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8th Avenue/Artery Update
Public Works Iutrnent Memorandum To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council CC: Mike Morrison, City Manager From: John R. Bradford, City Engineer Kersten Elverum, Director Planning and Economic Development Date: November 8, 2013 Re: 8th Avenue/Artery Update As you know, the City of Hopkins received $50,000 through the Met Council's Local Implementation Capacity grant program to develop a design plan for 8th Avenue —the Artery. A team consisting of the IBI Group, HKGI and Forecast Public Art was selected for the work. In January 2013 a design charette was held to get community input. A variety of design concepts and themes were explored and evaluated through the attached Task 2 report. A final draft report is expected to be available by the November 12th work session. Staff will share the draft report and discuss the proposed process for getting additional feedback on the plan from the community and downtown property owners/businesses in particular. Additionally, the potential closing of 2nd Street South at 8th Avenue South as part of the street upgrade has traffic repercussions that we will present and discuss at the work session. URBAN LAND Elm The ARTery Hopkins, MN Task 2 Report Development of Concept Plans Submitted to the City of Hopkins, MN by IBI Group with HKGi & Forecast Public Art May 30, 2013 IBI Group IBI 700-1285 West Pender Street Vancouver BC V6E 4131 Canada GROUP tel 604 683 8797 fax 604 683 0492 May 30, 2013 Ms. Kersten Elverum Director of Planning & Development City of Hopkins 1010 First Street South Hopkins MN 55343 Kersten, Re: The ARTery, Hopkins, MN Task 2 Report — Development of Concept Plans IBI Group is pleased to present our Task 2 Progress Report for The ARTery project for downtown Hopkins. It is our opinion that it builds logically upon the expectation resulting from the January 2013 Workshop where we challenged the citizens of Hopkins to "think beyond the obvious" with reference to envisioning alternative design scenarios for the reconfiguration of 8th Avenue as a bridge, physically and conceptually, between historic Mainstreet and the impending Light Rail Transit Service (LRT). As specified within our contract for Task 2, we first developed an evaluation criteria built upon the perceived requirements from the consultant team — IBI Group, Hosington Koegler Group Inc, and Forecast Public Art Consulting. Each team member had a slightly different "take" on both the issues and opportunities to the betterment of our resultant product. We were then able to develop a series of what we feel are interesting and viable alternative scenarios that, we're confident, will form the basis for spirited discussion when we meet with you and your team next week. I look forward to the meeting. In closing, should you have any questions or concerns prior to that meeting, do not hesitate to contact me. Regards, IBI GROUP Gary Andrishak Director VO -33195 BI Group is a group of firms providing professional services and is affiliated with 1131 / HB Architects IBI GROUP Table of Contents 0.0 Introduction................................................................................................1 1.0 Establishment of Evaluation Criteria...........................................................5 2.0 Alternative Scenarios................................................................................13 3.0 Evaluation of Alternative Scenarios..........................................................25 IBI 4Cg� GROUP I N, AH lei -y 0.0 Introduction THE ARTERY - HOPKINS, MN TASK 2 REPORT Introduction In August 2012, the City of Hopkins, MN, issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a consulting team to assist in developing conceptual plans for an urban design strategy in the City's downtown core that would "create a plan and design for a vibrant, interactive, `pedestrian seductive' 8th Avenue between the proposed Hopkins LRT station and historic downtown Hopkins." IBI Group, a multi -national planning, architecture and engineering consulting firm submitted a proposal response, teamed with sub - consultants Hoisington Koegler Group Inc. (HKGi), urban planners & landscape architects, and Forecast Public Art, public art consultants. The RFP response was submitted on August 31, 2012. Gary Andrishak, IBI Group Director and Project Manager for The ARTery assignment, was notified by Kersten Elverum, Director of Planning & Development for the City of Hopkins, that the IBI Group Team had been the successful respondent for The ARTery RFP call on September 24, 2012. The ARTery work program consists of four (4) distinct phases, as follows: • Task 1: Visioning with Community (Art Summit) - "The consultant will work with The ARTery committee to design a community art summit, anticipated to take place in November 2012;" • Task 2: Development