Tactical Urbanism: Short-Term Action for Long-term Change
@MikeLydon | @StreetPlans Walk The City 2023 | October 12
Hi. I’m An Urban Planner.
I’m Passionate About Streets + Public Spaces
We Create Better Streets, Better Places Planning
Design
Implementation
Transportation “When we build our landscape around places to go, we lose places to be.”
- Rick Cole
America: 2X Population Growth, 7X VMT
Emissions Per Sector: Transportation #1
Our Local Actions Have Global Outcomes
Source: NASA
Our Global Actions Have Local Outcomes
Magical Thinking: Electric Cars Won’t Save Us!
Study: Bike/Ped Project Create More Jobs “A new study from the University of Massachusetts finds that bike and pedestrian infrastructure projects create 46 percent more jobs than road projects built strictly for cars. The findings are based on an analysis of 58 projects in 11 cities, from Anchorage to Baltimore.”
We Can Decarbonize and Humanize Our Communities
Challenge: People Don’t Like Change!
The Conventional Planning Process: Two Critiques 11
2
Overly focused on large-scale, inflexible, and expensive projects with long timelines. Projects too often build on a flawed public process that lacks transparency; it favors those with time/money, and ultimately breeds public mistrust.
“The Community”
The Benefits of Slower Streets
We’re Not Doing Enough Doing
“Liberal governance has developed a puzzling preference for legitimating government action through process rather than outcomes.” - Nicholas Bagley University of Michigan
SoHo Broadway Public Realm Framework + Vision Plan
“...city planning lacks tactics for building cities that work like cities... ” - Jane Jacobs
Existing
Proposed
Results Observations + Results • Very high footfall (~8,000+ people walking (2pm-5pm) vs. ~4,500 vehicles/day • Reduces neighborhood traffic west of Broadway • Tables, chairs, seating well used, especially during afernoon peak times • North/South Broadway pedestrian crowding reduced, mobility increased • Noise w/o Plaza : 98db (peak), 80db (avg.); Noise w/ Plaza: 80 (peak), 62db (avg.) • Exclusive pedestrian and vehicular signals could reduce vehicular delay along Prince; similarly diverting traffic at Lafayette would further decongest Broadway and Prince
za
Visitor Survey The five-question street intercept survey was administered on all four Saturdays of the demonstration plaza (9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th) 304 responses received
What brings you here today?
Where are you coming from today?
43%
Shopping
24%
SoHo
26%
is Little Prince Plaza a welcome addition to the SoHo Broadway area?
Elsewhere in Manhattan
20%
An Outer Borough
9%
89%
Tri-State Area
Strongly agree/agree
15%
Elsewhere in the USA
6%
International
How did you get here today?
Would you like to see streetscape changes like Little Prince Plaza become more frequent/permanent?
87%
36%
9%
53%
Agree/ Strongly Agree
9%
Disagree/ Strongly Disagree
SoHo Residents The survey was administered on the four saturdays of the demonstration plaza on October 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th of 2021 (74 responses from Soho residents)
is Little Prince Plaza a welcome addition to the SoHo Broadway area?
Would you like to see streetscape changes like Little Prince Plaza become more frequent/permanent?
79%
Strongle agree/agree
78% Yes
18% No
“To Innovate is to start.” - Jaime Lerner
Tactical Urbanism
An approach to communitybuilding using short-term, low-cost, and scalable projects intended to catalyze long-term change.
Rethink Project Delivery
LONG-TERM/CAPITAL (20 years - 50+ years ∙ $$$$)
Test Before You Invest!
Tactical Urbanism
DEMONSTRATION (1 day - 1 month ∙ $)
PILOT
(1 month- 1+ year ∙ $$)
INTERIM DESIGN
(1 year - 5+ years ∙ $$$)
LONG-TERM/CAPITAL (20 years - 50+ years ∙ $$$$)
Tactical Urbanism Quick-Build
(1 day - 1 month ∙ $)
(1 month- 1+ year ∙ $$)
(1 year - 5+ years ∙ $$$)
INTERIM DESIGN
LONG-TERM/CAPITAL
Project Leaders
Anyone (government, non-profit organizations, business groups, students etc.)
