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PRINCE GEORGE’S PLAZA TRANSIT DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT PLAN UPDATE

CHARRETTE (COMMUNITY DESIGN WORKSHOP)

KICK-OFF MEETING • SEPTEMBER 17, 2014

Prince George’s County Planning Department

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC)

In partnership with the City of Hyattsville, the Town of University Park,

and Prince George’s County

BRAD FROME ASSISTANT DEPUTY CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE

OFFICER FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

& PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE

BILL WASHBURN PROJECT MANAGER

THE MARYLAND-NATIONAL CAPITAL PARK

AND PLANNING COMMISSION

To create a new downtown that is:

WHY WE ARE HERE TONIGHT (THE SHORT VERSION)

VIBRANT

WALKABLE

TRANSIT-ORIENTED

ATTRACTIVE GREEN

WELCOMING

ECONOMICALLY STRONG

REGIONALLY

COMPETITIVE

NEIGHBORHOOD

SENSITIVE

INTERCONNECTED

SAFE

SUSTAINABLE

Implement Plan Prince George’s 2035 ’s vision for a regionally competitive walkable, transit -oriented center that attracts investments, jobs, visitors, and residents

Identify important investment opportunities and strategies in support of the County Executive’s priority TOD locations

Promote Complete and Green Streets that serve pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit riders, along with motorists

Ensure that new development helps tie together the community’s disconnected parts and creates a great urban place

Provide a roadmap of what needs to be done, when, and by whom (plan implementation and phasing)

WHY WE ARE HERE TONIGHT (THE LONG VERSION)

• Plan outreach

• Analysis

• Visioning

• Draft plan

March-December

2014

• Public review

• PB public hearing

• Plan adoption

January-April 2015

• DC public hearing

• Plan approval

May-July 2015

PLAN PROCESS

• Plan outreach

• Analysis

• Visioning

• Draft plan

March 2014-

Summer 2015

• Public review

• PB public hearing

• Plan adoption

Summer-Fall 2015

• DC public hearing

• Plan approval

Winter 2015- 2016

Six-Month Extension Request:

STEVE BRIGHAM PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT ASSOCIATES

Educating and Informing Residents: Introduce the

TDDP planning process and county goals; share key

consultant background findings with residents and

broader community

Guidance and Input on Key Issues: Listen to the

community’s input on opportunities and concerns

related to key sites in the Prince George’s Plaza

area and on Transportation, Urban Design, and

other issues

KICK-OFF MEETING GOALS

Table Introductions

Who’s in the room?

Findings from the plan

Transportation Issues and Opportunities

Place-making: Creating a Downtown

Other Issues

Next Steps

TONIGHT’S AGENDA

Table Discussions

Table Facilitators

Worksheets

iPads

Theme Team

Keypad Polling

HOW TONIGHT WILL WORK

Speak openly and honestly

Listen carefully and respectfully to each

person

Keep comments brief and stay focused

on task

Explore differences respectfully

Turn off cell phones and other wireless

devices

HOW TONIGHT WILL WORK

1. Name

2. Where you live

3. What is your favorite place in the

Prince George’s Plaza area?

TABLE INTRODUCTIONS

University Town Center

Hyattsville Branch Library

Trails, Duck Pond, wooded areas

CVS, Giant shopping center

Movie theater, restaurants

Looking forward to places “still to come”

EXAMPLES OF FAVORITE PLACES

IDENTIFIED DURING TABLE DISCUSSIONS

WHO’S IN THE ROOM

POLLING

What is your gender?

39%

61% 1. Male

2. Female

What is your race/ethnicity?

0%

2%

2%

0%

7%

66%

5%

20% 1. African-American/Black

2. Asian/Pacific Islander

3. White/Caucasian

4. Hispanic/Latino

5. Native American or Alaskan Native

6. Native Hawaiian

7. More than one race

8. Other race

What is your age?

17%

25%

20%

17%

20%

0% 1. 15 – 24

2. 25 – 34

3. 35 – 44

4. 45 – 54

5. 55 – 64

6. 65 and better

What community do you live in?

