Main Street...when a highway runs through it: A Handbook for Oregon Communities

Author(s):

State of Oregon

Organization:

Transportation and Growth Management Program

Publisher/Date:

Transportation and Growth Management Program, 1999

Rating:

Useful

Abstract:

This handbook is for educating community designers in the intricacies of designing for pedestrians. It has some good illustrations showing examples, including before and after situations, of pedestrian areas at intersections. Much of the language in this text asserts that pedestrians and pedestrian safety are an important priority “when safety and space allocation must be balanced between modes” (p.20).

In a section that presents a series of downtown examples/scenarios, pedestrians and their safety are mentioned often (e.g. narrower street crossings, wider sidewalks, addition of a center median, addition of bulb-outs). Accessibility is not specifically addressed in these examples, but the drawings clearly show curb cut ramps at the pedestrian crossing areas.

There is a section dealing with sidewalk area design in which there are a number of photos showing good/bad examples.  The impact on pedestrians of the choices made in sidewalk design, street furniture, landscaping, curb extensions, driveways and maintenance is also discussed.

The authors see pedestrians as a priority and an important consideration during the design process.  There are some references to people with disabilities as well as the ADA, but there no detailed design guidance.  There are references to another document, the Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, to which readers are referred for “all relevant aspects of the ADA.”

Number of Pages:

102

Table of Contents?

Yes

Index?

Yes

Illustrations?

Yes

Material Type:

Book

Key Document?

No

Categories:

Guidelines, Policy, Educational Materials, Advocacy, Planning, Concept Design

Keywords:

Transportation Planning, Land Use Planning, Oregon - State

Record Last Updated:

July 2006