Uptown 2025 Proposal (Complete)

1Uptown 20205 Proposal© 2015 by Alan Hoffman

FITTING THE PIECES TOGETHER SOLVING THE PLANNING CHALLENGES

Hillcrest/Mission Hills/Bankers Hill:

Uptown 2025The Future BeginsA United Proposal for

Implementing the Mayor’s Climate Action

Plan.

NOWNOW

Uptown 20205 Proposal© 2015 by Alan Hoffman 2

Driving

Transit Walking

Planning & Design Goals

Businesses

Residents

Institutions

TourismRecreati

on

World Class Infrastructure

Parking

World Class Community

Bicycling

These need to work together, not at cross-purposes.

These need to work together,

not at cross-purposes, across all three

communities of Uptown, or you will all pay the

price.


Core Message

Let’s solve all the big

problems together. Let’s avoid piecemeal,

disconnected projects.

Let’s solve all the big

problems together. Let’s avoid piecemeal,

disconnected projects.

In the absence of a well-crafted strategy designed to achieve ambitious and measurable goals, we end up with projects that don’t directly relate to or support each other.

A smarter strategy is to work out the relationship among the different elements—roads, parking, transit, bicycle, walking, active recreation—so that each project helps set the stage for the next, and to minimize conflicts. For example, we want to avoid a bicycle project that causes significant parking “pain” and which might conflict with transit plans or opportunities.


The Opportunity

Mayor’s Climate Action Plan

Mayor’s Climate Action Plan

Real Long-Term Infrastruct

ure

Real Long-Term Infrastruct

ure

Generational Shift:

Millennials

Generational Shift:

Millennials

PriorityPriority MoneyMoney MarketMarket

The Uptown communities find themselves with a once-in-a-generation opportunity to request that significant regional resources be directed to creating real, world-class infrastructure to support Uptown’s growth and development for many decades to come.

The Mayor’s ambitious Climate Action Plan needs to demonstrate how targeted infrastructure investments can produce a major shift in transportation patterns. Uptown is uniquely suited to be this demonstration. We estimate that the total cost of this proposal will be approximately ½ of 1% of the Regional Transportation Plan—real money, to be sure, but doable if the Mayor and City Council work to make this a regional priority.

A side benefit is that these investments will help attract the Millennial generation, a group that wants to live in urban environments with active transportation modes.


Washington Street Canyon Bikeway and Landscaping


Washington Street Bikeway & TransitWashington Street Bikeway & Transit

Uptown QuickwayUptown

Quickway

6th Ave Bikeway6th Ave

Bikeway

Balboa Park

Bikeway

Balboa Park

Bikeway

Hillcrest Center Bikeway & Quickway


6th Ave Bikeway and

Parking Rambla

6th Ave Bikeway and

Parking Rambla

University Ave Bikeway and

Parking Rambla


Parking Rambla

University Ave

Bikeway & Bridge

University Ave

Bikeway & Bridge

Uptown 2025 Proposal

Fully integrated mix of world-class bikeways, leading-edge transit, improved parking,

and improved traffic flows.

Approximate cost: About ½ of 1% of the

Regional Transportation Plan.

Benefit:Infrastructure to support the Mayor’s ambitious

Climate Action Plan goals and set Uptown up

for many decades of continued thriving.

Uptown 2025 proposes a set of investments, for completion prior to 2025, which together create the foundation of an effective movement system for Uptown that resolves many of the major issues plaguing driving, parking, bicycling, using transit, and walking. Beyond this project, there are additional regional transit investments we propose to build following Uptown 2025.

Bicycling: Greenway Network

Bicycling: Greenway Network


Theme

If we’re going to build bicycle infrastructure, let’s place it front and

center. If we’re serious about it,

let’s do it right the first time.

If we’re going to build bicycle infrastructure, let’s place it front and

center. If we’re serious about it,

let’s do it right the first time.

Cities all over the world are creating bicycle infrastructure intended to place bicycling at a higher priority than driving. They do this not by placing bike infrastructure on the side or out-of-the-way, but by placing bicycles in the center, as if they were there first and the automobile had to fit its way around the bicycles. While we take a slightly more moderate approach here, we see how a regional Greenway network—the equivalent of a highway for bicycles—can transform the role of bicycling in the San Diego region.


