1) The Marmion Way Corridor project involved designing light rail transit infrastructure within an existing historic community in a way that improved the urban environment and quality of life.
2) Extensive community workshops from 1996-2001 helped build consensus on a street running design using historically compatible materials that minimized impacts to private properties.
3) Through the responsive design and four years of operation, the light rail has functioned well and integrated safely within the neighborhood without pedestrian accidents, improving the community.
[2024]Digital Global Overview Report 2024 Meltwater.pdf
Design of the Marmion Way Corridor
1. Design of the
Marmion Way Corridor
Metro Gold Line
Light Rail Transit Project
National Transportation Leadership Conference
FHWA – FTA – APA
Washington, DC
2004
Fred Glick, PLA
• Urban Design
• Master Planning
• Landscape Architecture
2. Purpose of Presentation
Demonstrate extensive public involvement
effort resulting in dramatic physical
improvements to community
Consensus building through urban design
Use of historically compatible and green
materials helps achieve sustainability
3. Principal Challenge
From a physical standpoint, the challenge was
to fit light rail into an existing, historic
community fabric in a way that improved the
quality of the urban environment.
5. Overview: Marmion Way Southbound
Before construction: 100 year old freight corridor, single track,
undersized RR worker homes built at turn of 20th century.
6. Overview: Marmion Way Northbound
Before construction: Utility poles both directions, minimal
setbacks from street, poorly delineated intersection.
7. Overview: Unique History
100 years as freight rail line - single track
LAMTA original lead agency
13.7 mile LRT corridor
• Chinatown - Highland Park
• South Pasadena - Pasadena
Marmion Way segment
• Avenue 50 to Figueroa
• Nearly 1 mile long
8. Overview: Socio-Cultural Composition
Diverse ethnic composition
Latino, Asian-American, other minorities
Generally low to lower-middle income
Mistake to consider Highland Park a “rollover” area
• Language differences
• Little education among some minority residents
• Economic hardship
Well-spoken, well-educated professionals as well
Neighborhood is well-organized
Relentless in seeking improved quality-of-life
9. Overview: Project Background
Imminent addition of light rail transitway
Pavement - concrete walls - LRV speeds
Changing configuration - community concern
Urban design process initiated in 1996
Engineering needs vs. community adaptation
Urban design analysis implemented
• Support of elected officials
• Two EIS’s had previously overlooked real issues
From exclusive transitway to street running
10. Overview: Major Challenges
Neighborhood:
• Neighborhood character – use of sustainable materials
• Local Historic District (City of Los Angeles)
• Livability
• Pedestrian and bicycle safety
• Functional use of private properties - access & egress
Project:
• Emergency vehicle access
• Street closings and gated RR crossings
• Noise from LRV’s
• Speed of trains
11. Overview: Proximity of homes
Narrow setbacks: Majority of homes have minimal setback from
public right-of-way; in some cases, as little as three feet.
12. Overview: Tight tolerances
Circulation movements: Some homes have unsafe driveway locations
relative to intersections. Note how utility poles crowd the intersection.
13. Overview: Zero setback multi-family
Setback dilemma: Narrow gate openings create turning
movement difficulty for motor vehicles.
14. Overview: Garages @ ROW Line
Setback dilemma: Proximity of garage doors to public right-of-way
creates turning movement difficulty for motor vehicles.
15. Overview: Kids play here
Open space? Kids used the existing right-of-way
for parks and recreation space.
16. Overview: Narrow driveways
Turning movements: Narrow driveway gate openings
create access-egress difficulty for motor vehicles.
17. Overview: R.O.W. used for parking
Parking. Residents and visitors previously used
the BNSF RR-ROW for parking.
19. Overview: Avenue 57 Station Site
Proposed Highland Park Station Site: Right-of-way widens at the
station location shown center above; Marmion Way street corridor
runs south of and parallel to station site (in left of photo).
20. Community Workshops: 1996
Initiate new round of dialogue & build consensus
Cost containment measures – Redesign Stations
mandated by MTA Board
Clarify MTA’s position - Design Marmion Way - Gain
community support
Facilitation by urban design consultant
21. Community Workshops: 1996
Initiate new round of dialogue & build consensus
Cost containment measures – Redesign Stations
mandated by MTA Board
Clarify MTA’s position - Design Marmion Way - Gain
community support
Facilitation by urban design consultant
22. Workshop #1
Place: South Pasadena Library - April 6, 1996
Purpose:
• Revisit project impacts & design with community
• 8’ high concrete sound walls enclosing transitway
• RR crossing gates, bells, horns, etc.
• Achieve consensus for Marmion Way design
• Introduce community to urban design consultants
Results:
• Exchanged information
• Developed communication tools
23. Workshop #2
Place: Highland Park Senior Center - April 20, 1996
Purpose: Present MTA’s revised scheme for M.W.
