestrian, bicycle, and transit facilities, the City of Gresham developed the Boulevard Program. The City's first boulevard project is on Division Street. Division is a heavily trafficked, a five-lane arterial that is unsafe to all users. Major sections of sidewalks are missing, no bike lanes are designated, and cars move at very high speeds. Major intersections are currently operating at a level-of-service D and automobile collisions are occurring at a significant rate. Division was identified as a boulevard because of its many users. It links Gresham's downtown and new transit-oriented development, Civic Neighborhood. It is a frequent bus corridor and parallels the light rail line with two stations nearby. It connects Gresham and Portland, and ties Gresham's parks, shopping centers, and schools to established neighborhoods. The city was awarded grant funding to design and construct a boulevard that will safely accommodate all travel modes within the existing right-of-way and enhance the livability of the neighborhood. The final design slows travel speeds by changing the perception of the street from a fast moving arterial, to a neighborhood boulevard. Travel lanes are narrowed to 11-feet and on-street parking added. Street trees add a vertical dimension to further the perception of a narrow street and encourage slower speeds. Also included in the design are sidewalks ranging in width from eight- to fifteen-feet (depending on adjacent land use), pedestrian-scale lighting, bicycle lanes, and a four to sixteen foot raise, landscaped median with frequent mid-block pedestrian crossings and U-turn bays.

• Corporate Authors:

  Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE)

  Washington, DC  United States 
• Authors:
  • Rouse, D
• Conference:
  • Compendium of Papers. Institute of Transportation Engineers 2000, District 6 Annual Meeting
  • Location: San Diego, California
  • Date: 2000-6-24 to 2000-6-28
• Publication Date: 2000

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 18p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Arterial highways; Bicycle travel; Level of service; Neighborhoods; Pedestrians; Right of way (Traffic); Safety; Streets; Traffic calming; Transit oriented development; Transit safety; Vehicles
• Geographic Terms: Portland (Oregon)
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00803409
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 16 2004 12:00AM