After three months of study and analysis, NACTO is providing authoritative guidance on new ways of thinking about rights of way now that the coronavirus has changed the way we live and work in cities.
The National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) released a new guide to street design for the ongoing pandemic and the future recovery.
The "Streets for Pandemic Response and Recovery" report showcases specific design and management tools "to keep essential workers and goods moving, provide safe access to grocery stores and other essential businesses, and ensure that people have safe space for social/physical distancing while getting outside," according to NACTO.
The report includes descriptions of emerging practices from around the world as well as implementation resources for communities. The following street features are addressed specifically in the report:
- Lanes for Biking & Rolling
- Sidewalk Extensions
- Transit Lanes
- Slow Streets
- Pick-Up & Delivery Zones
- Outdoor Dining
- Markets
An article by Kea Wilson provides additional background on how NACTO created the report, and shares insights into a few of the larger themes present in the report, liking designing for equity, the need for flexibility in design response, the post-pandemic sidewalk, and the need to balance outdoor restaurant space with space for pedestrians. Wilson wrote a separate article to address that last point more specifically, and in greater detail.
FULL STORY: Streets for Pandemic Response and Recovery
How Oakland Is Fixing its Pandemic Planning Equity Problem
The Oakland Slow Streets program, one of the most controversial developments of the early pandemic, has evolved to become the Essential Places initiative, thanks to new planning practices and a commitment to equity in Oakland, California.
Pandemic Planning Must Reconcile With the Inequities of the Past
The ongoing debate about the role of marginalized communities in the emergency planning programs of the pandemic has now been detailed on the pages of the New York Times.
How Emergency Street Redesign Projects Fell Short of the Black Lives Matter Cause
A leading advocate for a new, equity centering approach explains how plans to redesign streets for the needs of the coronavirus pandemic left behind racial justice as a secondary concern.
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A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.
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Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
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