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CD+A was selected by the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) to develop a set of model pedestrian-design guidelines for the San Diego region. The document provides a coherent set of guidelines for creating an environment conducive to walking that local communities can adopt and tailor for their specific conditions. The guidelines begin with defining the land use and transportation relationships that are the context for a safe and efficient pedestrian environment. The guidelines then focus attention on the design of the entire street right-of-way balancing the needs of motorized traffic and bicyclists with those of the pedestrian. Finally, recommendations for the detail design of the “pedestrian realm” are presented identifying appropriate dimensions, amenities, lighting, etc. and the design of the buildings fronting the pedestrian path.
Because it is desirable for the pedestrian and street network to be integrated whenever feasible, the characteristics of the street or streets that form our communities and neighborhoods must be understood. The guidelines provide a straightforward methodology for linking a design intervention with a street type based on traffic volume, speed, adjacent land use, etc. The document also provides a “vocabulary” for identifying predominant characteristics of streets that are more subjective in nature and introducing an applicable strategy for improving the pedestrian environment.
The guidelines are intended to be used for multiple purposes and a wide range of users. Local pedestrian coordinators, planners, and traffic engineers can customize and integrate the guidelines with local level pedestrian plans, policies, ordinances, regulations and street design guidelines. The guidelines can also be used by a developer who is interested in creating a project that is pedestrian-friendly. Alternatively, they can be used by a neighborhood to advocate for pedestrian-oriented improvements in their neighborhood. Transit agencies will want to use the guidelines as a basis for planning access improvements to transit facilities and working with local jurisdictions to establish overlay districts around existing and proposed station areas. Finally, compliance with the guidelines could be a scoring criteria for establishing priorities for funding capital improvements projects.
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