Potential Streetscape Improvement Solutions
There are a number of potential design solutions for Rice Street would enhance the streetscape along the corridor.
Share your feedback on streetscape solutions
Photo examples
The image gallery shows an example of each potential design solution described below.
Parklets
Parklets are public seating platforms that convert curbside parking spaces into community spaces. They are the product of a partnership between the city and local businesses, residents or neighborhood associations to accommodate demand for public space on neighborhood retail streets or in commercial areas. Most incorporate seating, greenery and/or bike racks.
Benefits
- Can increase foot traffic and revenues for businesses.
- Opportunity for temporary outdoor food services.
- Enhances the aesthetic environment for pedestrian traffic.
- Enhances community identity.
- Makes the pedestrian space a destination.
Challenges
- May produce conflicts with plows and street cleaning vehicles in the winter if not removed.
- May need to be stored in the winter.
- Maintenance costs.
Project goals addressed
- Safe pedestrian accommodations
- Welcoming streetscape
- Economic development and business support
Wayfinding
Wayfinding is signage intended to help pedestrians and bicyclists navigate an area, inform them of the direction and distance to specific destinations, or mark the location of a designated pedestrian or bike path.
Benefits
- Familiarizes users with the trail network.
- Identifies the best routes.
- Overcomes a “barrier to entry” for infrequent visitors.
- Including mileage and travel time helps people better estimate travel time to their location.
- Visually indicates to motorists that they are driving along a pedestrian and bicycle route.
- Passively markets the pedestrian and bicycle network.
Challenges
- Requires the right balance of information and can sometimes be too complex.
- Requires standardization throughout to be effective.
- Maintenance costs.
Project goals addressed
- Safe pedestrian accommodations
- Safe bicycle connections
- Welcoming streetscape
- Healthy community
Community branding
Community branding is recognizable neighborhood branding with consistent style of banners, benches, bike racks, etc. as a part of enhanced streetscape treatment, wayfinding and placemaking.
Benefits
- Creates an inviting environment for people passing through.
- Can enhance quality for life for residents.
- Enhances community identity.
- Can double as or augment wayfinding signage.
Challenges
- Coordination of any seasonal changes.
- Maintenance costs.
Project goals addressed
- Welcoming streetscape
- Economic development and business support
Informational plaques and historical markers
Informational plaques and historical markers are street art that provide historical information about a place or neighborhood. This type of installation can be used to draw attention to the unique history of Rice Street or some prominent community leaders.
Benefits
- Creates an inviting environment for people passing through.
- Can enhance quality for life for residents.
- Enhances community identity.
- Creates opportunities for local artists.
- Promotes community culture.
- Makes the pedestrian space a destination.
Challenges
- Partnering with the neighborhood to obtain accurate historical information and secure support.
- Requires additional space in the pedestrian right-of-way.
- Maintenance costs.
Project goals addressed
- Welcoming streetscape
- Economic development and business support
Art in a pedestrian space
Art in a pedestrian space is artwork along the sidewalk as part of an enhanced streetscape treatment.
Benefits
- Creates an inviting environment for people passing through the corridor.
- Enhances community identity.
- Creates opportunities for local artists.
- Promotes community culture.
- Makes the pedestrian space a destination.
Challenges
- Coordination of any seasonal changes.
- Maintenance costs.
Project goals addressed
- Safe pedestrian accommodations
- Welcoming streetscape
Art on vertical infrastructure
Art on vertical infrastructure is artwork added to infrastructure as part of an enhanced streetscape treatment.
Benefits
- Enhances the aesthetic environment for all roadway users.
- Enhances community identity.
- Creates opportunities for local artists.
- Promotes community culture.
Challenges
- Securing permits.
- Securing support from the neighborhood.
- Maintenance costs.
Project goals addressed
- Safe pedestrian accommodations
- Welcoming streetscape
Painted or decorative crosswalks
Painted streets or intersections is paint on pavement that can be used as public art, a traffic calming device, wayfinding or intersection delineation.
Benefits
- Better delineates zones on the roadway and at intersections.
- Can calm traffic speeds.
- Creates awareness of pedestrian presence.
- Enhances the aesthetic environment for all roadway users.
- Enhances community identity.
Challenges
- Coordination of changes or additions to street art.
- Maintenance costs.