of Concept Plans - "Beginning with the base mapping that was developed for the ARTery Summit, [the consultant] will establish a series of design criteria that will be used to judge the merits of various scenarios for the art corridor;" • Task 3: Detailed Design Phase - "... the use of narrative and illustration to detail all the elements important to implement the vision;" and • Task 4: Financing Options - "Identify resources and provide an estimate of the cost of each of the art elements called for in the plan." The report is the deliverable for Task 2 mentioned above. This report contains three parts: First, the rationale used to develop and the description of the 28 evaluation criteria along seven discrete dimensions; second, a detailed description of each of the seven alternative streetscape scenarios; and third, the assessment of these scenarios across the 28 evaluation criteria and the selection of the most suitable alternative. MAGTM11i11P4IjK] IBI .4M GROUP WeAR Hopkins MN 1.0 Establishment of Evaluation Criteria THE ARTERY - HOPKINS, MN TASK 2 REPORT MAY 30, 2013 THE ARTERY - HOPKINS, MN TASK 2 REPORT 1.0 Establishment of Evaluation Criteria The process to determine the evaluation criteria was highly interactive between the planning team members: Locally based sub -consultant HKGi prepared an initial list, which was further expanded by Jack Becker, of Forecast Public Art. On this basis, IBI Group refined the list and categorized the evaluation criteria along seven dimensions, adding some new criteria, so that each group contained four criteria each. This list was then further discussed and worded to produce the final list. The proposed evaluation criteria are described below. .i i Placemaking Criteria This group of criteria has to do with how well each proposed scenario contributes to create a pedestrian sense of place for 8th Avenue, i.e., the spatial characteristic of the street. A viable alternative scenario in terms of placemaking will, ideally, ... • ...contribute to The ARTery's character, identity, and personality, making The ARTery stand out from other streets in Hopkins and in the Region; • ...foster a people -oriented, welcoming, pedestrian -scale atmosphere, making interaction between different types of people possible and desirable; • ...help turn around the spatial perception of the current 8th Avenue, giving it an unexpected twist that generates a positive reaction by neighbors and visitors; and • ...emphasize intuitive and legible way -finding, guiding people from the future LRT station to Mainstreet Hopkins and vice -versa. 1.2 Mobility Criteria Mobility criteria target not the space per se, but the connection between different places through different modes of transportation. The criteria in this category assess whether a proposed scenario... ...enhances physical connection of the LRT station with Mainstreet and Downtown Park, increasing the attractiveness to walk or bike this route as opposed to the current street environment; • ...allows for a pedestrian and bike connection between Cedar Lake/ Lake Minnetonka trails, understanding that the ARTery also serves a wider function than just connecting the LRT with the downtown; • ...allows for on -street, two-way transit service, understanding that local transit may play an important role in revitalizing 8th Avenue; and MAY 30, 2013 THE ARTERY - HOPKINS, MN TASK 2 REPORT • ...incorporates on -street parking, providing facilities for visitors by car, particularly during weekday operations to maintain a vibrant retail environment for future developments at the sides of the street. 1.3 Operational Criteria Here, the focus is not on how the street looks or connects, but how it works on a day-to-day basis. A good alternative scenario... • ...contributes to a safe environment for pedestrians and bicyclists, increasing the attractiveness of the route and reducing the probability and severity for accidents; • ...allows for eventual emergency vehicle and utility truck access, knowing that physical barriers may unnecessarily restrict these services; • ...minimizes maintenance and upkeep efforts and costs, reducing long-term, life -cycle expenditures for the project - even if initial investment is higher; and • ...allows for flexibility of use and evolution to adapt to future needs, knowing that the future needs are difficult to foresee, particularly in the arts sector, where creativity needs to be fostered and not stifled. 