Greenways This median bikeway in Peru does not do enough to distinguish bike lanes from the pedestrian path, but it does show the priority that has been given to the bicycle—and gives an idea of how easy it would be to travel the bikeway, out of traffic.


This median bikeway in Brazil places the cyclist in a completely different—and far nicer—environment than being in mixed traffic. Colored bike lanes help establish a bikeway’s identity. Though different colors are used around the world, green is a common one and is recommended for San Diego, as red (as used here) is often reserved for transit and blue for handicapped paths.


This median greenway features a clearly delineated bikeway and pedestrian path, along with trees.


Washington Street If right-of-way constraints were not an issue, then Washington Street is the main corridor through Mission Hills—and the road where bicycles would most like to be. Curbside bike lanes don’t fit, though. Is there a better alternative?


The problem with Washington Street is that it is entirely taken up with on-street parking, two traffic lanes each

direction, and newly landscaped medians that are iconic and beautiful.


If bike lanes (light green) are added curbside on Washington Street, along with a barrier to separate them from parked cars, the medians can no longer support landscaping and

there is no room for left turn pockets. This is why Washington Street was rejected by planners.


Two travel lanes each direction

preserved

Landscape pop-outs for street

trees

Parking moved from curbside to

median

4’ walkway protects bikeway and gives pedestrians safe

access to crosswalk

12’ wide bikeway fully

signalized

One alternative for Washington Street is to place the bikeway in the center of the street, and move parking against the bikeway, in the band of space shared with left-turn pockets. Now everything fits: a wide, central bikeway, double rows of trees, on-street parking, left-turn pockets, and auto lanes.


Median parking is not uncommon. These

examples (Hermosa Avenue in Hermosa

Beach, upper left and right; and Sarasota, Florida, bottom left), are US examples.


Curitiba, Brazil, relies extensively on median parking to fit their surface busways in the available space.


Design to be determined.

STAGE I—INITIAL IMPLEMENTATION, West Washington Street, Goldfinch to Dove

GO

LDFI

NC

H

FALC

ON

EA

GLE

DO

VE

Proposed configuration preserves most of existing

landscaping

Alternative configuration

This image shows how a Greenway could be configured through West Washington Street.


STAGE I—INITIAL IMPLEMENTATION: West Washington Street, Brant to Third

BR

AN

T

ALB

ATR

OSS

1ST

3R

D

This image shows how a Greenway could be configured through West Washington Street.


STAGE I—INITIAL IMPLEMENTATION: West Washington Street, Third to Fifth

This image shows how a Greenway could be configured through Washington Street. The bikeway would then turn down 5th Avenue.

3rd

4th

5th


Length:1404’Rise: 72’Grade:5.1%Deficit: 996’








University Ave

Offramp

University Ave

OfframpLength:474’Rise: 54’Grade:11.4%Deficit:1326’

Length:474’Rise: 54’Grade:11.4%Deficit:1326’

The Washington Street hill is completely inappropriate for a bikeway. Global standards call for sustained grades of maximum 3%, while Washington Street varies from 3.9-7.9%, with the University Avenue offramp an 11.4% grade. What’s more, the removal of parking at the base of Washington Street will have a negative impact on the businesses there, especially as the proposed bike lanes will not attract appreciable numbers of new customers, given the unacceptable grades.

“Deficit,” as used here, means the additional length that would need to be traversed to achieve a 3% grade—nearly ½ mile additional, in total.


Approx. 300’ bicycle tunnel helps reduce grade, avoid traffic, and

preserve existing landscaping

Approx. 300’ bicycle tunnel helps reduce grade, avoid traffic, and

preserve existing landscaping

Bikeway carved into canyonside with landscaping and solid buffers to ensure

privacy for adjacent properties

Bikeway carved into canyonside with landscaping and solid buffers to ensure

privacy for adjacent properties

Drops down into tunnel

Tunnel segment

Mission Hills Shortcut, likely relies on bicycle “spiral” to climb to street level.

Mission Hills Shortcut, likely relies on bicycle “spiral” to climb to street level.

A proposed solution would be to forgo the use of Washington Street, and instead carve a bikeway into the canyon itself, turning the canyon into part of the experience.


