Urban Highway Challenges. Planning for the Future by Re-visioning the Past

1. Planning the future by re-visioning the past:


SNEAPA Planning Conference
October 18, 2013

2. 
Ruth Fitzgerald, AICP
Fitzgerald & Halliday, Inc.

David Spillane, AICP
Goody Clancy, Inc.

Kelly Murphy, AICP
City of New Haven

Nathaniel Cabral-Curtis
Howard/Stein-Hudson, Assoc.

Michael Morehouse, PE
Fitzgerald & Halliday, Inc.

Rachel Gary
Fitzgerald & Halliday, Inc.
Planning the Future by Re-Visioning the Past: Urban Highway Challenges | SNEAPA 2013

3.  Welcome
and Introductions
 Urban highway history and challenges
 Case studies:
o Route 34, New Haven, CT
o Casey Overpass, Jamaica Plain, MA
o I-84 Hartford, CT
 Questions?
Comments?
Planning the Future by Re-Visioning the Past: Urban Highway Challenges | SNEAPA 2013

4. Planning the Future by Re-Visioning the Past: Urban Highway Challenges | SNEAPA 2013

5. Planning the Future by Re-Visioning the Past: Urban Highway Challenges | SNEAPA 2013

6.  Completed:
o Boston Big Dig
o San Francisco
Embarcadero
 Underway:
o Seattle Alaskan Way
Viaduct
o New Haven Route 34
o Providence I-195
 Planning:
o New Orleans, Claiborne
o
o
o
o
Expressway
Hartford I-84
Syracuse
Boston, Casey
Arborway
And many others…..
Planning the Future by Re-Visioning the Past: Urban Highway Challenges | SNEAPA 2013

7. REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION
LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Failure
Success
Planning the Future by Re-Visioning
the Past: Urban Highway Challenges
Planning the Future by Re-Visioning the Past: Urban Highway Challenges | SNEAPA 2013
| SNEAPA 2013

8. High-volume freeway serving economic heart of the
region becomes surface boulevard and tunnel

Like I-84, carries regional through traffic and downtown
traffic

I-93 viaduct was long seen as a barrier between
downtown, the waterfront and neighborhoods

Approximately 190,000 vehicles per day before project

Project increased roadway capacity through tunnel and
surface boulevard

Highway in tunnel; surface boulevard carries local traffic

More than 20-year construction period

Overall project cost $14.6 billion; state paid approximately
$6 billion
Planning the Future by Re-Visioning the Past: Urban Highway Challenges | SNEAPA 2013

9. Freeway spur with modest traffic
volumes becomes attractive
surface boulevard

Served as a spur connecting to Bay
Bridge

Created barrier between city and
waterfront

Demolished in 1991 and replaced with
an attractive surface boulevard

Freeway carried approximately 60,000
vehicles per day; replacement
boulevard carries approximately
26,000 vehicles
Planning the Future by Re-Visioning the Past: Urban Highway Challenges | SNEAPA 2013

10. Highway viaduct replaced by
tunnel, opening access to
the waterfront

Carries primarily through
traffic; does not provide local
access

Creates physical barrier
between city and waterfront

Approximately 100,000 vehicles
per day

Replace with a 4-lane bored
tunnel that can accommodate
80,000-85,000 vehicles per day
for approximately $4.2 billion
(state and local funds)
Planning the Future by Re-Visioning the Past: Urban Highway Challenges | SNEAPA 2013

11. Relocating the Highway and
building the City Back



Highway has been relocated; the city
is growing back into land vacated by
the highway corridor
I-195 was relocated to a new corridor
to the south; roadway carried
approximately 100,000 vehicles per
day
Planning for redevelopment
continues
Planning the Future by Re-Visioning the Past: Urban Highway Challenges | SNEAPA 2013

12. Replacement viaduct or surface streets…balancing complex needs
Planning the Future by Re-Visioning the Past: Urban Highway Challenges | SNEAPA 2013

