South Broad Street Corridor Plan - the City of San Luis Obispo

South Broad Street Corridor Area Plan – PC Hearing Draft February 2012
Chapter 4: STREETSCAPE STANDARDS
4.1 OVERVIEW AND INTENT
These standards show the typical configurations for street spaces within the planning area. The City will
configure and adjust these as necessary for specific conditions. The specifications address vehicular
traffic lane widths, bikeways, crosswalks, parkway, curb and sidewalk design, street trees, and on-street
parking configurations.
Streets within the planning area will balance the needs of all forms of traffic (i.e. automobile, bicycle,
pedestrian, etc.) to maximize mobility and convenience for citizens, area residents, employees, and
visitors. Street design and character will vary with their location and function. For example, Broad Street
is designed both to carry a large volume of traffic and to provide pedestrian and bicycle facilities. Victoria
Avenue will provide a more active and intense “Main Street” pedestrian experience.
4.2 STREET DESIGN STANDARDS
Street Configuration. Streets within the plan area will form an interconnected network, including
automobile, bicycle, and pedestrian routes, that provides direct connections to local destinations. These
pathways will provide for both intra- and inter-neighborhood connections, knitting neighborhoods
together rather than forming barriers between them.
Street Design. Entry, Village, and Service Streets should be designed to serve as both public ways and
neighborhood amenities. They should have continuous sidewalks and large species of street trees on both
sides. Individual residential dwelling units should provide entries, gates, porches, and other inviting
features that face local streets to help create a sense of community and improve safety. In the limited
circumstances where cul-de-sac streets are appropriate, through pedestrian and bicycle access should be
provided to other pedestrian and bicycle facilities.
Appropriate Street Widths. Each street's design should be based on its anticipated role within the
project and surrounding neighborhoods. Street widths should be narrow enough to slow traffic while
accommodating demonstrated traffic demand at a reduced speed and providing adequate emergency
vehicle access. Streets should not be wider than needed to accommodate demonstrated traffic demand.
Bicycle Infrastructure. Shared lane markings (also known as Sharrows) or other appropriate signing and
striping shall be installed in both directions along Victoria Avenue to increase connectivity within the
plan area. Bicycle parking shall be installed as described in Section 6.3.F of the Community Design
Guidelines. Appropriate bicycle parking facilities include: bicycle lockers, locked rooms with standard
racks, and standard racks located on site. At least 50% of long-term bicycle parking should be covered.
Bicycle parking shall be installed throughout the plan area in locations of high visibility and convenience,
such as near building entrances. Bicycle parking shall be provided according to Section 17.16.060.F and
Table 6.5 of the Zoning Regulations.
Signalization. Traffic signals should be installed at intersections on Broad Street as traffic demands
increase. The addition of traffic signals may be in accordance with the recommendations in the Final
Traffic Impact Analysis (FTIA) (January 7, 2010) and future traffic studies and analyses.
Additional Turn Lanes. As traffic demand increase, some intersections may require restriping in order
to provide additional turn lanes. Such restriping may follow recommendations listed in the FTIA.
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