International Design

CompetitionLandscape plan for Washington Street

Canyon and bikeway.

Bikeway: maximum 3% grade;

2% preferable.

Bikeway screened from adjacent properties to

ensure privacy and protection from noise;

may also reduce impacts of road noise.

Landscaping plan may mix habitat restoration and more decorative

elements.

Design teams must have a local counterpart;

design jury must include representation from adjacent residents.

Judging criteria must include bikeway

functionality, aesthetics, impacts on neighbors,

cost, and delight.

An international design competition, with local participation, could come up with a landscaping and bikeway design for the canyon. The goals would be to create a family-friendly bicycle experience and an enhanced canyon environment. This approach has the potential to create a world-class amenity and attract people from across the region to bicycle Uptown—and spend their money there.


76’

102’

89’

79’

86’

91’

106’

Elevated bikeway maintains

comfortable 3% grade and preserves

parking and auto travel lanes

Elevated bikeway maintains

comfortable 3% grade and preserves

parking and auto travel lanes

Five Points/Middletown

Bike PlazaBike Plaza Bike

PlazaBike Plaza

Bike Plazas are entryways to the facility, allowing people to access the India Street businesses or to connect with other proposed regional bicycle facilities.

At the foot of Washington Street, the bikeway is elevated over the lower road and the intersections with India Street and San Diego Avenue, keeping bicycles separated from traffic.


5th & University

Uptown 2025 calls for an underground transit infrastructure in Hillcrest, freeing up surface space for additional parking, and allowing for the reconfiguration of the road to accommodate a bikeway.


Narrow bridge and roadway, even if widened, will not be wide enough to

meet all road needs including bikes.

Narrow bridge and roadway, even if widened, will not be wide enough to

meet all road needs including bikes.

University & Hwy 163

University Avenue in Hillcrest goes through more width changes in less distance than perhaps any other road in San Diego. It would be difficult to fit a protected bikeway into the road, especially by the bridge over Highway 163, given how narrow the bridge is. The solution is to elevate the bikeway over both University Avenue and the existing bridge—but even this will require some significant retooling of University Avenue and the possible loss of some on-street parking. The Uptown 2025 Proposal takes this into account by significantly increasing the parking supply nearby.


University Avenue, 6th to Hwy 163

May require cutting into sidewalk, reducing width

from 14’ to 8’

Bikeway rises at 6% grade for 260’

Bikeway elevated supports sit in parking lane, with minimum

parking loss.

On-street parking removed from this

block only, replaced on 6th Ave within 300’

One option for a University Avenue bikeway would be to widen the road on the north side, where buildings are already set back ~15’ from the sidewalk. This approach is not without its issues, though.


University Avenue, 6th to Hwy 163

May require cutting into sidewalk, reducing width

from 14’ to 8’

Bikeway rises at 7% grade for 215’

University Ave reduced to single travel lane with

signalized left-turn pockets. Alternatively, parking may be

removed from one side of street, opening up a second

through-lane in one direction.

Another option for a University Avenue bikeway would be to apply the same treatment as was used on Washington Street. This would reduce travel lanes from two each direction to just one, but would provide left turn pockets to compensate.


Some form of arch bridge could work to carry an elevated bikeway over both University Avenue and its freeway bridge. Why not make that arch an iconic statement of community pride by making it a rainbow? Here the bikeway is seen suspended beneath the rainbow arch.


PENNSYLVANIAPENNSYLVANIA

6th AveNorth of

Upas

6th AveThe Park

Edge5

th A

VE

5th A

VE

6th A

VE

6th A

VE

UPASUPAS

LAURELLAUREL

JUNIPERJUNIPER

We propose that the main bikeway follow 5th Avenue south from the center of Hillcrest to Pennsylvania Avenue, then shift to 6th Avenue. Other elements of Uptown 2025 (a proposed auto tunnel on 6th Avenue and new surface parking on 6th Avenue) would be integrated with this proposal so that negative impacts are minimized and benefits maximized. South of Upas, further study should explore both a 6th Avenue and Balboa Park Drive alignmnent.


