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Pedestrian Streets/Malls:
There are two types of pedestrian streets/malls: (1) those that eliminate
motor vehicle traffic (deliveries permitted during off-peak hours) and;
(2) those that allow some motor vehicle traffic at very low speeds. The
second type can be thought of as a pedestrian street that allows some
motor vehicles, as opposed to a motor vehicle street that allows some
pedestrians.
Pedestrian streets have been successful in places that are thriving and
have high volumes of pedestrians. Examples of successful pedestrian streets
include Church Street in Burlington, VT; Downtown Crossing in Boston,
MA; Maiden Lane in San Francisco, CA; Occidental Street in Seattle, WA;
Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, CA; and, Fremont Street in Las Vegas,
NV.
Another option is to create a part-time pedestrian street, as is done, for example, in the French Quarter in New Orleans, LA, which uses removable barriers to close the street to motorists at night.
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| Photo by Cara Seiderman
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| Church Street in Burlington, Vermont, is a successful pedestrian street with
market stalls, public art, landscaping, and cafes. |
• Create a significant public space in a downtown district, a tourist district,
or a special events or marketplace area.
• Enhance the experience for people in a commercial district. |
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• Pedestrian streets (those that eliminate motor vehicles) created with
the notion of attracting people in areas that are on the decline have usually
been unsuccessful.
• The pedestrian environment can often be enhanced through other measures,
including street narrowing/sidewalk widening and the addition of landscaping. |
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| A pedestrian street can be created simply by blocking either end of an existing
street with nothing more than a few signs. Temporary pedestrian streets can
be created for weekends or holidays. If the street is going to be a permanent
public space, care should be taken in the design. Depending on the extent of
the treatment (one block or several blocks) and the quality of the materials
used, a true pedestrian street can cost from $100,000 to several million dollars. |
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