Picture Main Street Demonstration Project Survey

Welcome to the future of Main Street! Please join us in visioning for Main Street by taking this 5-10 minute survey about which street elements you are most excited to see on Main Street. For more information about the Main Street project or to sign up to receive project update emails, visit our website: http://northamptonma.gov/2015/ Main-Street-design.

The City’s Office of Planning & Sustainability, in coordination with the Mayor and the Department of Public Works, is working to redesign Main Street to better serve all residents and visitors of Northampton. As the project team works toward a design to be fully constructed in 2025, we first want to test our design with a demonstration project in the Summer/Fall of 2020.

So, what is a Demonstration Project? A demonstration project allows us to test elements of the proposed street redesign on the street using low-cost materials. With a Demonstration Project, our design team and the community (that’s you!) will have a chance to experience and interact with some of the proposed elements of the proposed design in real time. The Demonstration Project will help us gauge how well various elements work on Main Street, which elements people like the most, and smooth out any kinks before constructing the project with permanent materials. Using this survey, you will help the design team select elements to be tested on Main Street between West Street and Market Street this summer.

DIRECTIONS: An image of the project limits is provided below along with 21 different street elements that may be implemented as part of the Demonstration project. Help us prioritize which street elements to test by ranking each element on a scale from 0 (low priority) to 5 (high priority) stars. To see a larger image of each street element, click on its name.

Picture Main Street Demonstration Project Survey

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* 1. ParkletA parklet transforms at least one parallel, on-street parking space into new public space. Parklets typically include elements like seating, greenery, shade, and bike parking. They have been shown to increase adjacent business sales by up to 20%.

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* 2. Sidewalk Cafe Seating and a Wider SidewalkWhere this is sidewalk cafe seating, serviced by adjacent merchants, and no pedestrian path around the seating, a wider sidewalk or buffer space between the doors and the seating eases pedestrian movement.

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* 3. Sidewalk Cafe Seating w/ Painted Sidewalk ExtensionProvides more space / visibility for outdoor cafe seating and walking.

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* 4. Bike BoxA designated area at the head of a traffic lane at a signalized intersection that provides bicyclists with a safe and visible way to get ahead of queuing traffic during the red signal phase.

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* 5. Conventional Bike LaneBike lanes designate portions of a thoroughfare using painted lines and pavement markings for the preferential or exclusive use of people bicycling.

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* 6. Buffered Bike LaneThese lanes have the same basic configuration and design as conventional lanes, only they include a striped buffer space separating the bicycle lane from the adjacent vehicular travel and/or parking lane.

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* 7. Protected Bike LaneProtected bike lanes include a buffer area, plus physical barriers like posts to create additional separation and protection from adjacent traffic.

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* 8. Bike CorralBike corrals typically repurpose at least one curbside vehicular parking space to accommodate 8 - 12 bicycle parking spaces.

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* 9. Crossbike MarkingsThese markings direct bicyclists through "conflict zones", like intersections and driveways, and are a visual cue to drivers to look out for crossing bikes.

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* 10. High Viz CrosswalkA crosswalk with continental ("zebra") stripes, rather than just two transverse (parallel) lines. An FHWA study found that the continental lines are detected at about twice the distance upstream than transverse lines.

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* 11. Art CrosswalkA pedestrian crossing that has been enhanced with asphalt art.

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* 12. Curb ExtensionExtensions of the curb at intersections (typically including protective barriers like posts or planters) to slow turning vehicles, narrow traffic lanes, and shorten the pedestrian crossing distance.

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* 13. Artistic Curb ExtensionA curb extension that has been enhanced with asphalt art.

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* 14. PlantersPlanters are great for extra protection in infrastructure like curb extensions, and for neighborhood beautification. Planters can be made of plastic, concrete, or stone.

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* 15. Sidewalk Expansion No ArtPainted sidewalk expansions create additional space for pedestrians, and possibly bikes and micro-mobility options like scooters. They should be protected either with parked cars, or other barriers (like the above image).

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* 16. Sidewalk Expansion w/ ArtA sidewalk expansion that has been enhanced with asphalt art.

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* 17. Reverse Angled ParkingThis type of parking reduces driver exposure to moving traffic while loading/unloading and entering/exiting the vehicle. Drivers also have improved visibility while pulling into and out of the parking space!

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* 18. Street TreesStreet trees provide benefits to downtown such as cooling from the heat island effect, traffic calming, stormwater mitigation, increased activity of walkers, bikers, & shoppers, and beautification.