1.4 Implementation Criteria The four evaluation criteria in this group focus on a sensible capital expenditure strategy that maximizes results while minimizing public fund investments. In this sense, a financially viable scenario is one that... • ...aligns with a modular, logical, and flexible phasing scheme, which does not need all investment at once, particularly in the initial stages; • ...minimizes implementation capital resource needs, basically reducing the overall cost of the physical interventions needed; • ...fosters supportive private interest and investment in a sustainable city arts program, knowing that private funding reduces the pressure on public funding; and • ...acts as a catalyst to attract innovative, mixed-use developments to Hopkins, well aware that streetscape improvements need to be symbiotically coupled with investments in private parcels to provide a coherent, vibrant, and sustainable street life. Experiential Criteria Moving into the more art -related criteria, the consultant team believes that The ARTery must not only be nice, work well, and be financially viable, but must also provide a unique experience for visitors that differentiate it from other, more normal, streets. To do so, the alternative chosen must... MAY 30, 2013 THE ARTERY - HOPKINS, MN TASK 2 REPORT • ...provide an interactive, multisensory experience, appealing in different ways to different people, surprising some, engaging others, and challenging others; • ...work well through day/night and throughout the seasons, stretching the usability of The ARTery as much as possible to reduce costs and maintain its attractiveness year-round; • ...encourage participation by varied and diverse community groups, engaging people with the art more directly than usually is the case in a museum, well aware that participation increases art awareness and public ownership of the project; and • ...reflect themes unique to Hopkins' history and character, knowing that this is not a public art initiative that sits in a vacuum, but that needs to be related to its spatial and social context. 1.6 Artistic Criteria The core evaluation criteria of streetscape options are artistic in nature. Although more qualitative that the other groups of criteria, the focus here is not on the art itself, but the ability of the physical environment to allow for meaningful public art to happen. A viable alternative scenario would... • ...contribute to expand the range of media, locations, and engagement forms with art, understanding that public art is way more than public sculptures; • ...integrate art into everyday functional objects (sidewalks, buildings, infrastructure), with the belief that art is not an add-on item to embellish a street, but a holistic component of the whole; • ...contribute to convert The ARTery into a model for other communities, building on the strength of Hopkins' past experience of using art as a way to revitalize neglected urban areas; and • ...draw upon the artists and arts groups already present in Hopkins, in the knowledge that meaningful public art happens when artists understand the community's issues, needs, and aspirations. Social Criteria The last group of evaluation criteria has to do with the integration of the arts to the community. In this respect, a good alternative scenario should... • ...attract alternative scene residents (artists, students, creative class) to the area, fostering an initial mix of committed users with higher willingness to contribute, by their everyday presence, to the success of The ARTery; • ...support the emerging local art scene in Hopkins, given that it already exists, it is flourishing, and is easier to tap than new, non -local artists; MAY 30, 2013 THE ARTERY - HOPKINS, MN TASK 2 REPORT ...attract local and metro audiences to explore and experience the arts / meet artists, bridging the divide between the production and consumption of public art; and ...catch the attention of LRT riders and drivers from US 169 and Excelsior Boulevard, knowing that most visitors will not come to The ARTery as a destination, but will be passers-by that will be piqued by what is going on on 8th Avenue. MAY 30. 2013 THE ARTERY — HOPKINS, MN TASK 2 REPORT MAY 30. 2013 1 Contributes to The ARTery's character, identity, rn and personality YFosters 2 a people -oriented, welcoming, E'Y pedestrian -scale atmosphere 41 '� U 3 Helps tum around the spatial perception of the a current 8t° Avenue 4 Emphasizes intuitive and legible way -finding 5 Enhances physical connection of the LRT station with Mainstreet and Downtown Park >, ry 6 Allows for a pedestrian and bike connection between Cedar Lake/Lake Minnetonka trails 0 O 'C � U 7 Allows for on -street, two-way transit service 8 Incorporates on -street parking 9 Contributes to a safe environment for pedestrians and bicyclists oia 10 Allows for eventual emergency vehicle and utility ea « truck access p. U 11 Minimizes maintenance and upkeep efforts and O costs 12 Allows for flexibility of use and evolution to adapt to future needs 13 Aligns with a modular, logical, and flexible 0 phasing scheme O 0 '� 14 Minimizes implementation capital resource C5 w needs „ a£i U 15 Fosters supportive private interest and a investment in a sustainable city arts program 16 Acts as a catalyst to attract innovative, mixed - use developments to Hopkins 17 Provides an