13. NO Tunnel
options
New Orleans-Claiborne
New Haven Route 34
Hartford I-84
Tunnel
options
Boston Big Dig
Seattle Alaskan
Viaduct
Maintain
Corridor
Existing
Urban
Highway in
need of
replacement
Maintain or
expand
capacity
Relocate
Corridor
Reduce
capacity
Providence I-195
San Francisco
Embarcadero
Planning the Future by Re-Visioning the Past: Urban Highway Challenges | SNEAPA 2013

14. NO Tunnel
options
New Orleans-Claiborne
New Haven Route 34
Hartford I-84
Tunnel
options
Boston Big Dig
Seattle Alaskan
Viaduct
Maintain
Corridor
Existing
Urban
Highway in
need of
replaceme
nt
Maintain
capacity
Relocate
Corridor
Reduce
capacity
Providence I-195
San Francisco
Embarcadero
Planning the Future by Re-Visioning the Past: Urban Highway Challenges | SNEAPA 2013

15. NO Tunnel
options
New Orleans-Claiborne
New Haven Route 34
Hartford I-84
Tunnel
options
Boston Big Dig
Seattle Alaskan
Viaduct
Maintain
Corridor
Existing
Urban
Highway in
need of
replacement
Maintain
capacity
Relocate
Corridor
Reduce
capacity
Providence I-195
San Francisco
Embarcadero
Planning the Future by Re-Visioning the Past: Urban Highway Challenges | SNEAPA 2013

16. 






DOT Commitment
Local Leadership
Recognizing the Need to Solve More than One Problem:
Social Economic Development and Environmental
Perspectives….
Multi-disciplinary planning and design capabilities
Early and Continuing Community Engagement
Understanding who pays and who benefits
Spirit of Collaboration and Compromise: Best Solutions
will require give-and-take from all constituencies
Planning the Future by Re-Visioning the Past: Urban Highway Challenges | SNEAPA 2013

17. Planning the Future by Re-Visioning the Past: Urban Highway Challenges | SNEAPA 2013

18. • Top 60 metropolitan market of 826,813
people (2012 est.), comparable in
population to Dayton, OH and Tulsa, OK.
• Top 30 media market – comparable to San
Diego, CA and Nashville, TN.
• Over 300,000 jobs in the region, including
over 26,000 in education and 22,000 in
business/financial services.
• Rated #13 “best places” for new college
grads.
• Largest life sciences cluster in Connecticut
and 2nd largest in New England, with 71
life sciences companies in New Haven
focused on Health
IT, diagnostics, specialty pharma, medical
device, technology platform, CRO, and
biotech focused around the Yale School of
Medicine.

19. Best Recovery Bets
“New Haven…boasts a world-renowned university and several important
teaching hospitals. There are also lots of secure, well-paying jobs...That has
helped the economy maintain fairly even keel”. (CNN Money, February 7,
2011)
Apartment Vacancy Rate the Lowest in the Nation
“U.S. apartment vacancies dropped to a 10-year low in the fourth quarter,
allowing rent increases that are likely to continue this year, Reis Inc.
said…New Haven, Connecticut, home to Yale University, had the nation’s
lowest vacancy rate, followed by New York; Minneapolis; Portland, Oregon;
and San Jose, California”. (Bloomberg, Jan 5, 2012)
Central Business District Renaissance
“Drawn by lower rents and access to the university's resources, Yale
graduates and other entrepreneurs are choosing for the first time in decades
to launch their businesses in New Haven instead of traveling to Boston or
New York City”. (WSJ, March 4, 2011)
Highest Population Growth in Connecticut
“New Haven's population grew faster this decade than any other city in
Connecticut…Between 2000 and 2010, the city added 6,153 new residents,
bringing its population up to 129,779”. (Yale Daily News, March 3, 2011)
A Plan in New Haven to Right a Highway’s Wrong
“Echoing recent efforts by San Francisco, Milwaukee and Boston to alter or
remove their highways…The city’s grid in the area would be
restored, creating a more pedestrian-friendly environment, and the Hill would
be reattached”. (New York Times, July 17, 2012)