Local / regional government, local organizational support
Local / tegional government, local / regional organizational support
Federal, state, local government, local / regional /state organizational support
Materials + Maintenance
Very low-cost, typically lowdurability. May be borrowed, easily made, or purchased; no maintenance required
Relatively low-cost, but semidurable materials to maximize design flexibility while minimizing maintenance needs
Low and moderate cost materials, designed to balance design flexibility, performance outcomes, and maintenance
High-cost, permanent materials that cannot be adjusted easily; maintenance needs vary tremendously
Optional before project implementation, Recommended during brief project lifespan
Required, frequent before implementation and frequent during evaluation period
Required before Recommended, frequent before implementation, recommended implementation, required during during implementation and initial evaluation period, optional initial evaluation period, optional thereafter thereafter
High: organizers expect project to be adjusted and removed within a short timeline, typically one week or weekend
High: proponents expect project to be adjusted; it may be removed if it does not meet goals upon initial evaluation
Moderate: organizers expect project to be adjusted, but it is intended to remain in place until capital upgrades are possible
Low: project is considered a permanent capital upgrade that is unlikely to be adjusted significantly once installed
Qualitative: optional Quantitative: optional
Qualitative: required Quantitative: required
Qualitative: recommended Quantitative: required
Qualitative: optional Quantitative: recommended
Project Type
(time interval ∙ relative cost)
Public Involvement
Design Flexibility
Data Collection + Evaluation
DEMONSTRATION
PILOT
(20 years - 50+ years ∙ $$$$)
Benefits 1
People work together in new ways - experiential engagement!
2 3
The data-driven methodology quickly uncovers what works, and more importantly, what doesn’t!
33
Builds political will and delivers public benefits faster!
43
People driven, people centered
High Street, Penrith, Australia
Penrith Council
Short-Term Action Leads to Long-Term Change
TheNextMiami.com
• We expect software + products will always get better. • We arWe’ve e willing toGrown tolerate im perfectto ions‘Versioning’ ; in fact these are expected. Globally, Used
+/- 30 years Windows Version 3
Windows Version 11
Tactical Urbanism: Four Phases 01
02
03
04
2001 - 2011
2007 - 2015
2015 - 2020
2020 - Present
Rediscovering + sharing the power of small-scale action
Engaging the conventional city-making process
Slow and Steady Transformation of Planning + Design Practice
COVID-19 response and recovery
Asphalt Art Guide How to Reclaim City Roadways and Public Infrastructure with art
a
a
From Hair Spray to Let It Stay
Where We Work: Small Towns and Cities Nyack, NY
Great Falls, MT
Norwich, CT
Ponderay, ID
Keyport, NJ
Yarmouth, ME
Hudson, NY
New Britain, CT
Bella Vista, AR
Miami Shores, FL
Hermosa Beach, CA
Bella Vista, AR
Suburbs Deerfield Beach, FL
Beverly Hills, CA
Nyack, NY
Orange County, CA
Livermore, CA
Fort Lauderale, FL
Rogers, AR
Cudahy, CA
Penrith, Australia
Riverside, CA
Culver City, CA
Large Cities Miami, FL
West Palm Beach, FL
Miami Beach, FL
Philadelphia, PA
New Haven, CT
Norfolk, VA
Honolulu, HI
Manhattan, NY
Atlanta, GA
Providence, RI
Jersey City, NJ
Brooklyn, NY
Regions | State | Country
ck-Build Program
t Thompson
i-Dade ortation al
etition public
eraged
ojects ocess s
Simsbury Cornwall
NHCOG
CRCOG
NECCOG
Canton
Killingly
Mansfield West Hartford East Hartford Hartford
New Milford Middletown
Waterbury
NVCOG
Cheshire
Norwich
Meriden
RIVERCOG Newtown
WESTCOG
METROCOG
SCRCOG
SECCOG
New London
Groton
New Haven
Easton
New Canaan Stamford Darien
Stratford Bridgeport Fairfield
ACTIVE CT
Project Locations (Years 1 - 4) 42 Projects • 6 Project Types • 25 Communities • 1,233,189 Residents Served
Tactical Urbanism 10 Common Applications
#1. Civic Activism and Project Instigation
#2. Community Engagement During a Planning Process
#3. Community Engagement After a Planning Process
#4. Pilot Project As Part of Capital Project Development
#5. Material Performance Evaluation
#6. Research Investigation Shore to Core March 2017
Happier by Design Research team final report
#7. Rapid Crisis Response
#8. Site Pre-Vitalization
#9. Road Safety Response
EXUBERANT PINK SW6840
HAUTE PINK SW6570
STREET PLANS INC. PLANNING - TRANSPORTATION - DESIGN - RESEARCH 195 PLYMOUTH STREET, SUITE 517, BROOKLYN, NY 11201 917-767-9850 l STREETPLANS.ORG
PROJECT
GATES AVENUE BROOKLYN NEW YORK
JUNE DAY SW6682
SCALE
AS NOTED
ISSUANCES
No.