interactive, multisensory experience 16 AWorks r " 18 well through day/night and throughout the m m seasons o -U 19 Encourages participation by varied and diverse X W community groups 20 Reflects themes unique to Hopkins' history and character 21 Contributes to expand the range of media, locations, and engagement forms with art L) A 22 Integrates art into everyday functional objects (sidewalks, buildings, infrastructure) QU 23 Contributes to convert The ARTery into a model for other communities 24 Draws upon the artists and arts groups already present in Hopkins 25 Attracts alternative scene residents (artists, students, creative class) to the area 0 26 Supports the emerging local art scene in U « Hopkins rn U 27 Attracts local and metro audiences to explore p and experience the arts / meet artists 28 Catches the attention of LRT riders and drivers from US 169 and Excelsior Boulevard = supports the guiding principle a= does not support the guiding principle O = neutral / not applicable = main criteria 0 =secondary criteria MAY 30. 2013 IBI .4M GROUP The ARTery Hopkins, MN 2.O Alternative Scenarios THE ARTERY - HOPKINS, MN TASK 2 REPORT 2.0 Alternative Scenarios Although the RFP called for the proposal of three (3) alternative scenarios, the consultant team thought it would be preferable to analyze a wider array of options in order to better identify the "best -fit" alternative for the Hopkins ARTery. Early discussion focused on how best to categorize alternative scenarios, with consideration given to possible themes such as "timelines" (Past, Present and Future), or "festivals" (Raspberry). Ultimately, in conversation with Kersten Elverum it was determined that we could be best served looking at alternative streetscape schemes in the observation that 8th Avenue, itself, would serve at the stage upon which all or most community activity would occur. To that end, IBI Group and its consultant team moved towards the analysis of the existing streetscape and, further, held discussions with John Bradford, City Engineer, to determine the variety of changes to the street from simple to radical might be considered. These options range from traditional streetscape schemes widely used in North American Cities to more innovative concepts, used primarily in Europe. IBI Group and its sub -consultant partners thought this exploration of streetscapes was warranted, given the special characteristics of The ARTery as a creative stage for public art. The table on the following page summarizes the main physical differences between the alternative scenarios; further down in this section, each option is described in more detail. Further, Appendices 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3 contain conceptual graphic depictions of the different options. MAY 30, 2013 13 THE ARTERY - HOPKINS, MN TASK 2 REPORT 14 MAY 30, 2013 u Two -Way Two Way Two -Way Two -Way Traffic flow One -Way Two -Way Two -Way 2 2 Lanes 2 Lanes 2 Lanes 2 Lanes 1 Lane 2 Lanes Lanes Parking Two -Side One -Side No Parking No Parking One -Side No Parking Parking "Pockets" Parking Parking Parking Bike No Bike 2 Bike 2 Bike 2 Bike 2 -Way 2 Bike No Bike Facilities Lanes Lanes Lanes Lanes Cycle Track Lanes Lanes Median No Median No Median Narrow Side Central Central Wide Central No Median Medians Median Median Median Pedestrian On On On On On On Central Throughout Circulation Sidewalks Sidewalks Sidewalks Sidewalks Sidewalks Median Street Section Art On On On On Median / On Median / On Median Throughout Placement Sidewalks Sidewalks Sidewalks Sidewalks Sidewalks Street Section Roadway Straight Straight or Straight Straight Straight Straight Sinuous Alignment Sinuous 14 MAY 30, 2013 THE ARTERY - HOPKINS, MN TASK 2 REPORT 2.1 Scenario A: Traditional Street This is the least -intrusive intervention to the current 8th Avenue, consisting basically of quality -designed traditional street with widened and improved sidewalks that would incorporate public artwork, street furniture, and trees. Traffic would be two-way — as today — but only on two narrower, 11 -foot, lanes with two parking rows, one on each side. At the intersections, the parking rows would be interrupted and the sidewalks extended, which would allow for small corner plazas where pedestrian / artistic activity could concentrate and where crossing distances would be reduced. Bicycle traffic would need to share the roadway with road traffic in this alternative. Ll i c r W CL MAY 30, 2013 1 D THE ARTERY - HOPKINS, MN TASK 2 REPORT 2.2 Scenario B: On -Street Bike Lanes This alternative is very similar to scenario A, with the difference that one parking row is eliminated to make space for on -street painted bike paths, one on each side. (One parking row is kept on one of the street sides; the bike lane would be between the through -traffic lane and the parking lane.) Conceivably, parking lanes could shift from block to block or