Public Transit Benchmark Study

6.0 Traffic and Transportation

6.3 Al Mansora Accessibility Proposal

6.3.4 Pedestrian and Cycling Strategy Benchmark Concept Urban space structures a context in which a project is ultimately implemented. Successful, quality urban spaces and projects are the product of socio-spatial layering of activity and function.

Quality urban spaces layer and respond to layering dynamics.

Layering creates a series of spatial dynamics whereby urban areas take on different forms. To implement change and ensure the success of a given project, attention needs to be paid to these layering dynamics.

The projects detailed in this section highlight layering in the creation of quality urban spaces and showcase both urban spatial interventions in transit spaces and transit system organization strategies.

Studies were chosen to illustrate and benchmark two specific dynamics: • the impact of transit spaces and systems on the design of public space • the interface between different modes of transit in public space

Experiences will be drawn upon in future recommendations for the Al Mansora Master Plan and highlight specifically the interfaces of pedestrian and cyclist space with other transit modes.

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6.0 Traffic and Transportation

6.3 Al Mansora Accessibility Proposal

6.3.4 Pedestrian and Cycling Strategy Benchmark Concept The diagrams to the right indicate the types of analyses that will be presented in this chapter.

Analyses will focus specifically on how pedestrian and cyclist dynamics are shaped and used to shape quality urban spaces. Analyses will also evaluate the layering of transit and movement in the given case, the scales of urban systems in which the space and project is inserted and finally the functions and activities present.

Form

Transit and Movement

Form will be analysed by focusing on the nodes, paths and areas of activity, to indicate how layering of functions structures the space.

Transit and movement in each space will be analysed and compared with the icons to the right. Scales and strategies will be indicated in the accompanying text.

Each project represents a scale solution or suggestion that can be applied in the Al Mansora masterplan.

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6.0 Traffic and Transportation

6.3 Al Mansora Accessibility Proposal

6.3.4 Pedestrian and Cycling Strategy Nice / Place Massena Place Massena is located in the center of Nice, France, and is a primary gateway to the pedestrianized core of the city and the city’s beachfront Promenade des Anglais. The square stands at the intersection of Avenue Jean Medecin and Boulevard Jean Jaures, a linear park running through the center of the city. The square is focal point of urban life in the city and an important commercial node in the city of Nice.

The renovation of Place Massena was accomplished with the construction of the 1 tram line, pictured in the images of this benchmark. The expansion of transit services in this regard went hand and hand with an increase in the quality and expanse of pedestrian public space.

In terms of understanding interfaces between different modes of transit in public space, it can be noted that the new organization of the square favors pedestrian accessibility and movement.

Tram lines and automobile throughtraffic are restricted to single traffic lanes, with traffic calming facilities.

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The installation of the tram line has used transit to structure pedestrian movement and promote connectivity between main shopping areas located to the north of boulevard Jean Jaures and the historic center of the city located to the south.

Vehicular traffic crossing the square has to give way to pedestrian actvity. Cyclists can make use of the square to transition from the Promende des Anglais to the the city bike network.

Such a strategy could be applied in Al Mansora boulevard specifically at the transit node to be constructed in light of the plans proposed by both Coloco and ECOU.

Pedestrian Activity Area Pedestrian Movement Public Transit Movement Vehicular Movement Bicycle Movement Traffic Light

200 m

6.0 Traffic and Transportation

6.3 Al Mansora Accessibility Proposal

6.3.4 Pedestrian and Cycling Strategy Alicante / Plaza Sergio Cardell Plaza Sergio Cardell is located in the L’Albutefereta district of Alicante to the west of the cities historic center. The plaza stands at the junction of avenida de la Deportista Miriam Biasco and avenida del Historidor Vicente Ramos.

The plaza is a recently redeveloped roundabout that incorporates a transit stop into the plaza space.

The transit stop is a main node in the Albutefereta district. The stop itself is part of the Metropolitano system and is linked to the center of Alicante via Linea 4 tram and the Linea 9 that services the entire L’Albuteferta district. Linkages at the nearby Lucentum Station permit users to access the Linea 1 regional train servicing the northwestern suburbs of the city.

Deportista Miriam Biasco. Avenues entering the plaza are two lanes in either direction.

The installation of the tram line and stop at Plaza Sergio Cardell has been used to widen and favor the pedestrian and green spaces of the district, buffering pedestrian spaces from vehicular spaces and calming vehicular traffic passing through local neighborhoods. Cyclists can make use of pedestrian plaza space. The transit node serves similarly to promote east west connectivity throught the district.

Pedestrian Activity Area Pedestrian Movement Public Transit Movement Vehicular Movement Bicycle Movement Traffic Light 200 m

Such a strategy can be applied along Al Jamhuriyah Boulevard in light of the proposals for a tram line along this main corridor envisioned by both IPSO and ECOU.