The SW Corner of Balboa PkThe Bike Park

171’

118’

142’

158’

121’

214’

Elevation in Feet: xxx’

Total Elevation Gain:

96’Maximum Grade:

3%Minimum Length:

3200’

Total Elevation Gain:

96’Maximum Grade:

3%Minimum Length:

3200’

A bikeway, curling and snaking its way uphill and connecting Cortez Hill directly with Inspiration Point, would provide an easily bikable grade, allowing even casual cyclists to make their way uphill into Uptown from Downtown. Combined with a separate proposal to create decks over the freeway (with a mix of new building sites and new park space), it would add tremendous value to the surrounding neighborhood.


Benefits to Uptown

Better Serve

Residents and

Business

Better Serve

Residents and

Business

Attract People from Metro Area

Attract People from Metro Area

Increased Tourism

Spending

Increased Tourism

Spending

A properly configured World Class Greenway will not only encourage and protect residents of Uptown who may wish to travel by bicycle, it is sure to attract San Diegans from many other parts who would like to ride on such a facility, as well as visitors to the

region looking for a uniquely San Diego active recreational experience, the kind of thing Millennials in particular look for.


World-Class Public Transit

World-Class Public Transit

World-Class Public TransitWorld-Class

Public TransitUptown 2025


San Diego Quickway Proposal©2015 by Alan Hoffman 1©2015 by Alan Hoffman

INTRODUCING THE

Quickway Proposal

A CITIZEN-BASED INITIATIVE FOR A FASTER& MORE EFFECTIVERAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM FOR SAN DIEGO

for the Scripps Ranch/ Miramar Ranch North Traffic Reduction Project


Produced by

Alan HoffmanAdvisor on Transportation and Long-Range Planning

Produced by


[email protected]+1 (619) 232-1776


UPDATED 2 APRIL 2015


INTRODUCING THE

Quickway Proposal




Produced by


Produced by





The Quickway Proposal

A community-based 10-year planning effort

Attracts more riders (especially from autos)

than our current plans

Shows how to better serve existing communities

Cheaper to build and operate than our

current plans

www.facebook.com/QuickwayProposalA coalition of community groups developed a regional rapid transit plan that is faster, better located, and more

convenient than our current plans. We built on this base but went beyond to create a real Uptown rapid transit network.

Hillcrest / Mission Hills / Bankers Hill Integrated Vision Concept©2015 by Alan Hoffman 2


INTRODUCING THE

Quickway Proposal




Produced byAlan Hoffman

Advisor on Transportation and Long-Range Planning







INTRODUCING THE

Quickway Proposal












A community-based 10-year planning effort

Attracts more riders (especially from autos) than our current plans

Shows how to better serve existing communities

Cheaper to build and operate than our current plans

www.facebook.com/ QuickwayProposalA coalition of community groups developed an improved regional rapid transit plan that is faster, better located, more convenient,

and would attract many more riders. We built on this base but went beyond to create a real Uptown rapid transit network.


QuickwaysGrade-separated busways

Full rapid transit stations

Support express services

Higher capacity infrastructure

and faster than light railQuickways are grade-separated transitways. As the system is built, buses are used to get the network up and running; at build-out, we can then look at upgrading to an appropriate rail technology (hopefully faster than our Trolley).

Uptown 20205 Proposal© 2015 by Alan Hoffman 35San Diego Quickway Proposal©2015 by Alan Hoffman 126


Heavy RailLight RailQuickwayStreetcar

At-Grade BuswayFreeway LanesFreeway LanesFreeway LanesFreeway LanesFreeway Lanes

Hillcrest / Mission Hills / Bankers Hill Integrated Vision Concept©2015 by Alan Hoffman 4San Diego Quickway Proposal©2015 by Alan Hoffman 126


Heavy RailLight RailQuickwayStreetcar

At-Grade BuswayFreeway LanesFreeway LanesFreeway LanesFreeway LanesFreeway Lanes

The Quickway Proposal shows how the right infrastructure can support a robust network of local and express services that would be significantly fasterthan today’s transit system (www.quickwayproposal.wix.com/proposal).

The Quickway Proposal shows how the right infrastructure can support a robust network of local and express services that would

be significantly faster than today’s transit system (www.quickwayproposal.wix.com/proposal).


