Tactical Urbanism: Short-Term Action for Long-Term Change

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

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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