Project goals addressed
- Safe pedestrian accommodations
- Welcoming streetscape
- Public safety
Enhanced stormwater management
Stormwater management is infrastructure implemented to manage urban stormwater runoff, reduce combined sewer overflows and treat polluted runoff to help protect the quality of local water bodies. Enhanced stormwater management can be implemented through vegetable or plant beds, rain gardens, bioswales, permeable pavers or pervious bikeways.
Benefits
- Creates a thriving, pedestrian-friendly streetscape.
- Provides physical buffers between pedestrians and traffic.
- Reduces imperviousness.
- Increased tree canopies mitigating heat island effect.
- Promotes traffic calming.
- Opportunity for environmental art.
Challenges
- Special maintenance needs.
- Effective implementation practices.
- Considerations for ADA compliance and other accessibility needs.
- Maintenance costs.
Project goals addressed
- Safe pedestrian accommodations
- Welcoming streetscape
Pervious pavement (pavers)
Pervious pavement is a device that treats, detains and infiltrates stormwater runoff in the form of sidewalks, street furniture zones, entire roadways, parking lanes or gutter strips.
Benefits
- Allows water to pass through instead of pooling on the surface.
- Can be tailored to result in desired storage volume and drain time.
- Opportunity for environmental art.
Challenges
- Special maintenance needs.
- Considerations for ADA compliance and other accessibility needs.
- Maintenance costs.
Project goals addressed
- Welcoming streetscape
Street trees
These are trees planted along urban roadways to provide shade for pedestrians, enhance the streetscape and act as a traffic calming device.
Benefits
- Creates an inviting environment for pedestrians and drivers.
- Acts as natural shade from sun in the summer and buffer from snow in the winter.
Challenges
- Special maintenance needs.
- Considerations for ADA compliance and other accessibility needs.
- Maintenance costs.
Project goals addressed
- Welcoming streetscape
Street furniture
Street furniture includes bollards, benches, planters and bicycle parking that delineate the roadway from the pedestrian-only space. Can provide seating area for business patrons and other pedestrians passing through or waiting for the bus.
Benefits
- Creates an inviting environment for pedestrians.
- Encourages pedestrians to spend more time in the area, increasing chances of shopping at local businesses.
Challenges
- May produce conflicts with plows and street cleaning vehicles in the winter.
- Securing support from the neighborhood.
- Maintenance costs.
Project goals addressed
- Safe pedestrian accommodations
- Welcoming streetscape
Bike racks
Temporary storage and security for bicycles.
Benefits
- Creates an inviting environment for bicyclists.
- Allows bicyclists to spend time in the area, increasing chances of shopping at local businesses.
- Can double as art or placemaking enhancements.
Challenges
- May produce conflicts with plows and street cleaning vehicles in the winter.
- Maintenance costs.
- Additional space needed in right of way.
Project goals addressed
- Safe bicycle connections
- Welcoming streetscape
Community development
Community development is a unique urban development containing a mix of planning and design elements that incorporate features from learning environments, workplaces, public spaces, research and development centers and cultural spaces.
Benefit
- Firmly embedded in the surrounding neighborhood.
- Promotes sense of belonging.
- Provides space for grassroots and cultural learning practices.
- Engages the community within an urban area of organized resources.
- Focus on pedestrian connectivity throughout.
- Design is often centered around central parks and pocket parks that provide large gathering spaces.
- Opportunity for public-private partnerships.
Challenges
- Requires systematic redevelopment.
Project goals addressed
- Safe pedestrian accommodations
- Healthy community
- Economic development and business support
Community villages
Community villages are a type of urban development typically characterized by medium-density housing, mixed use zoning, good public transit and an emphasis on pedestrianization and public space.
Benefits
- Encourages courteous interactions among neighborhood residents.
- Opportunity for pocket parks and community gardening.
- Allows denser development.
- Promotes community watch and safety in numbers.
Challenges
- Challenging to implement in developed area.
- Has different public security needs than a traditional street or park.
Project goals addressed
- Safe pedestrian accommodations
- Healthy community
- Public safety
Sister parks
These are nearby smaller park spaces that have similar resources, ecosystems or activities.
Benefits
- Opportunity to reutilize vacant or rundown lots.
- Promotes green space connectivity.
- Anchors an important intersection or community gateway.
- Provides opportunity for diverse park programing.
Challenges
- Requires safe and convenient pedestrian crossings or the road will act as a barrier.
Project goals addressed:
- Healthy community