HOTEL CIRCLE

UCSD HILLCREST

HILLCREST CENTRAL

Elevated

Surface

Tunnel

“Let’s take the Quickway to

Uptown for dinner & a movie.”

The Uptown Quickway

2.4 Mile-long facility

Connects to Trolley at

Fashion Valley

Cuts travel time from Hillcrest

Central to Fashion Valley

from 10-12 minutes

to just 5 minutes

Serves both hospitals

2371 hotel rooms within a ≈5-minute walk of Hotel Circle

Station

MERCY

UPTOWN DISTRICT

ALBATROSS

MISSION HILLS

The Uptown Quickway links Uptown to its surrounding communities with real rapid transit infrastructure including 7 rapid transit stations.


San Diego Quickway Proposal©2015 by Alan Hoffman 18

In addition, we propose a new Rapid Bus terminal for the Fashion Valley Transit Center. The illustration top right shows a San Diego-inspired design for such a terminal; lower right is a similar station in South America, where such systems are now common.

Uptown 20205 Proposal© 2015 by Alan Hoffman

1. Transit: The Uptown Quickway


Bus volumes justify expense of grade

separation, which in turn makes transit faster, cheaper to

operate, and attract more riders.

Bus volumes justify expense of grade

separation, which in turn makes transit faster, cheaper to

operate, and attract more riders.

Tunnel

Mezzanine

Platforms

The proposed Hillcrest Central Quickway station is a future SuperStation, serving both all-stops and express routes. Ridership projections show well over 10,000 daily boardings upon network build-out, essentially pulling many thousands of auto trips off the roads of Uptown, reducing both traffic and parking impacts. We propose the use of bored tunnels here, to minimize any surface impacts and protect mature street trees.


The proposed Quickway station by the Uptown District (newly renamed “The Hub”) is a future SuperStation, serving both all-stops and express routes. Anticipated routes would provide faster trips than driving to many regional destinations. Transit vehicles would enter the Quickway tunnel by Normal St.


The Quickway system proposed here, with its underground stations, is based on a very successful real-world example. This is a passenger platform at a Quickway station in Australia. Buses pass through in a tunnel just to the right of this platform, which is separated by windows from the vehicles.

41Uptown 20205 Proposal© 2015 by Alan Hoffman Hillcrest / Mission Hills / Bankers Hill Integrated Vision Concept©2015 by Alan Hoffman 8

At an underground Quickway station in Australia, people board vehicles through sliding glass doors.

At an underground Quickway station in Australia, people board vehicles through sliding glass doors.


Now Arriving

S10SDSU

EXPRESS

SANTA FE DEPOT

Now Arriving

S10SDSU

EXPRESSUPTOWN DISTRICT UPTOWN DISTRICT UPTOWN DISTRICT

SANTA FE DEPOT

UPTOWN DISTRICT

1 2 3 4

Waiting for vehicle

Quickway stations are real rapid transit stations, with live information announcing arrivals, full overhead protection, and sliding glass doors that match up to the doors on the transit vehicle. Regardless of mode—rail or bus—you should have the same consistent experience. Mode shouldn’t matter.


Now Arriving

S10SDSU

EXPRESS

Now Arriving

S10SDSU


SANTA FE DEPOT

SANTA FE DEPOT

1 2 3 4

Vehicle arrives



UPTOWN DISTRICT UPTOWN DISTRICT UPTOWN DISTRICT

Boarding

S10SDSU

EXPRESS

Boarding

S10SDSU

EXPRESSSANTA FE

DEPOTSANTA FE

DEPOT

1 2 3 4

Board vehicle



Now Arriving

S10SDSU

EXPRESSHILLCREST CENTRALHORTON PLAZA

SANTA FE DEPOT

Now Arriving

S10SDSU


HILLCREST CENTRALHORTON PLAZA

SANTA FE DEPOT

SERVING STATIONS:

Boarding

S10SDSU

EXPRESS

Boarding

S10SDSU

EXPRESS

Next Vehicle

U80UTC

EXPRESS

3 Minutes

Next Vehicle

U80UTC

EXPRESS

3 Minutes

1 2 3 4

Vehicle departs



Fashion Valley

Hotel CircleUCSD

Hillcrest

Upas

Laurel/Balboa Pk

Cortez

BroadwayGaslamp

CentralConvention

Ctr

Uptown

District

Mercy

Hillcrest

Central

The Uptown Quickway can be the catalyst for a number of new Rapid Bus routes, some of which are conversions of existing express buses. Uptown gets a true rapid transit network, with competitive travel times, station-based boarding, and connections to many surrounding zones.

