March 10, 2010Traffic and Streetscape Enhancement Plan
The award winning City of Jamestown’s Urban Design Plan, adopted in 2006, identified a need to look at the present vehicle and pedestrian circulation systems in a context-sensitive way instead of as independent systems separate from the surroundings.
The Urban Design Plan offered an economic development strategy for the revitalization of the downtown core of Jamestown that encouraged a high degree of pedestrian movement in a pedestrian- friendly urban environment. This strategy is meant to attract residents and visitors into the core area giving them the opportunity to experience and help sustain the art, cultural and retail provided.
A major important step toward the revitalization strategy is the Jamestown Traffic and Streetscape Enhancement Plan. This effort is intended to provide a strategy for improving vehicular and pedestrian circulation throughout the downtown core, as well as recommendations for improving and enhancing the downtown streetscape to make it more attractive, welcoming, and safe.
The recommendations and guidelines are considerate of the unique characteristics and development conditions that exist within downtown Jamestown and the waterfront areas. Pedestrian and vehicular topics are treated together in this document through a comprehensive viewpoint that recognizes the interrelationship and the potential impact on the surrounding development. The study recognizes the viability of its streets from an economic development and pedestrian safety perspective and that the streets must do more than just move automobiles.
The city’s streets should provide connectivity between neighborhoods, facilitate the movement of pedestrians, goods and services, and offer an attractive setting to both local citizens and visitors alike.
The following Plan is meant to offer specific changes to the existing streetscape and as a guideline that could be incorporated in future streetscape changes within the direction set in the Urban Design Plan.