even mid - block, generating a sinuous circulation pattern that would tend to reduce traffic speeds. At intersections, where again pedestrian / art -related activities would concentrate in the extended sidewalk corner plazas, bicyclists would encounter advanced -stop -line "bicycle boxes." These would allow them to stop in front of traffic at the red light, improving visibility to and from vehicular traffic and thus enhancing road safety. I 1 3 s n W W CL 16 MAY 30, 2013 THE ARTERY - HOPKINS, MN TASK 2 REPORT 2.3 Scenario C: Segregated Bike Lanes Scenario C goes one step further in terms of ensuring cyclist safety, by including small lateral medians that separate physically the vehicular roadway from the bike lanes. Alternatively, this option could include traversable raised bike lanes — slightly raised from the roadway, but lower than the sidewalk — which would address mid -block accessibility concerns. At the intersections, the medians would disappear and be substituted by a wider central median that would improve pedestrian crossings, by halving the crossing distance and reducing vehicular speeds. Pedestrian and public art activity, again, would concentrate at the sidewalks, but in this case no widened corner plazas exist. C MAY 30, 2013 ■ A W THE ARTERY - HOPKINS, MN TASK 2 REPORT 2.4 Scenario D: Median -Divided Street This option includes a medium-sized central median — around ten feet wide — that separates the two travel lanes and allows for the planting of trees and/or the location for public art. (Art and trees would also happen, as with the previous alternatives, on the sidewalks.) Each roadway has one lane of vehicular traffic, one in this direction, the other in the opposite direction, both bordered by painted bike lanes on the same road pavement. The median, while allowing for shorter crossing distances along the whole length of the street, also precludes vehicles from overtaking each other, calming traffic and reducing vehicle speed. This option does not accommodate, for space constraints, any vehicular parking. 11 10, F1 8 s N r-1 W CL 18 MAY 30, 2013 THE ARTERY - HOPKINS, MN TASK 2 REPORT 2.5 Scenario E: Bike Boulevard Scenario E is also a division of the street into two halves with a landscaped and/or art - integrated median, but this time separating car traffic on one side with combined two-way traffic bike traffic on the other. Art placement, as with the previous alternatives, would happen along the sidewalks, although in this case there would be only bulb -outs on one side of the road, where the parking lane is located. In some instances, the City may close the cycle track and convert it for pedestrian and art performance use, for example during special events or on weekends. Because of spatial constraints however, the Bike Boulevard necessitates to limit traffic to one way only (or otherwise eliminate parking altogether). e I W W H MAY 30, 2013 19 THE ARTERY - HOPKINS, MN TASK 2 REPORT 2.6 Scenario F: Pedestrian Median ("Rambla" The sixth alternative keeps narrow sidewalks but includes a wide central median - about 20 feet wide - modeled after the Mediterranean promenades, the most known example of which are the Barcelona "Ramblas." In contrast to the previous scenarios, the emphasis here is not on the margins, i.e., the sidewalks, where the street meets the abutting properties, but on the street's center, which concentrates all landscaping, urban furniture, pedestrian activity, art placement, and performance spaces. Vehicular circulation is on two narrow lanes at each side of the wide median, which eliminates the ability of cars to overtake and reduces crossing widths along the whole stretch of the street. Bike lanes are located between the median and the car lanes as a buffer, but parking is not included in this alternative. F.` r 8 s N THE ARTERY - HOPKINS, MN TASK 2 REPORT 2.7 Scenario G: Shared Street(" Woo nerf ") Scenario G is, in a sense, the most radical of all the alternatives considered; its objective is to turn around the traditional conception of a street divided into functional bands dedicated for each user (sidewalks, parking lanes, bike lanes, travel lanes, etc.). Rather the aim is to convert the street area, from property line to property line into a holistic environment where all road users share the same space. Modeled after the Dutch "Woonerfs" and the British "Home Zones," this shared street would not include different pavement types vertically separated by curbs; rather, the placement of street objects - furniture, lamp posts, bollards, parking stalls, trees, and, especially important in this case, public art - would define the circulation space that can be traversed by vehicles at slow speeds. Because of this intrinsic conception, the area devoted to pedestrian circulation and public art is fluid and can take place anywhere on the street, which is the reason why pavement materials should be