In this example, the existing El Cajon Boulevard Rapid Bus Route (black) is split into two routes: the existing and a new one that follows the same route along El Cajon Blvd, but then turns west at University Avenue and uses the Quickway to access Fashion Valley, giving Mid-City residents quicker access to Mission Valley and the Trolley. Other routes link Fashion Valley to Mission Hills, Bankers Hill and Downtown, and North Park, as well as directly linking Mission Hills with North Park, Bankers Hill, and Downtown.

47Uptown 20205 Proposal© 2015 by Alan Hoffman 14Uptown 2025 Proposal: Transit©2015 by Alan Hoffman

El Cajon Blvd/ I-15 Transit Plaza to UCSD Hillcrest Hospital (arr. by 8 am)

TODAY UPTOWN 2025San Diego Quickway Proposal©2015 by Alan Hoffman 69

TROLLEY RIDERSHIP

QUICKWAY RIDERSHIP

COASTER RIDERSHIP

Source:

Modeling of ridership using 2006 trip data

Source:



TROLLEY RIDERSHIP

QUICKWAY RIDERSHIP

COASTER RIDERSHIP

Source:


Source:


:36

:19

New Rapid Bus routes can take advantage of the Uptown Quickway to improve connectivity and cut travel times significantly. Modeling of the Quickway Proposal showed massive ridership at system build-out (right) through Uptown—and over 10,000 boardings just at the proposed Hillcrest Central Station. That’s many thousands of auto trips that are pulled off the streets.

Travel time improvements are equally dramatic. Someone going to work at the UCSD Hospital in Hillcrest will see their transit journey from the El Cajon Blvd/ I-15 transit station go from 36 minutes to just 19 minutes, a near halving of trip time. As the Quickway network is extended, that time would be cut in half again, to under 10 minutes. This is faster than driving and parking.

El Cajon Blvd/I-15 Transit Plaza to UCSD Hillcrest Hospital (arr. by 8 am)

TODAY UPTOWN 2025

:36

:19

New Rapid Bus routes can take advantage of the Uptown Quickway to improve connectivity and cut travel times significantly. Modeling of the Quickway Proposal showed massive ridership at system build-out (right) through Uptown—and over 10,000 boardings just at the proposed Hillcrest Central Station. That’s many thousands of auto trips that are pulled off the streets.

Travel time improvements are equally dramatic. Someone going to work at the UCSD Hospital in Hillcrest will see their transit journey from the El Cajon Blvd/ I-15 transit station go from 36 minutes to just 19 minutes, a near halving of trip time. As the Quickway network is extended, that time would be cut in half again, to under 10 minutes. This is faster than driving and parking.


Several existing bus routes would automatically be routed through the new Uptown Quickway, slashing travel time and improving the travel experience.


MISSION HILLS

FASHION VLY

HOTEL CIRCLE

UCSD HILLCREST

MERCY

HILLCREST CENTRAL

UPTOWN DISTRICT

PARK & UNIVERSITY

PARK & EL CAJON BLVD

UPAS

LAUREL/BALBOA PK

CORTEZ

HORTON PLAZA

11

11

1

SD TROLLEY

10

83

103 3

215

120

Rapid BusLocal Bus

Mission Hills served by three Rapid Bus routes that use the Quickway to speed access to points north, east, south, and west, slashing travel time and improving connectivity.

LEGEND:

OLD TOWN

WASHINGTON ST

ALBATROSS

Quickway

Existing routes would all take advantage of the Uptown Quickway, automatically becoming a rapid transit network.