Description
REFRESH SW6751
SHERWIN-WILLIAMS RESILIENCE FLAT PAINT
SITE PLAN
DRAWING TITLE
SITE PLAN
GATES AVE. & FULTON ST.
GATES AVE. & VANDERBILT AVE.
It is a violation of the law to alter this document in hard copy or electronic format in any way. Use or modifications to this document is at the sole risk and liability of the user. The user shall , to the fullest extent of the law, hold the architect of record harmless from any claims, liabilities or damages including legal fees that may be incurred as a result of any unauthorized or improper use or modification of this document.
S1
Date
#10. Tactical Urbanism Policy and/or Program
COMMUNITY-LED DEMONSTRATION PROJECT POLICY + GUIDE City of Burlington, VT | April 2016
Burlington Public Works
Quick Build Design + Materials Standards
Thessaloniki
Public Space Co-creation Program Guide
Case Study #1 Pandemic Response
March 2020
Credit: Daniel Rotsztain and Bobby Gadda
What Came Next: Tactical Resilience
Open Streets
Slow /Shared Streets
Open Streets - “Streateries”
Temporary Bike Lane
Open Curbs
Pedestrian Signal Recall
June 2020
1300+ Initiatives
400+ Cities
25+
Countries
6
Core Tactics
Credit: Patricia McKnight
Credit: Unknown
Emerging Guidance
Tactical Urbanism as a Crisis Response Tool Tactical Urbanism Quick-Build Covid 19 Responses
Long-Term Impacts?
e
cost)
DEMONSTRATION (1 day - 1 month ∙ $)
Anyone (city, non-profit,
PILOT
(1 month- 1+ year ∙ $$)
INTERIM DESIGN
(1 year - 5+ years ∙ $$$)
LONG-TERM/CAPITAL
(20 years - 50+ years ∙ $$$$)
Government / organizational Government / organizational Government / organizational
1. Curb Space is Way Underpriced
2. Measure Value Creation; Distribute Equitably
Do Do MeMe
America’s Largest Pandemic Value Creation Program “Open Restaurants was a big, bold experiment in supporting a vital industry and reimagining our public space — and it worked...It’s time for a new tradition.” - Mayor de Blasio
• 11,000 Participating Restaurants • 100,000+ jobs preserved • 488% government revenue increase from parking as usual* *~$6,800/yr @ 100% parking occupancy vs. ~$40,000/yr @ 5 servings per table, 6 days/week, at citywide average meal cost.
Los Angeles, CA “The sales tax in 2022 in most of these corridors is almost double prepandemic levels,” said Rossmore, noting that other parts of the city that lack al fresco dining, like Hollywood and Studio City, are collecting significantly less sales tax revenue than they were before COVID-19.”
3 . Evolve but Don’t Make Things Difficult
Do Do MeMe
4. Iterate Your Way to Permanence
Pilot Parklet Program Launches (2018)
5 . Tactical Urbanism = Tactical Resilience 2018
m Launches (2018)
2020
2022
6. Resilient Streets = Resilient Communities
Case Study #2 Move Culver City
Overview
• Phase 1: Nov. 2020 - Nov. 2021 • Length: 1.3 mile segment of Washington Boulevard / Culver Boulevard
MOVE Culver City is a City-led effort that envisions a reimagining of our streets as public spaces and prioritizes safety through the design of the street. The effort includes the creation of physically separated bus and bike lanes on Washington Culver Boulevards by streetsblog LA/ Joeand Linton converting a single vehicle travel lane in each direction. The corridor extends 1.3 miles along Culver and Washington Boulevards between Duquesne Avenue to the west and La Cienega Avenue to the east. It connects Downtown Culver City with the E Line Culver City Station and the Arts District, and offers safe and reliable infrastructure for cyclists, pedestrians, motorists, first responders, and transit users – including Culver CityBus, Big Blue Bus, LA Metro and LADOT bus lines.
