West Baltimore
Pedestrian/Bike Loop
Project
N. Fulton Street Mural (Lyle Kissack & MICA Community Arts, 2004)
Presentation
• Goals of the Improvements
• Project Team Introduction
• Existing Conditions
• Other On-going Initiatives
• Recommendations
• Summary of Case Studies
• Path Forward
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Goals for the Improvement
Under contract with City DOT, investigate the feasibility of various
options to provide streetscape around the US 40 corridor from
Fulton Street to Calhoun Street, which would enhance existing
communities, serve as a catalyst for new development, and be
consistent with other currently planned improvements such as the
MARC Parking Lot Expansion and the Red Line Transit Study.
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Project Team Introduction
• Baltimore City Dept. of Transportation
– Mark R. Brown, City Planner
• Rummel Klepper Kahl, LLC
– Elford Jackson, P.E.; Project Engineer
• Mahal Rykiel and Associates
Ken Schmidt, RLA, ASLA; Landscape Architect
Terry Burns, Landscape Architect
• RJM Engineering
Stormwater Management Design
• AB Consultants
Surveying and Utility Designation
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Existing Conditions
Franklin Street Looking East Mulberry Street Looking West
Franklin Street Looking East
Mulberry Street Looking West
Mulberry Street Looking East
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Other On-going Initiatives
1. MTA’s Red Line east-west light rail alignment between West
Baltimore MARC and MLK Blvd., including a station between
Calhoun and Carey Streets
2. MTA to construct 645 additional spaces for the West Baltimore
MARC Parking Lot between Smallwood St. and North Monroe St.
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Concept Recommendations
• Create a 3,675 feet (0.70 mile) “loop” with recreational park
feature along the interior areas along Franklin and Mulberry
Streets above US 40 highway.
• Make the pedestrian overpass a pleasant experience.
• Provide a vibrant social place with human comfort.
Source: Google Earth, 2008
LEGEND OF CONCEPT RECOMMENDATIONS
Create a loop recreational park feature
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Fulton Street Improvements
• Rehabilitate existing Fulton Street bridge to convert the two (2) 12-foot wide sidewalks and one (1)
15-foot wide ‘U-turn’ lane into planted areas, and provide connection with a future new bike/ped-
path system in the grass area adjacent to Franklin / Mulberry Streets.
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Concept Recommendation #1
• Pedestrian / Bike pathway with straight alignment
• Placement of additional trees and defined landscape areas
• Stormwater improvements
• Lighting upgrades
• Site furnishings and artwork opportunities
• Dog park and stations
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Concept Recommendation #2
• Pedestrian / Bike pathway with curvilinear alignment
• Placement of additional trees and defined landscape areas
• Stormwater Improvements
• Lighting upgrades
• Site furnishings and artwork opportunities
• Dog park and stations
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Allees of trees
• Trees on both sides of the pathway
Ben Franklin Parkway, PA
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Allees of Trees
• Trees on one side of the pathway
New York, NY
China
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Placement of Trees
• Formal vs. Informal
Define the edge
Manipulate the space
Owings Mills, MD
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Defining Edges in the Landscape
• Berms
Sculpting the landscape
• Drifts of plantings
• Mown edges
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Native Plants Require Less Care
• Native/Adaptive Ornamental & Meadow Grasses
Drought tolerant – Require less watering
Low maintenance – Cut back once-yearly
Provides seasonal interest
Less mowing = less consumption of fossil fuels
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Capturing Stormwater Runoff
• Bioretention and Green Solutions
Capturing stormwater runoff
Provides deep watering for plants
• Double Duty
Curb extensions with bioretention also help
with traffic calming
Curb Openings to allow
runoff into rain gardens
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Lighting
• Street and Pedestrian Lighting
Opportunities exist to include solar and LED lighting
Typical Baltimore street lighting – “Shoe box” and “Washington Globe” fixtures
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Site Furnishings
• Pathway Benches
Provide deterrents for sleeping and skateboarding on benches
Use recycled materials or green products
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Site Furnishings
• Litter/Recycling Receptacles
Custom fixtures can be artistic
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Dog Parks
• Design Elements
Separate large from small dogs
Provide for agility training
Display rules and regulations
Kiosk for community events
Provide Pet Stations for clean-up
Must be fenced for pet safety
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Dog Parks
• Pet Stations
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Summary of Case Studies
Boston, MA
Duluth, MN
Seattle, WA
Trenton, NJ
• A common goal of these projects has been reconnecting communities
separated at one time by the construction of an interstate
• In the majority of the case studies, the development was parkland.
• All case studies that have been implemented were found to improve
the quality of life in the surrounding communities
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Path Forward for City DOT
• Compile public review comments to determine consensus on design issues:
Straight or curved pathway alignment
Linear tree configuration or informal arrangements
Tree placement on one or both sides of pathway
General location for amenities; dog park, community garden, and points of interest
• Initiate Preliminary Design
Incorporate field survey
Prepare existing utility plan
Develop site design features
Evaluate hydrology and hydraulic aspects
• Apply for Federal funding in 2011.
• Continue to support ongoing initiatives in the corridor, including the MARC
parking lot expansion and the Red Line.
• Consider a phased approach for implementing recommendations, such as
starting with initial recommendation and then expand the park loop east
towards Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard.
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