URBAN DESIGN PRINCIPLES

Movement Structure & Systems

Dr. Sujata S. Govada, HKU/UD&PCL

Dr. Sujata S. Govada

INTRODUCTION
Urban Structure/Pattern/Form Transportation Multi-modal Transit Metropolis International Experience Regional Experience Local Experience Sustainable Transport
Dr. Sujata S. Govada

URBAN STRUCTURE, PATTERN AND FORM

Location & natural setting Topography and landscape Transportation network Historical, planning development context Land use & density standards Built environment & public realm Environmental sustainability Decision making - policy & strategy
Dr. Sujata S. Govada

DEVELOPMENT PATTERN
The road and rail network forms basis for the development of urban pattern and structure Trends of past city growth determine direction of high, medium and low density development Very difficult to reverse major development trends unless with strong and deliberate govt. initiatives

Dr. Sujata S. Govada

TYPES OF URBAN PATTERNS

LINEAR GRID LOOPED & CUL DE SAC RADIAL BRANCHED POLYCENTRIC

Dr. Sujata S. Govada

LINEAR PATTERN
Flow primarily between two points, typically found along railroads, canals and highways, transit supportive Lack of focus

Dr. Sujata S. Govada

GRID PATTERN
Simplicity, regularity, ease of layout, convenient access, good orientation, good on level land, complex dist. flow, can be of human scale Visual monotony, disregard of topography, vulnerability to through traffic, lack of differentiation heavy/light

Dr. Sujata S. Govada

LOOPED AND CUL DE SAC

Typically internal residential streets low volume traffic flow, automobile oriented Deters through traffic, promotes slower traffic Safe and calm

Dr. Sujata S. Govada

RADIAL PATTERN
Good direct line of travel, transit supportive, rail Not good when neither origin nor destination are related to centre, difficult for service, causes problems in local flow, difficult building sites

Dr. Sujata S. Govada

FINGER OR BRANCHED PATTERN

Favors the specialization of major vs. Minor arteries, makes the intersection problem manageable by distributing instead of concentrating on the centre, transit supportive Very sensitive to interruptions at single point

Dr. Sujata S. Govada

POLYCENTRIC PATTERN
Dominant centre and sub centres, with green belts between radial corridors, connected by ring roads as bypass Good for public transit Sub centres need not necessarily play supporting role to the centre

Dr. Sujata S. Govada

Road Based Pattern

A built form primarily geared towards the automobile Eg. Los Angeles Irvine , USA

Dr. Sujata S. Govada

TRANSIT METROPOLIS
A built form and a mobility environment where transit is used as a better alternative to cars
Adaptive cities Adaptive transit Strong core cities Hybrids

Dr. Sujata S. Govada

ADAPTIVE CITIES
Metropolises with strong CBDs and outlying communities and sub centres connected to their centres via rail
Stockholm Copenhagen

Dr. Sujata S. Govada

ADAPTIVE TRANSIT
Spread out, low density development is accepted as a given and transit services are adjusted to the environment
Seattle Edmonton

Dr. Sujata S. Govada

HYBRIDS
Regions striking a balance between adapting their landscapes and transit servicespolycentric city
Curitiba Ottawa

Dr. Sujata S. Govada

STRONG CORE CITIES

Reinforce established development patterns and inner city revitalization sought more compact transit-supportive built forms
Zurich Melbourne

Dr. Sujata S. Govada

TRANSPORTATION PRIVATE TRANSPORT

Low densities Individual Faster, direct Longer commutes Inefficient Traffic congestion Air pollution Sprawl Divides community Cars/mini vans Bicycles Pedestrian Alternate modes

Dr. Sujata S. Govada

TRANSPORTATION -PUBLIC TRANSIT

High densities Indirect Efficient Shorter distances Compact Community Environmental Urban rail Buses Trams Taxis Ferries Newer modes

Dr. Sujata S. Govada

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT COORDINATION
Modal interchanges - public transport interchanges Points of transition rail, bus, taxi, car etc. Balance between modes private/public Carparks and termini Regulation and road taxes

Dr. Sujata S. Govada

INTERNATIONAL & LOCAL REGIONAL EXPERIENCE

International
The European experience The American experience

Regional & Local

Singapore experience Hong Kong experience

Dr. Sujata S. Govada

THE EUROPEAN EXPERIENCE

ZURICH Transit first policies Highest rate of transit usage Efficient management of road space Neighborhood traffic calming Deeply discounted fares Customer loyalty recognition

STOCKHOLM
Post-war planning Underground rail Highway network

VENICE
Road/rail causeway Canals/motor boats Pedestrian network

Dr. Sujata S. Govada

THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE

CHARACTERISTICS Freeway/carpark Downtown Suburban sprawl Low density Scattered dev. Unlimited land resources Growth boundaries Rail transit CITIES New York Washington dc Chicago San Francisco Los Angeles Portland Boston Toronto

Dr. Sujata S. Govada

TORONTO TRANSIT METROPOLIS

Best North American example of rail transits city shaping abilities Integration of transportation and land use planning by addressing differing transportation demands between areas both at:
Local level Regional level
Dr. Sujata S. Govada

TORONTO PROACTIVE PLAN

Dr. Sujata S. Govada

TORONTOS TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT

Density bonuses Park and ride constraints TDRs Supplemental land aquisitions

Dr. Sujata S. Govada

TORONTO TRANSPORT POLICY

TDM measures- transportation demands and new development Targeted growth areas reduce auto dependency Maximum density around transit corridors Off street and shared parking Bicycle and walking measures Efficient goods movement
Dr. Sujata S. Govada

THE REGIONAL EXPERIENCE - SINGAPORE

Control of car usage - taxes/tolls Public transport network Stopping cars at the fringe pedestrian precincts Major -secondary carparks Basement connections and travelators at 2nd storey Pedestrian network elevated decks Tree-lined boulevards, promenades, malls Water transport water taxis - canals, rivers Central planning - URA

Dr. Sujata S. Govada

THE LOCAL EXPERIENCE - HONG KONG

Transport multi modal Functional and uncoordinated Existing narrow road network Public transit rail, buses, trams, taxis, ferries etc. Extensive footbridge system Fragmented pedestrianisation Lack of inter-departmental coordination
Dr. Sujata S. Govada

SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT SYSTEM IN HONG KONG

Balanced transport and urban development Vehicle free or restricted access city and sub centres Modal integration and TDM measures Pedestrianization & cycling Coordinated decision making Environmentally cleaner Better quality of life

Dr. Sujata S. Govada

TRANSIT LESSONS from Cervero

Redistributes growth Healthy regional economy Land use impacts are greatest when upswing in regional growth Radial rail systems can strengthen downtown cores

Dr. Sujata S. Govada

Cervero Contd.
Reinforce decentralization trends Proactive planning sub centres Transit can spur central city redevelopment Other pro-development measures Auto equalizers or disincentives

Dr. Sujata S. Govada

CONCLUSION
Just as built environments shape transit demand, transit investments shape built environments.

Dr. Sujata S. Govada