Street Character Streets, as defined and discussed in this Plan, include the entire public realm within the public right-of-way. These areas have been used primarily to move people and goods and provide utility services. Equally important, but less recognized is the role streets play in community development. The street defines the pattern of the community and provides a place for social interaction and community events. The nature of the street and how buildings interact with the street can either create vast areas of nothingness, or a high-quality public realm where people want to be. During the 20th Century, as the automobile culture took over, the street’s focus shifted towards automobile mobility without much consideration given to economic and social functions. Mesa, including the Central Main Area, as a relatively “young” community is very familiar with this focus on automobile mobility. Much of the Plan, up to this point has described and refined Guiding Principles and goals that place a great deal of emphasis on economic vitality, walkability, and social diversity and interaction in support of a Vision of making the Central Main Area A Place for People – Alive with Options. In considering the factors that influence achievement of this Vision, the Plan must address the important role streets play in the economic and social success of a community. Streets are a key defining element of an area’s character and the mobility of people. Whether walking, bicycling, on a bus, on light rail, or in a car, a street’s character has a great deal of influence in the success of an urban environment. Considering the relationship of streets and mobility, in conjunction with the recommended building form and development character described above, the Plan Advisory Committee developed recommendations for street character and mobility in support of the Plan Vision, Guiding Principles, and goals. As shown on Map 6, nine unique Street Character Types have been identified. A general description of each Street Character Type, as well as basic street characteristics applicable to all Neighborhood Planning Areas are described below. Recommendations were developed for arterial and collector streets, and typical street characteristics that are considered include the design speed, width and number of travel lanes, on-street parking, bicycle network, transit network, and pedestrian space. Each individual Neighborhood Plan, described later, provides more specific street character and mobility plan recommendations that reflect the unique conditions of the Neighborhood. The general Street Character Type descriptions provided below should be used in conjunction with the specific recommendations described in the Neighborhood Planning Areas. Many of the recommendations described below are based on the design manual, Designing Walkable Urban Thoroughfares: A Context Sensitive Approach, a joint effort of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) and Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) approved in 2010 as a recommended practice of the ITE. It is expected that the Street Character Type recommendations will be used in conjunction with the recommended Building Form and Character Types as policy guidance for street improvements associated with private development, as well as in detailed street design associated with City street/utility improvement projects. Additionally, mobility recommendations related to transit and the pedestrian network, such as station locations, bus stop improvements, neighborhood connectivity, and crosswalk improvements have been included in the individual Neighborhood Plans.
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