A growing number of communities are beginning to realize that the investments made in transportation systems over the past five decades have placed too much emphasis on moving vehicles and not people. Roads have become too wide and carry too much traffic, traveling at too great a speed. As a result, streets that used to be great places to walk, shop, and ride have become visually unappealing, noisy and unsafe.

The most effective approach to creating beautiful streets that can accommodate all modes of travel is to improve your streetscapes and calm traffic.

• Streetscapes - The basic elements of a good streetscape include the roadway, the adjacent sidewalks, and the tree planting area. In order to create a great streetscape, consideration should be given to adding other elements such as decorative street lighting, public art, convenient garbage receptacles, benches, landscaping and colorful banners. When these elements are brought together correctly, it can improve the experience of walking, biking, or driving down the street.
   
  One of the most exciting streetscape projects can be seen along University Avenue in Rochester, New York. This link will take you to the Artwalk web site to learn more.
   
• Traffic Calming - Over the past decade, the field of traffic calming has grown as more and more communities are realizing the benefits of reducing the speed at which cars travel along their neighborhood and commercial streets.
   
  To learn more about techniques that may help calm traffic in your community, click on this link to go to TrafficCalming.org.

 
The Steinmetz Planning Group has experience working with numerous communities to improve their streetscapes and reduce the impact of automobile traffic on their streets.