40%

0%

0%

3%

2%

0%

10%

45% 1. Hyattsville

2. University Park

3. Riverdale Park

4. College Park

5. Lewisdale

6. Langley Park

7. Chillum

8. Some other community

How would you describe your

relationship with the Prince George’s

Plaza area? (choose as many as apply)

43%

26%

34%

67%

18%

16% 1. I live inside the Plaza area

2. I work inside the Plaza area

3. I shop at the Plaza area

4. I bike, walk, and/or spend leisure time

inside the Plaza area

5. I own property inside the Plaza area

6. Other

How long have you lived in this

area of the county?

30%

25%

14%

5%

21%

5% 1. Just within the past year

2. 1-5 years

3. 5-10 years

4. 10-20 years

5. More than 20 years

6. I don’t live in this area of the county

FINDINGS FROM EXISTING

CONDITIONS VIDEO

What is the one thing that

stands out for you about the

information that was presented

in the video?

TABLE DISCUSSION: FINDINGS

“Lack of bike infrastructure”

Storm water management issues – there

is a need for “green infrastructure”

Under-utilization of Metro parking spots

Need to create a downtown that

connects transit to shops and other

places like trails - “significant barriers to

bike/pedestrian connections”

FINDINGS – EXAMPLES OF WHAT STOOD OUT

IDENTIFIED DURING TABLE DISCUSSIONS

Safety & security issues (ie, pedestrian

bridge, roads with no sidewalks, & no bike

lanes)

Seeing the differences between Queen’s

Chapel Road and East-West Highway

High volume of cars - seems like

everything is currently built for access by

cars

Would like to see a balance between new

and affordable housing

FINDINGS – EXAMPLES OF WHAT STOOD OUT

IDENTIFIED DURING TABLE DISCUSSIONS (CONT.)

TRANSPORTATION

ISSUES AND

OPPORTUNITIES

WHAT ARE WE AIMING FOR?

Transportation is

not an end in

itself.

It is a means to

an end,

supporting:

Economy

Opportunity

Health

“END” DEPENDS ON PERSPECTIVE

PERSPECTIVE DEPENDS ON SCALE

M

….AND MEASURE

Engineer’s LOS: F A

A F Economist’s LOS:

Level of Service (LOS) depends on who you are asking:

Maintain & enhance mobility (“through” travel)

Expand access (“to” travel)

Position for the future

Optimize available resources

TRANSPORTATION OBJECTIVES

50% Of household trips are less

than 2 miles

83

%

Made by automobile

83% OF SHORT TRIPS ARE DRIVEN

SCHOOL

WORK

HOME

PARK

DINING

GOODS GROCERY

Planning for a future of growth Strategies to remember

PEOPLE (AND CITIES) ARE DYNAMIC PAST IS NOT PROLOGUE

10,500

10,000

9,500

9,000

8,500

8,000

7,500

7,000

1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011

Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) per

capita for the United States.

Source: FHWA and Census Bureau.

USE SPACE WISELY SPACE IS ABSOLUTE; CAPACIT Y IS RELATIVE

USE SPACE WISELY

TRADIT IONAL PRACTICE: 3 -8 PARKING SPACES FOR EVERY 1 CAR

46%

1 space at home

.8 space at work

.3 space at retail/dining (x4 retail)

+ doctors, churches, schools, etc.

MORE DOES NOT ALWAYS RESULT IN

(MUCH) MORE

800

600

400 Ca

pa

cit

y o

f A

dd

itio

na

l

Th

rou

gh

La

ne

(V

PH

)

2-lanes 2-lanes +

turn lane

4-lanes +

turn lane

6-lanes +

turn lane

8-lanes +

turn lane

NETWORKS MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE

Total hourly capacity: 6200 Total Hourly capacity: 6100

DESIGN

MATTERS

Scale

Speed

Refuge

EXPECTATION

NOT EVERYONE NEEDS TO CHANGE

(BUT SOME WANT TO)

40

IT ONLY

TAKES

10%

Theoretical

Capacity

Free flow

condition

Additional growth

TRANSPORTATION

POLLING

How do you typically get to the

Prince George’s Plaza area?