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* 19. Street ClosureA street closure is the permitted use of a block (or several) for programming and community events. Car traffic is routed around the closure temporarily.

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* 20. Loading ZoneThe repurposement of curbside space for commercial vehicle loading and unloading.

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* 21. Bus Stop EnhancementAdding signage, benches, and shade to bus stops can be low-cost, yet effective in improving the rider experience.

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* 22. Floating Bus StopDedicated waiting and boarding areas for passengers that streamline transit service and improve accessibility by enabling in-lane stops. These are particularly appropriate along transit corridors with curbside bike lanes.

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* 23. Pedestrian Refuge IslandReduces the exposure time experienced by a pedestrian in an intersection by providing a designated area between travel lanes for pedestrians to pause (tan area in above image).

* 1. Parklet

A parklet transforms at least one parallel, on-street parking space into new public space. Parklets typically include elements like seating, greenery, shade, and bike parking. They have been shown to increase adjacent business sales by up to 20%.

* 2. Sidewalk Cafe Seating and a Wider Sidewalk

Where this is sidewalk cafe seating, serviced by adjacent merchants, and no pedestrian path around the seating, a wider sidewalk or buffer space between the doors and the seating eases pedestrian movement.

* 3. Sidewalk Cafe Seating w/ Painted Sidewalk Extension

Provides more space / visibility for outdoor cafe seating and walking.

* 4. Bike Box

A designated area at the head of a traffic lane at a signalized intersection that provides bicyclists with a safe and visible way to get ahead of queuing traffic during the red signal phase.

* 5. Conventional Bike Lane

Bike lanes designate portions of a thoroughfare using painted lines and pavement markings for the preferential or exclusive use of people bicycling.

* 6. Buffered Bike Lane

These lanes have the same basic configuration and design as conventional lanes, only they include a striped buffer space separating the bicycle lane from the adjacent vehicular travel and/or parking lane.

* 7. Protected Bike Lane

Protected bike lanes include a buffer area, plus physical barriers like posts to create additional separation and protection from adjacent traffic.

* 8. Bike Corral

Bike corrals typically repurpose at least one curbside vehicular parking space to accommodate 8 - 12 bicycle parking spaces.

* 9. Crossbike Markings

These markings direct bicyclists through "conflict zones", like intersections and driveways, and are a visual cue to drivers to look out for crossing bikes.

* 10. High Viz Crosswalk

A crosswalk with continental ("zebra") stripes, rather than just two transverse (parallel) lines. An FHWA study found that the continental lines are detected at about twice the distance upstream than transverse lines.

* 11. Art Crosswalk

A pedestrian crossing that has been enhanced with asphalt art.

* 12. Curb Extension

Extensions of the curb at intersections (typically including protective barriers like posts or planters) to slow turning vehicles, narrow traffic lanes, and shorten the pedestrian crossing distance.

* 13. Artistic Curb Extension

A curb extension that has been enhanced with asphalt art.

* 14. Planters

Planters are great for extra protection in infrastructure like curb extensions, and for neighborhood beautification. Planters can be made of plastic, concrete, or stone.

* 15. Sidewalk Expansion No Art

Painted sidewalk expansions create additional space for pedestrians, and possibly bikes and micro-mobility options like scooters. They should be protected either with parked cars, or other barriers (like the above image).

* 16. Sidewalk Expansion w/ Art

A sidewalk expansion that has been enhanced with asphalt art.

* 17. Reverse Angled Parking

This type of parking reduces driver exposure to moving traffic while loading/unloading and entering/exiting the vehicle. Drivers also have improved visibility while pulling into and out of the parking space!

* 18. Street Trees

Street trees provide benefits to downtown such as cooling from the heat island effect, traffic calming, stormwater mitigation, increased activity of walkers, bikers, & shoppers, and beautification.

* 19. Street Closure

A street closure is the permitted use of a block (or several) for programming and community events. Car traffic is routed around the closure temporarily.

* 20. Loading Zone

The repurposement of curbside space for commercial vehicle loading and unloading.

* 21. Bus Stop Enhancement

Adding signage, benches, and shade to bus stops can be low-cost, yet effective in improving the rider experience.

* 22. Floating Bus Stop

Dedicated waiting and boarding areas for passengers that streamline transit service and improve accessibility by enabling in-lane stops. These are particularly appropriate along transit corridors with curbside bike lanes.

* 23. Pedestrian Refuge Island

Reduces the exposure time experienced by a pedestrian in an intersection by providing a designated area between travel lanes for pedestrians to pause (tan area in above image).