PAWTUCKET DOWNTOWN DESIGN PLAN FINAL ... - VHB.com

INTRODUCTION
DEFINING SCOPE
The Vision process of the PDDP gave us a set of five concepts that responded
to the challenges set forth by the scope of the PDDP and the existing
downtown conditions. With this bigger picture of the influences and community
ambitions, it was important for the team to narrow the specific areas of further
study in order to fulfill the goals of the PDDP proposal. Originally, the proposal
request called for four intersections to be designed to 30%; in discussion with
city officials and the Technical Advisory Committee, it became clear that the
project could have greater impact with more areas designed to less depth than
fewer with more. This would help the city gain funding and have a greater longterm
impact.
In revising the scope after the second community meeting in September 2010,
the team offered three options from which to select six intersections that could
be designed to 10% with conceptual plans describing roadways in between.
We presented three options with areas of focus: Main Street, a long-time focus
of planning energy and the heart of downtown; Exchange Street, anticipated to
have funds available for resurfacing due to the RIDOT Bridge 550 project; and
the River, identified as an important resources and due to advance with the
coming Blackstone River Bikeway.
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