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

Encourage the use of two-wheeled motorized vehicles
Add two-wheeled motorize vehicle spaces to on street and lot parking
GOAL
PROPOSAL
On way to highlight the diversity of transit and movement of people in
downtown and decrease the priority of he automobile is to encourage the use
of smaller vehicles, including motorcycles and mopeds. They are more energy
efficient, take up less space to park, and are more interactive with their public
environment. To encourage their use, it is important to offer spaces for them to
park. In many cases, small spaces left over in parking planning can offer ample
room for these vehicles and the PDDP team encourages this system in future
street improvement planning. The PDDP includes spaces directly adjacent to
Main Street on Maple and High Streets.
Reduce light pollution and energy use
Develop lighting project to replace current parking lighting with energy
efficient, pedestrian-oriented, automatic timing system
GOAL
PROPOSAL
Current lighting in City parking lots use a typical “shoebox” parking lighting
fixture which is Dark Sky friendly, but does not use energy efficient bulbs. The
lighting in the city parking garage has very poor and industrial light quality. The
PDDP team recommends that the garage lighting be replaced in the short-term
as part of a larger garage renovation project with more pedestrian-oriented
LED fixtures and that the parking lots fixtures and lamps be replaced with LED
and Dark Sky compliant fixtures and lamps when the current fixtures expire.
See ‘Lighting’ under STREETSCAPE AND PEDESTRIAN SYSTEMS for more
information about the Dark Sky International Association and Department of
Energy lighting grants, pages 102 and 103.
Reduce precipitation run off, recharge ground water and reduce heat
island effect
Replace current solid asphalt parking surfaces with permeable paving
GOAL
PROPOSAL
Water run off is a significant problem in improving the water quality in the
Blackstone River and reducing instances of flooding. Downtown Pawtucket
has suffered flooding during two recent periods of high river levels, in 2010 and
2005 and anticipate future floods at increased frequency and, while it can not
control the water flowing from up river, it can decrease its own impact on the
natural watershed area.
As well, the significant asphalt paving in the downtown area increases heat
absorption which can cause higher temperature levels in the downtown area
increasing cooling loads for downtown buildings and generally making it more
uncomfortable for pedestrians.
For future public parking lots and replacement projects, the city should work
towards reducing heat island effects and water run off rates for any remaining
public surface parking areas that are not transitioned into a higher use
PDDP FINAL REPORT
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