20. The Hill
Downtown
34
Union Station
Planning the Future by Re-Visioning the Past: Urban Highway Challenges | SNEAPA 2013

21. Goals: Economy, Place Making and Sustainability

Build on existing economic strengths in education, health care, medical
research, advanced manufacturing, arts, culture, and design

Increase the tax base

Create new job opportunities for residents and newcomers at all wage levels

Decrease energy footprint, transportation costs and greenhouse gas emissions

Improve city walkability and bikeability

Retain a unique, livable, and authentic sense of place
Create 4,000 permanent jobs

22. New Infrastructure
Union Station TOD
100 College St
Union Station
Future Church St South
Future Med District10 year build out

23. 34
Planning the Future by Re-Visioning the Past: Urban Highway Challenges | SNEAPA 2013

24. Exit 3 westbound, closed
May 2, 2013
Exit 3 eastbound,
closed, May 21, 2013
Planning the Future by Re-Visioning the Past: Urban Highway Challenges | SNEAPA 2013

25. 100 College Street
-500,000 s.f. med/lab
office building.
-Connects Yale School of
Medicine to Downtown.
Environmental Benefits
-LEED Silver design
standard.
-20% TDM requirement with
full bike parking and
showers.
-Activated first floor and
public space amenities.
-
Planning the Future by Re-Visioning the Past: Urban Highway Challenges | SNEAPA 2013

26. Phase 1 is creating 2,000 construction jobs for building and
infrastructure and then 600-960 permanent jobs at 100 College
Street.
Planning the Future by Re-Visioning the
Past: Urban Highway Challenges

27. “The Coliseum Site”
Prime 4,5 acre Downtown site
(¼ mile from Union Station and
State Street Station).
1.0 million s.f. mixed use TOD
- 719 units (20% affordable)
- 76,900 s.f. retail
- 160 hotel rooms
- 200,000 s.f. Class A office
- 52,620 s.f. public space
- 785 parking spacesEconomic Impact
Construction Jobs: 4,676
Permanent Jobs: 2,809
(direct, indirect and induced),
translating to $189 million per
year in labor income at
stabilization.
Schedule:
City Approvals: 2013
Final Design / Permitting: 2014
Construction: 2015 -
Route 34 intersects
Orange Street at-grade
Planning the Future by Re-Visioning the Past: Urban Highway Challenges | SNEAPA 2013

28. Project Context
204 acre district, including 20%
surface parking lots. The district is
home to Union Station and 300-unit
Church Street South development.
Proposed mixed use redevelopment
that grows the economy and
reconnects neighborhoods
- 1,200-1,400 units (20% affordable)
- Up to 1.0 million new med/lab office
development
- Retail and parking to support Union
Station and district needs.
Economic Impact
Construction Jobs: 3,051
Permanent Jobs: 3,300
(direct, indirect and
induced), translating to $232 million
per year in labor income at
stabilization.
Schedule:
Plan Approval: 2013
Zoning / Infrastructure Design: 2014
Construction: 2015 Planning the Future by Re-Visioning the Past: Urban Highway Challenges | SNEAPA 2013

29. Planning the Future by Re-Visioning the Past: Urban Highway Challenges | SNEAPA 2013

30. 





Located in Jamaica Plain
1950’s highway viaduct
Formerly part of the route
southeast out of Boston
Formerly crossed two
elevated rail lines
Originally slated for deck
replacement
Determined to be in need
of full replacement
Planning the Future by Re-Visioning the
Past: Urban Highway Challenges

31. Abutting
Residential
area
Casey
Overpass
Abutting
Residential
area
Arnold
Arboretum
Franklin
Park
Forest Hills Station:
Orange Line, bus hub
& Commuter Rail
Abutting
Residential
area
Abutting
Residential
area
Forest
Hills
Cemetery
Planning the Future by Re-Visioning the
Past: Urban Highway Challenges

32. 