5%

8%

63%

6%

6%

3%

8%1. Walking (all or most of the way)

2. Bicycling (all or most of the way)

3. Bus/Metro - even if you walk/bike to/from

4. Local shuttle service

5. Driving myself

6. Driving or riding with someone else, or

being dropped off/picked up

7. I do not go to the Prince George’s Plaza

area

Our initial research shows that the Metro

station is underutilized. What changes

would encourage you to use the Metro

more frequently? Pick your top two

10%

31%

20%

10%

31%

49%

12% 1. If it ran more frequently

2. If it were easier and safer to get to

3. If it was easier to walk to

4. It there was more bike storage

5. If it went directly to where I need to go

6. If it didn’t cost so much

7. I will not use the Metro

What would encourage you to walk more

to and within the Prince George’s Plaza

area? Pick your top two

8%

13%

16%

43%

34%

31%

33% 1.If it felt safer

2.More direct routes to where I need to go

3.Better and more continuous sidewalks

4.Safer intersections along East-West Hwy

5.More lighting for sidewalks, trails, and in parking lots

6.More shade trees in the Mall parking lots

7.Nothing would encourage me to walk more

What would encourage you to bike more

to and within the Prince George’s Plaza

area? Pick your top two

34%

31%

30%

21%

20%

8%

25% 1.If it felt safer

2.More direct routes to where I need to go

3.More bike parking facilities

4.Community bike sharing program

5.More bike lanes

6.Bike network connected to North Western Branch Trail

7.Nothing would encourage me to bike more

What advice do you have to ensure

this downtown area becomes more

accessible through different modes

of transportation, i.e. walking,

biking, bus, Metro, etc.?

TABLE DISCUSSION: TRANSPORTATION

“More people means more safety”

Ensure safe and well-marked bike lanes

(ie, buffered bike lanes)

More bus service (ie, increase circulator

buses)

“Complete streets that facilitate all

modes of transportation - walking –

driving - biking - hiking - rapid transit”

TRANSPORTATION – THEMES IDENTIFIED

DURING TABLE DISCUSSIONS

Make access to Metro safe and more

accessible

More travel shelters needed

Incentivize car-sharing services & mass

transit use

“Safe, well lit and direct pedestrian

paths are the best”

TRANSPORTATION – THEMES IDENTIFIED

DURING TABLE DISCUSSIONS (CONT.)

In the near term, what would improve your

way of getting around the Prince George’s

Plaza area the most? Pick your top two

38%

3%

34%

18%

31%

57% 1. Safer street intersections and crossings

2. Wider and continuous sidewalks

3. More bike lanes

4. Better shuttles

5. Safer routes to schools

6. Better connections to surrounding neighborhoods

Which would make you feel like transportation

in the Prince George’s Plaza area is more

plentiful and meeting more community needs?

Pick your top two

30%

23%

38%

30%

9%

34%

25% 1. If I can bike through the area without interruption

2. If I can walk five minutes to the grocery store

3. If my children can safely walk to school

4. Transportation options other than driving

5. Better access from the surrounding communities

6. Prevent commuter traffic cutting through community

7. If bus service was more frequent and more

convenient

PLACE-MAKING:

CREATING A DOWNTOWN

MAKING PLACE

DOWNTOWNS ARE ABOUT BUILDINGS

DOWNTOWNS ARE ABOUT PLACES

PLACES: MANY DIFFERENT TYPES

Social

Safe and Comfortable

Have active uses

Are easy to get to

SUCCESSFUL PLACES ARE:

SOCIAL: FOR ALL AGES

SOCIAL: INVITE GATHERING

COMFORTABLE: SAFE AND SECURE

COMFORTABLE: PLACES TO SIT

COMFORTABLE: BUILDINGS MAKE

OUTDOOR ROOMS

ACTIVE USES: RETAIL

ACTIVE USES: PUBLIC BUILDINGS

ACTIVE USES: EVENTS

ACTIVE USES: EVENTS

On well-traveled streets or paths

Near transit

Within walking distance of

major destinations

PLACES ARE EASY TO GET TO

MAKING PLACE

PLACE-MAKING

POLLING

Which activities most often bring you to

the Prince George’s Plaza area?