•
•
Allow the community to accommodate growth identified in the 2020 General Plan update Meet the goals outlined in SCAG’s regional transportation plan, Connect SoCal, to increase mobility options and achieve a sustainable growth pattern Help support the goals of SB375 which aim to lower greenhouse gas emissions
2
•
Create Dedicated Bus Lanes
•
Create a Continuous Bike Network
•
Enhance Bus Stops
•
Leverage Public Art
•
Launch a New Mini-Bus Circulator Service
•
Utilize the Quick-Build Approach
•
Maintain Existing Auto Access & One General Purpose Vehicular Travel Lane
•
Stay Within the Physical Boundaries of the Right-ofWay
By prioritizing active transportation1, MOVE Culver City will create safer and more efficient roadways that will: •
• Purpose: Build off COVID Street Changes (outdoor dining, bus lane) Start implementing Transit-Oriented Development Visioning Plan and the Bicycle and Pedestrian Action Plan
DESIGN GUIDELINES
3
1.1 miles of protecte bike lanes
B
• Scale: Three corridor, multi-year interim design initiative
PROJECT OVERVIEW
OR F E
E
Project Elements Bus Lanes
Pedestrian Safety Micromobility
Placemaking
Design Approach
Community Participation
By The Numbers
Before
After
Before
After
Spatial Re-Allocation: 56% to Sustainable Modes
Mid-Pilot Report (November 2022) WASHINGTON & CULVER BOULEVARD
MOVE CULVER CITY TACTICAL MOBILITY LANE MID-PILOT REPORT
•50% increase in post-covid transit ridership; 12% faster in AM peak, 26% faster in PM Peak • Bus On-time performance: 89% • Bus Lane tickets decreased 60% • Culver + Main: 23% increase in ped traffic since 2021; 91% increase in cycling since 2019. • Cycling volumes up 24% from pre-pandemic levels • Car travel times: 1 min faster in morning peak; 2 min slower in evening peak. Volumes flat. • 64% of survey respondents spending more time in downtown.
Post-Pilot Report (April 2023) WASHINGTON & CULVER BOULEVARD TACTICAL MOBILITY LANE POST-PILOT REPORT APRIL 2023
What Happened To The Traffic?
So the Project Is a Big Success? Yes! And No...
Case Study #3 Jersey City, NJ
Scaling Tactical Urbanism @ Citywide Scale
entPedestrian Plan (2016-17) Enhancement Plan (2016-17) 6 Intersection Redesign Demonstrations
Pedestrian Enhanceme
Interim Implementation
Pilot Parklet Program Launches (2018)
Let’s Ride JC Network Let’s Ride JC | Vision Zero Let’s(2018-2019) Ride JC | Vision Zero (2018-2019)
Bergen Avenue Demonstration Project
I
Interim Implementation (2019)
Initial Results
• Increased cycling • Reduced vehicular travel time while keeping speeds below well below the limit
I
Scaling Tactical Urbanism
2023
Existing
Let’s Ride JC Plan
~ 23 miles of Protected Bike Lanes Complete • 7.5 PBL miles complete - 51% of Planned PBLS in 5 years PBL miles -• 5 Several newunderway projects underway • 27% of PBL network complete within 16 months of plan adoption!
• 40% of total network complete
Newark Avenue’s Tactical Transformation
2014
2017
2022
The Year of Open Space (2022)
The Year of Open Space Summary
Policy and Process Recommendations
2016 - 2022 Impact Analysis
Crashes + Fatalities
“Jersey City is the rare municipality that has embraced the spirit of tactical urbanism — a practice where quick DIY fixes are deployed to nudge officials to make more permanent changes.”
Next: Projects Underway
More resources: TacticalUrbanismGuide.com
North America (2011)
North America (2012)
South America (2013)
Australia / NZ (2014)
Italy (2017)
Asphalt Art Guide How to Reclaim City Roadways and Public Infrastructure with art
a
Island Press (2015)
North America (2016)
North America (2019)
a
North America (2019)
Why We Do This Work
“ The brain tends to remember 10% of what it reads, 20% of what it hears, but 90% of what it does or simulates.”
- Edgar Dale
Thanks! “...in order to do something big, to think globally and act globally, one starts with something small and one starts where it counts. It is about getting it right for now and at the same time being tactical and strategic about later.” - Nabeel Hamdi
mike@streetplans.org street-plans.com