The landscaping and placement of the tram stop is part of an extensive district wide urban landscaping project that has extended sidewalk space and green space. The tram line itself serves to buffer pedestrian space along a central pedestrian promenade along Avenue de le

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6.0 Traffic and Transportation

6.3 Al Mansora Accessibility Proposal

6.3.4 Pedestrian and Cycling Strategy Bern / Banhofsplatz

The train station itself services both international and interegional systems. The station structure was recently rennovated and is now an important commercial and shopping center in the city.

structure. In Bern, pedestrian spaces intermingle with transit spaces and are structured around vehicular movement. Users exit the station from below ground and walk up into the flexible roof structure and tram stop. At grade, pedestrians share road space with cyclists and public transsit.

Vehicular traffic is deviated around the historic center, with the transit hub serving as a gateway to the pedestrian friendly historic center.

Bahnhofsplatz is also is a hub in the to the city tram system and is serviced by lines 30,21,20,19,17,12,11,9, 5 and 3.

Such a strategy can be applied in Al Mansora boulevard specifically to promote the continuity of commercial space on both sides of the boulevard.

Banhofplatz is located in Bern’s historic center in near vicinity to the Swiss Parliament and the city’s main commercial thoroughfare, Marktgasse.

To compliment the interface between the train station and local tram network, an iconic roof structure has been constructed to partially cover the station square. The structure protects pedestrians waiting for passing trams upon exit from the train station and serves as an important visual gateway and marker to the entrance of the center of the city. Vehicular traffic is restricted to one lane with cyclists and buses sharing the other lane accessing the square. Pedestrian traffic exiting the station has been diverted underground and exits the station immediately under the roof

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Pedestrian Activity Area Pedestrian Movement Public Transit Movement Vehicular Movement Traffic Light

100 m

6.0 Traffic and Transportation

6.3 Al Mansora Accessibility Proposal

6.3.4 Pedestrian and Cycling Strategy Montreal / Vieux Port The Vieux Port (Old Port) of Montreal extends for over a kilometer along the Saint Lawrence River.

The cities historic center, the Old Port was a dismissed industrial port complex that has recently been renovated as a recreation and exhibition space.

The recently renovated park running along the port waterfront is a space that incorporates pedestrian paths and spaces originating in the historic city.

The park also is an important east-west linkage in Montreal’s city wide cycle path network. The park is currently serviced by two metro stops that also service the entire Vieux Port District.

The renovation of the Old Port of Montreal in conjucture with projects that expand public transit networks, citywide bike paths and pedestrian activity spaces in the historic district, works specfiically on creating a permeable interface between city and its waterfront. East west vehicular traffic corridors remain but are restricted.

This quality space enhances the leisure vocation of the district and has sought to create new layers of activity where previously they did not exist.

Pedestrian Activity Area Pedestrian Movement Public Transit Movement Vehicular Movement Bicycle Movement Traffic Light

200 m

Such a strategy of working on a interface between urbanized area and park space can be applied in the interface between Al Mansura and the Tripoli Green Belt

Dimissed railroad tracks along the port waterfront give the park a linear structure, with a pedestrian promenade located running along the port. The cycle path running along the park also shares this promenade space and has a designated lane.

Vehicular traffic is concentrated to the west along rue de la Commune and is limited to one lane of traffic in either direction.

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6.0 Traffic and Transportation

6.3 Al Mansora Accessibility Proposal

6.3.4 Pedestrian and Cycling Strategy Bogota / Trasmilenio Museo Del Oro Station

has been modified to enhance connectivity to the downtown core.

Bogota’s Trasnmilenio is a bus rapid transit (BRT) network that services the entire city and connects periphery communities to Bogota’s downtown area. The bus system strategy was applied based on strategies from a previous experience implementing a BRT transit system in Curitiba, Brazil.

With the installation of the Museo del Oro Trasmilieno Station depicted in this benchmark, the creation of a pedestrian activity node serves to calm traffic. East west road connections in the area around Museo del Oro are used for local building access, but do not provide the continuity needed for through traffic in the area. This also serves to enhance the quality of pedestrian space in historic Candeleria district immediately south of Museo del Oro.

The articulated buses servicing the system in peripheral highways operate in designated lanes; in urban areas they share lane space with other transit modes. The system is composed of numerous elevated stations in the center of a main avenue, or “troncal”. Passengers typically reach the stations via a bridge over the street. Four lanes down the center of the street are dedicated to bus traffic. There are both express and local buses, the latter stopping at all stations. The outer lanes allow express buses to bypass buses stopped at a station.

The square indicated in this benchmark is serviced by the Museo de Oro Trasmilenio stop and located in the historic center of Bogota. In conjunction with renovations for the Trasmilenio, pedestrian space

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Such a strategy can be applied along Al Mansura boulevard in the interface between commerical and transit space.

Pedestrian Activity Area Pedestrian Movement Public Transit Movement Vehicular Movement Traffic Light

200 m