Pick your top two

24%

2%

9%

0%

26%

17%

34%

38%

41% 1. Grocery shopping

2. Other kinds of shopping

3. Using the Metro

4. Going to a movie

5. Eating at a restaurant or the Food Court

6. Walking my children to school

7. I live near the Mall

8. Walking/visiting the Mall just to be there

9. Personal errands and appointments

What types of activity would you like to see

in the Prince George’s Plaza area? Pick your

top two

20%

5%

25%

5%

20%

18%

8% 1. Walking and strolling on the street

2. Eating in a sit-down restaurant/outdoor café

3. Shopping at new stores

4. Bicycling

5. Relaxing in a public plaza or urban park.

6. Visiting a playground or dog park.

7. Watching a performance in an outdoor space

What place do you know about –

somewhere else in the county, in the

region, or beyond - that you would most

like to see replicated in the Prince

George’s Plaza area and why?

TABLE DISCUSSION: PLACE-MAKING

Bethesda Row

Barracks Row

Old Town Alexandria

Downtown Silver Spring

National Harbor

Columbia Heights

Frederick

Shirlington

Rockville

Charlottesville

Riverwalk in San Antonio, TX

Burlington, VT

South Beach, FL

Rhode Island Avenue

PLACE-MAKING – EXAMPLES

IDENTIFIED DURING TABLE DISCUSSIONS

Elements: “Closed off streets to traffic, to allow for only pedestrian traffic. People would set up shops on the street.”

Elements: “walk and park and see cute little shops and visit different kinds of restaurants that are not chains. There are parks and lots of public spaces. There is a shuttle.”

Elements to Avoid: Avoid sterile, gigantic buildings that have no personality

PLACE-MAKING – ELEMENTS IDENTIFIED

DURING TABLE DISCUSSIONS

Which of these photographs show the character of p lace you would

most l ike to see in the Pr ince George’s P laza area ?

1. 1

2. 2

3. 3

4. 4

28%

47%

16%

9%

1 2

3 4

Which of these photographs show the character of p lace you would

most l ike to see in the Pr ince George’s P laza area ?

1. 1

2. 2

3. 3

4. 4

33%

14%

22%

31%

1 2

3 4

WHAT OTHER ISSUES ARE

IMPORTANT TO YOU?

1. What other issues are important to you

and why?

2. IF YOU HAVE TIME: What do you think

should happen first to make the Prince

George’s Plaza area a new Downtown?

TABLE DISCUSSION: OTHER ISSUES

More emphasis on safety, safety, safety – it’s not been fully discussed “Folks won't come without it.”

Green infrastructure needs to be emphasized

Concern about impact on existing neighborhoods with the development of tall buildings

Address East-West Highway: slow down traffic, make it safer

Redo pedestrian bridge, add more pedestrian walks

In closing …. Start with safety

OTHER TOPICS – EXAMPLES IDENTIFIED

DURING TABLE DISCUSSIONS

What would make you visit the Prince George’s

Plaza area more often? Pick your top two

31%

2%

29%

40%

23%

12%

54% 1. New stores and restaurants

2. A new public facility

3. Better sidewalks and intersections

4. More “places”

5. A safer environment

6. Better bike access

7. Better connections to the neighborhoods

and housing around it

NEXT STEPS

Present two development alternatives for

community comment – September 20, 2014

Refine development vision with community

input – October 14, 2014

Develop goals and strategies – Winter

2014/Spring 2015

Release preliminary plan for public review –

Spring/Summer 2015

NEXT STEPS

CONTACT US!

William Washburn, AICP, Project Manager

william.washburn@ppd.mncppc.org

301-952-3972

Tamara Jovovic

tamara.jovovic@ppd.mncppc.org

www.pgplanning.org/PGPlazaTDDP.htm

@gopgplaza