consistent throughout. X W 1� MAY 30, 2013 21 IBI 4M GROUP The ARTery Hopkins, MN 3.0 Evaluation of Alternative Scenarios THE ARTERY - HOPKINS, MN TASK 2 REPORT 3.0 Evaluation of Alternative Scenarios 3.1 Evaluation Matrix Using the 28 evaluation criteria along the seven assessment dimensions, as outlined in section 2 of this report, each of the seven alternative scenarios was graded along a scale that followed this rationale: • Two pluses (© ©) were assigned to design alternatives that supported substantially the respective evaluation criteria. • One plus (0) was assigned to design alternatives that supported, to a certain extent, the respective evaluation criteria. • A null (0) was assigned to design alternatives that either (a) did not apply to a specific evaluation criteria, or (b) had a neutral impact on the evaluation criteria. • One minus (0) was assigned to design alternatives that countered, to a certain extent, the respective evaluation criteria. • Two minuses (00) were assigned to design alternatives that countered substantially the respective evaluation criteria. The matrix on next page summarizes the assessment by graphically depicting how well each streetscape alternative addresses each of the pre -established criteria. The initial assessment was prepared by IBI Group, and then HKGi and Forecast Public Art commented on the original scores. In areas of disagreement, the consultants conferred together to expand on each one's appreciation of the merits of each design option, which allowed the final evaluation to emerge. During these conversations, it became apparent that some criteria — such as emergency vehicle access — were secondary to others, e.g., fostering a pedestrian scale atmosphere. Therefore, the final grading also included a differentiation between primary and secondary criteria, in order to weigh appropriately the evaluation of each option. Primary criteria, shown on the evaluation matrix as combinations of big pluses or minuses, are those that the planning team either (a) deemed critical for The ARTery's success, and/or (b) had a small, but continuous and recurrent effect on the operation of The ARTery. Conversely, secondary criteria, shown on the evaluation matrix as combinations of small pluses and minuses, are those that the consultants thought as not essential for the project's success, or, even if important, the probability of having a day-to-day impact on the operation of The ARTery would be minimal. MAY 30, 2013 25 THE ARTERY — HOPKINS, MN TASK 2 REPORT 26 MAY 30, 2013 t` S Contributes to The ARTery's character, identity,O O 0 CO and personality SLI/ Q Y 2 Fosters a people -oriented, welcoming, 0 E'« pedestrian -scale atmosphere 0 Nisi L '� U 3 Helps tum around the spatial perception of the O q 0 /� 0 00 ©� 00 A current 8'" Avenue CL 4 Emphasizes intuitive and legible way -finding O --- - 0 Q 4 04 Q 5 Enhances physical connection of the LRT station 4 0 ©0 ©0 00 with Mainstreet and Downtown Park .. ti/ 2:,.!2 6 Allows for a pedestrian and bike connection 00 a 0 between Cedar Lake/Lake Minnetonka trails 7 Allows for on -street, two-way transit service 000 00 00 © o 'c U 0 8 Incorporates on -street parking 00 0 O 0 © O 0 9 Contributes to a safe environment for 04y i0 0 4 0© 0 pedestrians and bicyclists �/ V 10 Allows for eventual emergency vehicle and utility truck access 0 0 0 0 c 00 Ks 0 aU 11 Minimizes maintenance and upkeep efforts and 00 -- 0 costs 12 Allows for flexibility of use and evolution to adapt © _ ._ _ O O 0 0 to future needs 13 Aligns with a modular, logical, and flexible 0 0 0 0 0 O O a 0 0 phasing scheme �M :Li iL/ 1e- ° 'd 14 Minimizes implementation capital resource ©© 0 A O 0 0 O O O c d« needs \L/ E 'i: 15 Fosters supportive private interest and O 0 /� © /� 0 00 00 aU investment in a sustainable city arts program 16 Acts as a catalyst to attract innovative, mixed- 0 /� ©0 0 00 use developments to Hopkins 17 Provides an interactive, multisensory experience O 0 0 Q ® Q Q ` 18 Works well through day/night and throughout the © �q 0 0 0 © © O y seasons aU19 Encourages participation by varied and diverse 0 0 ~0 0 0 0 X LU community groups 20 Reflects themes unique to Hopkins' history and character O O O 0 a 0 0 0 0 0 00 21 Contributes to expand the range of media, © O 00 locations, and engagement forms with art 22 Integrates art into everyday functional objects O 0 0 0 0 00 00 (sidewalks, buildings, infrastructure) Q U 23 Contributes to convert The ARTery into a model for other communities O QQ 0, 0 0 © 0 24 Draws upon the artists and arts groups already 00 © Q 0 00 present in Hopkins 25 Attracts alternative scene residents (artists, students, creative class) to the area 0h} O O 0 0 00 '� 26 Supports the emerging local art scene in O 0 0 /� © ©© 00 m - Hopkins tI 0 o 'a rn U 27 Attracts local and metro audiences to explore p O 0 and experience the arts / meet artists 28 Catches the attention of