• 32 foot trackway, fenced both sides
• 6’ high chain link fences
• 13’ southbound travel lane; 15’ northbound
• Only 4 cross-streets closed to motor vehicles
• High LRV speeds of 45 mph; avg speed of 31 mph
Results:
• Community response still negative
• Diverse attendance reflects of Highland Park
24. Workshop #3
Place: Elementary School in Chinatown - May 4, 1996
Purpose: Present another iteration of Marmion Way
• 32’ trackway; 4’ metal picket fence (both sides)
• 13’ and 15’ travelways (peds & motor vehicles)
• Pedestrian crosswalks at all intersections (striped paint)
• 4 cross-streets closed to motor vehicles
• Highest LRV speed 20 mph; avg speed 15 mph
Results:
• Semi-exclusive scheme still non-responsive
• Private property impacts first raised at this meeting
26. Workshop #4
Place: Pasadena Doubletree Hotel - May 16, 1996
Purpose: Finalize consensus on preferred scheme
• Analysis done by MTA engineer & urban design consultant
• MTA position - functional impacts to private properties
required scheme minimizing or eliminating such impacts
Results:
• Street running system - preferred approach
• Proposal well-received by community
• Modest center fence prevents errant transitway use by motor
vehicles, while directing pedestrians to intersections
27. Vision Statement
The Marmion Way Corridor . . . is unique to the overall Pasadena
Blue Line Project in that it is the core of the historical neighborhood
of Highland Park. The narrow right-of-way requires a sensitive
approach to the provision of urban design principles in promoting
safety for the accommodation of pedestrians, bicycles, motor vehicles
and light rail transit. Neighborhood character and livability are vital
aspects the community seeks to maintain. They can be achieved
through the efficient and creative composition of various materials,
textures and colors that form the separate use areas and provide for
a neighborhood compatible corridor that promotes safety, maintains
or adds value and preserves the character of the community.
28. Marmion Way Corridor
Metro Gold Line LRT, Los Angeles
Original engineering proposal for
design of public right-of-way.
Marmion Way Corridor
before construction.
29. Urban Design Vision: 1997
Right-of-way design concept prepared by urban design team, meeting
both neighborhood compatibility and engineering requirements.
30. Project Shutdown
Project terminated in early 1998 by LAMTA
due to forecasted budget shortfalls.
All work ceased.
All consultants released from contracts.
31. Project Resumption
Construction Authority formed in January, 1999
• Sole purpose: to build the project
• Hired Chief Executive Officer
• Retained Program Management Consultant
• Retained same urban design consultant
• Design-Build method chosen
Marmion Way -
• Refined Avenue 50 - 57 segment
• Urban design approach - Avenue 57 – Figueroa
including Highland Park Station Plaza
33. Marmion Way Right-of-Way
A corridor residents can Functional & aesthetic
live with. transitway materials.
34. Marmion Way Trackbed
Rough-texture of transitway materials thwarts errant use by
pedestrians, bicyclists and even motor vehicles.
35. Marmion Way Typical Crosswalk
Use of historically compatible materials consistent with
Craftsman era – Greene & Greene inspired architecture.
36. Marmion Way - Ave 56 Intersection
Corridor is “emergency vehicle
friendly”
Typical intersection design
37. Design Character
Street lights on catenary pole
Arroyo stone tactile strip located between
mountable curb and trackway
Typical arroyo-stone pilaster
38. Highland Park Station Plaza
Gateway pilasters at Highland Park LRT Station transit plaza
39. Highland Park Station Plaza
Heavy timber pergola
Craftsman-era combinations of timber
Copper light fixture and arroyo stone
40. Highland Park Station & Plaza
Note use of Arroyo-Stone washed aggregate in
Highland Park Station trackway
41. Highland Park Station & Plaza
Consistent use of Marmion Way Corridor construction materials
at Highland Park Station – stone, steel picket fence & concrete
42. Project Summary
• Public involvement process resulted in
dramatically upgraded neighborhood – use of
green materials, sustainable solution
• System, civil, urban design all changed
• Pedestrians can now walk safely
• Driveway access/egress maintained
• Residents taking new pride in neighborhood
• Public right-of-way -- neighborhood asset rather
than a liability
43. Project Summary (cont’d.)
• Vehicles operate at streetcar speeds - 15 mph avg
• System design functions as streetcar
Traffic lights & signal pre-emption, rather than
crossing gates, bells & horns
• Relates well to neighborhood
• Relates well to private properties
• Community takes ownership of corridor
• System has become well-integrated
44. Summary: Project Operational
Through four years of revenue service, Marmion Way’s responsive
design has functioned well, with no pedestrian accidents to date.
45. 2004 Transportation Planning
Excellence Award
Project Name:
Metro Gold Line Light Rail - Marmion Way Corridor
Category: “Safety Conscious Planning”
Co-Sponsors:
• Federal Highway Administration
• Federal Transit Administration
• American Planning Association
Awards Jury:
- Institute of Transportation Engineers
- American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials
- American Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations
- American Automobile Association
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