Great Streets Facility Plan
Contact: Carmen Marrone - 505-924-3814
Project Timeline:
The planning process was initiated in 2006. The Great Streets Facility Plan (GSFP) Draft was submitted to the Environmental Planning Commission (EPC) in May 2008 and has been heard by the several times. As a result of the EPC hearings, the Plan has been revised several times: Second Revision - December 2008; Third Revision - April 2009.
Project Status as of June 2009
The Great Streets Facility Plan package is ready to be sent to the City Council. At the April 9, 2009 EPC hearing, Commission unanimously voted to recommend to City Council for Approval of the Great Streets Facility Plan with conditions. The link to the EPC’s Official Notice of Decision is provided below.
The Planning Department staff is putting together the GSFP package to be forwarded to the Administration by mid-May for possible introduction to the City Council June 2009.
An electronic version of the April 2009 Facility Plan has been placed here on this page (see link below).
If you have any questions, please call Manjeet Tangri at 505-924-3356 or email at mtangri@cabq.gov.
Project Scope Description:The City of Albuquerque Planning Department is developing the Great Streets Facility Plan in order to facilitate construction of Great Streets that serve multi-modal opportunities. The Facility Plan will be a Rank 2 Plan and will provide the following: principles and characteristics of a Great Street; policies to facilitate development of a Great Street; prototype designs for various types of Great Streets; standards and guidelines for various types of Great Streets; criteria for prioritizing Great Streets and their construction; and implementation strategies for developing Great Streets.Background:The Great Streets Facility Plan (GSFP) was first presented to the Environmental Planning Commission in May 2008. The Plan was revised and presented to EPC in December 2008. The EPC generally supports the idea of Great Streets. Planning Staff has worked closely with the staff of the Municipal Development Department, ABQ Ride and the City Forester during the Facility Plan revisions.The Great Streets Facility Plan includes design standards and guidelines for three physical realms of a Great Street: 1) Roadway Realm, 2) Pedestrian Realm and 3) Private Realm. It includes prototype design concepts for four types of city streets. These prototype designs are based on a ¼ mile segment of existing streets. The four types of streets are: Major Transit Corridor, Enhanced Transit Corridor, an arterial street and a collector street. At the request of the Environmental Planning Commission a prototypical cross section of a Local Residential Street has been proposed for comparison and to enhance neighborhood walk ability. Other elements of the Facility Plan are principles and policies of Great Street, relationship among ranked plans, Great Streets segment selection and implementation process.The designs were presented to the Technical Advisory Committee on April 2nd.The revised prototype Great Streets design concepts were presented at an Open House held April 26 and 27 at the Winrock Mall, and on May 22, 2007 at Taylor Ranch/Don Newton Community Center. In addition, a presentation was made to the City/County Growth Issues Committee of NAIOP on May 24, 2007. The presentation included a PowerPoint and prototype design concepts for five street types and their cross sections. Over 120 people attended the open house and over 30 people submitted comments. Public comments received at the two open houses are included in the appendix of the April draft.
What is a "Great Street"?"Great Streets" are those that are memorable, creating a desire to visit the street again and again. They are visually attractive, comfortable and safe to walk, to shop, to bicycle, or to catch a bus. Speed of vehicular traffic is controlled with signal timing, street width, on-street parking, and crossing activity. Small shops, interesting activities, building design, well-placed seating and trees framing the street generate human activity and vitality. The great street connects neighborhoods with work, shopping and entertainment activities in a clear and appealing manner.
April 9, 2009 Official Notice of EPC Decision [70 kb]