LRT riders and drivers c 4 © Q 0�# from US 169 and Excelsior Boulevard A = supports the guiding principle 0= does not support the guiding principle o = neutral / not applicable = main criteria 0 =secondary criteria 26 MAY 30, 2013 THE ARTERY - HOPKINS, MN TASK 2 REPORT 3.2 Discussion of Results There are four general insights that become apparent when looking at the concentration of pluses and minuses across the evaluation matrix: • First, that there is no perfect scenario. All alternatives have their benefits and their drawbacks, and the decision on which option to choose depends on the importance ascribed to each criteria. • Second, it is apparent that Scenario A, while minimizing capital expenditures, has the highest collection of shortcomings across the board, and should thus be eliminated as a viable option from the outset. • Third, it is clear that the three last Scenarios (E, F, and G) produce the best overall results in terms of placemaking, experience, art - fostering, and social integration (Criteria 1-4 and 17-28). However, these improvements come at a cost: they have, overall, less flexible phasing schemes and imply higher capital expenditures. • And fourth, it appears that Scenarios B and D, although not producing as good results on artistic or operational criteria, respectively, as the last three scenarios, have a decent overall record across the board — no great disadvantages, but also no outstanding results. Overall, they rank better than the other mid -cost scenario (C). The consultants believe that the only options that should be seriously considered by Hopkins are, on one hand, Scenarios B or D (On -Street Bike Lanes / Median Divided Street) and, on the other, Scenarios F or G (Pedestrian Median / Shared Street). Scenario A (Traditional Street) is off the table because of its overall poor performance to produce the results expected from The ARTery, and Scenario C (Segregated Bike Lanes) has more negative traits than B or D. As for Scenario E (Bike Boulevard), the consulting team believes that not only are there better performing alternatives for the last twelve criteria, but that this option has some intrinsic disadvantages that make it unacceptable: One-way traffic only, prevalence of bike traffic over pedestrian / art -related activities, limitations to include transit, access to abutting properties, inflexibility in modular phasing, to name but a few. This leaves us with four viable options, namely Scenarios B, D, F, or G. Which one of the four finalist alternatives is better? It depends on the importance Hopkins places on the different criteria. If disproportionate weight is placed on the cost of the project, it may be wise to select either Scenario B or D as a good compromise. Alternative B is the cheaper of these two, but has a poorer performance as a showcase for public art than alternative D. In any of these two cases, however, the emphasis is more on the urban streetscape than on the function of the street as a place to display and perform public art. In other words, The ARTery will lack the differentiated appeal it needs in order to stand out, not only as a nice street, but as a venue for creative public art. MAY 30, 2013 27 THE ARTERY - HOPKINS, MN TASK 2 REPORT If however, Hopkins thinks — as do the consultants — that adequate performance in terms of a setting for public art is a must for The ARTery and that this should not be watered down through merely creating a "nice street", only Scenarios F or G should be considered. The approach of these two is fundamentally different; alternative F (the "Rambla") is a formal, orderly boulevard where all art- and pedestrian -activity occurs along a wide, linear central median, where emphasis is placed on strolling from one end to the other. In contrast, alternative G (the "Woonerf") breaks with the tradition of a street as a linear space, creating pockets of pedestrian activities here and there. In other words, the emphasis is not on strolling from one place to the other, but more on dwelling on certain areas where different art expressions are occurring. Another difference between the two street designs is the division of road users: While in the Rambla different modes of transportation use the street in functional lanes or "bands," the Woonerf integrates all users across the whole section of the street, blending roadways, bike lanes, sidewalks, and parking into a coherent whole. This allows better integration with the abutting properties than with the Rambla, where all emphasis is placed on the center of the street, and not on its margins. (This, by the way, may also be a sensible path to pursue, given that the current built environment along 8th Avenue will not contribute, at least in the mid-term, to the vitality of the pedestrian activity on the street.) The images below, taken from different places, mainly in Europe, illustrate the conceptual difference between these two street design approaches. 