design elements - San Jacinto Texas Historic District

MAIN STREETS
Main Street corridors are typically urban and
suburban in nature requiring designs that
prioritize pedestrian movement and safety.
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Street trees should be installed to provide
shade, to delineate pedestrian and
automobile zones, and to provide a virtual
protective barrier to pedestrians.
Ornamental and native trees may be used in
medians, park areas, and private property
setbacks.
EXISTING CONDITIONS
28 │ SCENARIOS
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Crosswalks should be provided at the ends
of blocks to illuminate pedestrian priority
areas within the automobile right-of-way.
Lighting may be incorporated into
crosswalk applications to ensure visibility
in low-light conditions. Pedestrian scale
street lights should be provided at regular
intervals to deliver safe and consistent
illumination.
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Regional signage may be incorporated
to provide wayfi nding and to enhance
monumentation in high-visibility areas.
Public art and fencing can add visual interest
where space allows along the public rightof
way. Keep obstructions out of sight
triangles as defi ned in TxDOT and municipal
standards.
Fencing may be used to provide screening
for parking and to delineate property lines.
The existing Main Street site, at Main Street and
SH-146 in La Porte, provides a strong example
of a downtown streetscape that favors access
and a higher-speed throughway for automobile
traffi c. Parking is inappropriately located at the
intersection, and there are few design elements
that enhance the pedestrian experience or
improve safety.