NEWMISSION HILLS

FASHION VLY

HOTEL CIRCLE

UCSD HILLCREST

MERCY

HILLCREST CENTRAL

UPTOWN DISTRICT

PARK & UNIVERSITY

PARK & EL CAJON BLVD

UPAS

LAUREL/BALBOA PK

CORTEZ

HORTON PLAZA

11

11

1

SD TROLLEY

10

83

103 3

215

NEW

120

NEW

NEW

Rapid BusLocal Bus

Mission Hills served by three Rapid Bus routes that use the Quickway to speed access to points north, east, south, and west, slashing travel time and improving connectivity.

LEGEND:

OLD TOWN

WASHINGTON ST

ALBATROSS

With Quickway infrastructure in place, new Rapid Bus routes become more cost-effective.

FIVE PTS

Quickway


Uptown 2025 QuickwayFuture Quickway

San Diego Trolley

Future Streetcar

Other Transitway

Uptown 2025 SuperStationFuture SuperStationUptown 2025 StationFuture Quickway StationTrolley Station

Streetcar Station

Rapid Bus Station

Uptown 2025 Rapid Bus Line

LEGEND

Future Quickway extensions would significantly slash travel times by transit and lead to massive ridership growth. “SuperStations” would serve a new Rapid Express network, cutting travel times even more. A robust streetcar network is also proposed.

Driving: Improving

Traffic

Driving: Improving

Traffic


Traffic in Uptown typically ties up 6th Avenue north of Upas and Washington Street around 4th and 5th Avenues. This map depicts relative traffic flows for each of the major roads using the City of San Diego’s most recent traffic counts.

10,000 DAILY TRIPS20,000 DAILY TRIPS30,000 DAILY TRIPS

Uptown 20205 Proposal© 2015 by Alan Hoffman

To deal with the traffic backups on 6th Avenue, a new two-lane road tunnel is proposed crossing beneath University, Robinson, and Pennsylvania Avenues. This will improve access to Bankers Hill and remove northbound traffic from the heart of Hillcrest. This tunnel also frees up surface space for additional parking.

6TH

AV

E

7TH

AV

E

5TH

AV

E

UNIVERSITY AVE

WASHINGTON ST

ROBINSON AVE

PENNSYLVANIA AVE

6TH

AV

E

5TH

AV

E


Proposed Washington Street Traffic Tunnel

The Uptown 2025 Proposal suggests that a traffic tunnel (one lane each direction) on Washington Street is warranted to deal with excessive queuing and long through times for automotive traffic. The proposed tunnel will allow through-traffic to avoid the congestion knots of 4th and 5th Avenue, and free up additional surface space to increase on-street parking on Washington Street, benefiting local businesses and helping absorb additional expected growth.

The street plan given before shows how a median bikeway could be implemented in the short-term. The following street plan shows how the street might be reconfigured once the tunnel is constructed.


STAGE II—ROAD TUNNEL: Washington Street, Third to Fifth, with Auto Tunnel

The tunnel entrance/exit can be seen just to the east of 5th Avenue. An added benefit of the tunnel is that signal cycles on 4th and 5th Avenues can be adjusted to account for the reduction in east/west traffic on Washington Street.


Albatross

Station Locatio

n

Albatross

Station Locatio

n

STAGE II—ROAD TUNNEL: Washington Street, Brant to Third, with Auto Tunnel

Alternative configuration preserves curbside parking/drop-off space

Alternative configuration preserves curbside parking/drop-off space

This image shows how a Greenway could be configured through West Washington Street with an integrated road tunnel to carry through-traffic beneath the traffic knots on the eastern portion of the road. This road tunnel could mesh with a proposed “Quickway” (grade-separated transitway) stub on Washington, allowing for a “subway” station between Albatross and First Avenues.

Parking: Parking Ramblas

Parking: Parking Ramblas


Sixth AvenueUniversity to Robinson

Parking Spaces: 30 Rambla

9 Parallel39 Total

Current Parking Spaces: 12 ParallelIncrease in Parking: UP TO 27 SPACES

“Parking Ramblas” were so named by Stefanos Polyzoides, who developed them for downtown Lancaster, California.

They mix median angled parking with landscaping, providing significant new on-street parking along with greenery.


Bus entry to Quickway; sidewalk this side removed.

PARKING RAMBLA

PARKING RAMBLA

In addition to the 27 additional parking spaces provided by the parking rambla proposed for the block of 6th Avenue bounded by University and Robinson Avenues, a greater number of spaces can be created in the block south of there.