Spring 2011-Sping 2012
“Unique opportunity” seen
by DOT
Launched WAG to:
o Set broad goals
o Work through details
o Advise DOT with local
knowledge


Alternating schedule of
WAG and public meetings
Significant impassioned
debate and controversy
Planning the Future by Re-Visioning the
Past: Urban Highway Challenges

33. 

Fall 2011: traffic is not a deciding factor between atgrade and bridge options.
At-grade decision made based on:
o Original goals set by WAG.
o Ability to achieve more bicycle, pedestrian and transit
improvements without a bridge.
o Mapping of comments received graphically demonstrated local
preference.
Planning the Future by Re-Visioning the
Past: Urban Highway Challenges

34. 


35. Planning the Future by Re-Visioning the
Past: Urban Highway Challenges

36. 
Keys to success:
o Documentation
o Flexibility
o Memory of the project combined with local knowledge
o Work with local media
o Don’t stereotype stakeholders – take each as an individual

Status:
o Continuing outreach on specific issues
• Changes to improve community/project fit ongoing.
o 100% Design Submitted
o Expected bid in October, 2013
o Projected construction for spring 2014
Planning the Future by Re-Visioning the
Past: Urban Highway Challenges

37. 
Public involvement worked because it was integrated:
o A full seat at the table
o A must, not a “nice to have”

Work with local media carefully:
o Don’t be afraid, do respond promptly
o Make sure the message is consistent
o Help build the project’s narrative

Detailed documentation is important:
o Show community influence on the job
o Counters the charge of insufficient outreach


Be ready to try something new
“We’re all friends until we make a decision.”
Planning the Future by Re-Visioning the
Past: Urban Highway Challenges

39. Viaduct is 50 years old
 Poor condition overall
 Currently 80% of project is elevated (30 acres)
 Maintenance costs are very high


40. 

Busiest stretch of
highway in Connecticut
• 55,000 vehicles/day (1975)
• 175,000 vehicles/day (2013)
Travel delays due to…
• Congestion
• Accidents
• Maintenance

41. 
Obsolete design
o Many on & off ramps
• Some left-hand ramps
• Close spacing
• Merging & weaving

Frequent accidents
o Average of 1 daily

42. 


Economic development
Neighborhood connectivity
Enhanced mobility
o Bicycle
o Pedestrian
o Transit
o Vehicular

Synergies with other regional,
state, and local projects

43. New BritainHartford
Busway
Amtrak Next Gen
HSR
New HavenHartfordSpringfield Rail
Project
City of Hartford
TOD Initiatives
MDC Clean
Water Project
Integrated
Transportation
Management Plan
Local Streetscape
Projects
CT DOT
Congestion
Mitigation
Study
Union Station
Planning Study
Northwest
Corridor Study
City of
Hartford’s
Signal System
Upgrade
City of Hartford’s
Downtown Traffic
and Circulation
Planning the Future by Re-Visioning the
Study
Past: Urban Highway Challenges

44. 


Very high traffic demand
Densely built urban environment
Railroad tracks pass beneath viaduct
Existing Ground
Park River Conduit

45. 


Utilities co-located in corridor
Busway under construction in corridor
Local street network threatened

46. 46

47. Planning the Future by Re-Visioning the
Past: Urban Highway Challenges
Planning the Future by Re-Visioning the
Past: Urban Highway Challenges

48. Public Involvement

49. To engage many…
To actively solicit input using many methods…
To use this input in the development of
win-win solutions…

50. 
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Stakeholder interviews
PAC
Website – www.I84Hartford.com
Social media (Facebook, Twitter)
Newsletters
E-bulletins
Public meetings

52. 


The work is just beginning
Alternatives analysis and NEPA are next milestones
Long-term project
Next update….
..coming soon to a conference near you!

53. Questions???
Comments???
Planning the Future by Re-Visioning the Past: Urban Highway Challenges | SNEAPA 2013