Tactical Urbanism as a Professional Tool

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Shane HamptonOU Institute for Quality Communities

TACTICAL URBANISMas a Professional Tool

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Today > IQC Overview > What is Tactical Urbanism? > Street Design Opportunities > Making Tactical Urbanism Professional

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OU COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE Institute for Quality Communities

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The built environment is so important to the kind of future we want to craft.”

OU President David L. Boren

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Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.” Jane Jacobs

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First life, then spaces, then buildings. The other way around never works.” Jan Gehl

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It is difficult to design a space that will not attract people. What is remarkable is how often this has been accomplished.” William H. Whyte

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Streets have been the places where children first learned about the world, where neighbors met, the social centers of towns and cities…” Donald Appleyard

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Every time we change Oklahoma’s built

environment, there is an opportunity to enhance our health, social ties,

and economy.

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WHAT’S TACTICAL URBANISM? Lighter, quicker, cheaper, experimental problem-solving for cities.

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TACTICAL URBANISM

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CHAIRBOMBING

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WAYFINDING

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TRAFFIC CALMING

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TRAFFIC CALMING

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STREET DESIGN

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POP-UP MARKET

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POP-UP MARKET

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WAYFINDING

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STREET FESTIVAL

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PARKLET

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If there is a problem or opportunity in the

neighborhood, how can we address it more

quickly?

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Street Design in Oklahoma

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Main Street Right-of-Way

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Main Street Right-of-Way

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Number of Lanes

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Most main streets only have two lanes, but…

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Width of Lanes

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Lanes of 10’ to 11’ can

Calm traffic Reduce Collisions

Reduce the crossing distance

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Parking

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On-street parking helps business!

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Traffic

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The average Oklahoma main street carries

5,500 vehicles per day

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Traffic Per Lane

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The average lane on Oklahoma main streets

carries

2,200 vehicles per day

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Catering to fast-moving regional traffic degrades

the main street experience for those who

spend their time and money in a community.

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Is it worth it to narrow or remove a lane of traffic to

make cars flow more slowly along our most

treasured, unique, interesting streets?

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District 125k vehicles/day4 lanesFast trafficPoor walkability

41%

22%

75%

District 214k vehicles/day2 lanesFast trafficPoor walkability

District 38k vehicles/day2 lanesSlower trafficGreat walkability

How often do you visit more than one business in a trip to this area?

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Making Tactical Urbanism Professional

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IQC Photo: Dongho Chang



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IQC Photo: Streetsblog

IQC Photo: Site Design Group



IQC Photo: Jason Orr, City Manager, Newkirk

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Interim Design tests and builds support for additional permanent

improvements.

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INTERIM DESIGN

Photo: NACTO

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INTERIM DESIGN

Photo: Streetsblog

IQC Photo: NACTO

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Interim Design in Oklahoma.

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MIDTOWN Oklahoma City

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A BETTER CLASSEN

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16TH AND CLASSEN Slip lanes encourage fast traffic toward Mesta Park and Plaza District Confusing intersection for drivers Difficult to navigate as a pedestrian or cyclist

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16TH AND CLASSEN

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16TH AND CLASSEN Close slip lanes with pavement to plaza techniques Bold crosswalks The gateway to the Plaza District

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5TH AND CLASSEN 86’ curb-to-curb paving width 95’ ramp-to-ramp crossing distance Traffic counts no longer support double left turn lanes

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5TH AND CLASSEN

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5TH AND CLASSEN Replace turn lane with pavement to plaza median Include planters or public art element The gateway to downtown

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Look out for “Lost Space” > Extra lanes > Wide lanes > Wide crossing distances > Right-turn channels > Desirable mid-block crossings > Empty parking lots

And change your city for the better.

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I Q C OU Institute for Quality Communities

@OUIQC

[email protected]

iqc.ou.edu