28 MAY 30. 2013 THE ARTERY - HOPKINS, MN TASK 2 REPORT Preferred Alternatives For Consideration On -Street Bike Lanes 1 C Median -Divided Street a 0 Rambla • 0 a m W LU CL Woonerf a �T > uj 3 d *r o x �n • z o k c z E s W f ' 2 ' �f a 6ry o 4< Rambla • 0 a m W LU CL Woonerf a �T > uj 3 d *r o x �n • z o MAY 30, 2013 29 i 3 E s W MAY 30, 2013 29 THE ARTERY - HOPKINS. MN TASK 2 REPORT Precedents - Preferred Alternatives for Consideration Scenario B - On -Street Bike Lanes Scenario D - Median Divided Street Woonerf - Buffalo, NY Rambla - Sant Onofre Ave, Valencia, Spain 30 MAY 30, 2013 THE ARTERY - HOPKINS, MN TASK 2 REPORT 3.3 Preferred Alternatives for Consideration The consultants from IBI Group, HKGi, and Forecast Public Art coincided unanimously that Alternative Scenario G, Shared Street or "Woonerf" is the best alternative for Hopkins, for a multiplicity of reasons: Uniqueness. This concept will flip the visual perception of 8th Avenue in a much more decisive way than the other alternatives. In other words, The ARTery will be noticed by everyone because it will be so different than usual car -oriented suburban streets in the Twin Cities. Moreover, it will give The ARTery its special character and identity. Theming. The uniqueness of the streetscape concept will better allow incorporating design elements that respond to the themes discussed during the Phase one community workshop (cultivation, wheels, then and now, etc.), adding personality and content to the otherwise unremarkable current 8th Avenue. A Catalyst. This urban design scheme will also get the attention of innovative developers, who will understand the value -add that The ARTery as a cultural venue brings to the surrounding properties. In contrast to the other options, which could be located anywhere, the Shared Street with the integrated art conception is unique and increases the attractiveness of the area because it cannot be found in other places. Safety. This option reduces the negative impact of vehicular traffic, shifting the balance towards pedestrians that enjoy an engaging public space — the objective of The ARTery — reducing the severity of accidents while increasing walkability. Modularity. This option does not need to be executed all at once; moreover, it may be strategically important to begin at certain zones where activity already exists (e.g., at the intersection of 8th Avenue and Mainstreet), creating a Shared Street segment that would act more than a pedestrian plaza than a street section. These segments would then, as needs increase (e.g., when new developments occur along 8th Avenue or LRT becomes operational), be expanded to other sections of 8th Avenue. • Flexibility. A Woonerf-type concept has great flexibility to serve both sides of the street simultaneously with potential arts installations, programming, and social space, given that cars either will travel slowly or can be excluded completely, e.g., on weekends or during special events. • Continuity. Since pavement will be integrated from fagade to facade, there will be no awkward curbs or perceptual divisions between the different areas of the street, giving continuity and unity to the urban space. MAY 30, 2013 31 THE ARTERY - HOPKINS, MN TASK 2 REPORT These advantages notwithstanding, the design of the Shared Street needs to address the identified disadvantages and minimize barriers to implementation. Some of these concerns include (1) vehicular entrances into abutting properties, including future entrance planning, (2) maintenance and upkeep concerns, particularly regarding snow removal, and (3) large vehicle circulation issues, including emergency vehicles, delivery trucks, and transit. The major concern, however, will be the potentially elevated cost of implementing this measure, since it implies a complete reconstruction of the street, from side to side. This can be eased by carefully using two strategies, namely, the capacity to phase construction (see "Modularity" above), and the inclusion, from the onset, of private investments and donations, which would be more amenable to invest in the right rather than in a half-hearted public art scheme. 3.4 Next Steps Under the assumptions that the City of Hopkins follows our recommendation of Scenario G, Shared Street, the planning team led by IBI Group will transition to Task 3, the detailed design phase. Here, the consultants will detail, through images and narrative, the chosen alternative, well aware that some concepts of the other scenarios may be included if they enhance the final product. 32 MAY 30, 2013 IBI Group is a multi -disciplinary organization offering services in four areas of practice: Urban Land I Facilities I Transportation I Intelligent Systems We provide services from offices located strategically across Canada, the United States, Europe, the Middle East, India and China. www.ibigroup.com