RO

BIN

SO

N

PEN

NSYLV

AN

IA

Sixth AvenueRobinson to Pennsylvania


The parking ramblas of Lancaster are credited with helping stimulate business and new development in that desert community’s downtown.


The scale of Lancaster’s parking ramblas is hinted at in this photo.

They stretch for many blocks.


A view down Lancaster Boulevard. For 6th Avenue, we are proposing grouping parking slots in twos in order to generate additional parking but still provide opportunities for many new trees.


Little pocket parks can be built into the parking rambla, providing shady seating and a place for people.


The parking ramblas proposed for 6th Avenue will benefit all businesses in Hillcrest center, but especially the businesses on 6th Avenue itself.


University Avenue – Uptown District

The stretch of University Avenue by the Uptown Center (recently renamed the “HUB”) is excessively wide. This image shows the proposed underground transit Quickway and station.


Parking Spaces: 26

University Avenue between Vermont and Normal Street: Current Configuration


Parking Spaces: 32

University Avenue between Vermont and Normal Street: Proposed Parking Rambla

Bikeway

University Avenue by the Uptown Center can be reconfigured to support both a median bikeway and parking rambla, all while preserving all traffic lanes and curbside parking.


Synergies:

What else is possible?

Synergies:

What else is possible?


Hillcrest Welcome

CenterParking - Bike Parking

NEV Parking - Shops

Residences - Offices

There are at least three potential locations for a Hillcrest Welcome Center, a facility that can act as the station head for the below ground Quickway station, as well as parking, bicycle facilities, and perhaps appropriate mixed uses.


Hillcrest Welcome


NEV Parking - Shops




Hillcrest Welcome


NEV Parking - Shops


Features:1st Hour Free Parking

2-3 Hours Discounted

NEV (Neighborhood Electric Vehicle)

parking for nearby residents

Bicycle storage and showers

Features:1st Hour Free Parking

2-3 Hours Discounted

NEV (Neighborhood Electric Vehicle)

parking for nearby residents

Bicycle storage and showers





Washington Street Bikeway & TransitWashington Street Bikeway & Transit

Uptown QuickwayUptown

Quickway

6th Ave Bikeway6th Ave

Bikeway

Balboa Park

Bikeway

Balboa Park

Bikeway



6th Ave Bikeway and

Parking Rambla

6th Ave Bikeway and

Parking Rambla


Parking Rambla


Parking Rambla

University Ave

Bikeway & Bridge

University Ave

Bikeway & Bridge

Uptown 2025 Proposal

Fully integrated mix of world-class bikeways, leading-edge transit,

enhanced landscaping and canyons, improved

parking, and improved traffic

flows.

Approximate cost: About ½% of the

Regional Transportation Plan.

Benefit:Infrastructure to support the Mayor’s ambitious

Climate Action Plan goals and set Uptown up

for many decades of continued thriving.


Key Take-Aways

Infrastructure investments

should support each other, not create problems

that then require special

efforts to resolve.

Infrastructure investments

should support each other, not create problems

that then require special

efforts to resolve.

SynergiesSynergiesYou vote for

elected officials. You need to hold them

accountable for the choices they

(and our institutions)

make.

You vote for elected officials.

You need to hold them

accountable for the choices they

(and our institutions)

make.

AccountabilityAccountabilityYou either choose the

future that most appeals to you, or you will get the future that is forced upon you. It’s your

choice.

You either choose the

future that most appeals to you, or you will get the future that is forced upon you. It’s your

choice.

ChoiceChoiceWithout a

coherent vision, you’ll be

buffeted by “technical

analysis” and told “the money

isn’t there.”

Without a coherent vision,

you’ll be buffeted by “technical

analysis” and told “the money

isn’t there.”

VisionVision

Sorry, that’s not possible.Sorry, that’s not possible.

How do we make it

possible?

How do we make it

possible?

“Convenient” response:

“Convenient” response:

Our response:Our response:


Please Visit our Facebook Page

www. facebook.com/uptown2025

www. facebook.com/uptown2025

Uptown 2025 Proposal (Complete)

Design

Transcript of Uptown 2025 Proposal (Complete)