El Paso TOD Planning
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El Paso and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, form the United States’ largest bi-national metropolis, with a combined population of 2.5 million. El Paso is aggressively implementing several innovative transportation and land use initiatives. These include building a four-line Rapid Transit (BRT) System connecting TOD-based satellite transfer centers to downtown and planning for the long-term redevelopment of the closed ASARCO smelter, the region’s largest remaining infill opportunity. Concurrently, the City is also proactively revitalizing its downtown core, in part through planning for re-introduction of streetcar service to complement the RTS and TOD.
Since early 2010, CAI has been providing innovative multimodal transportation planning and design expertise to the DKP team and City staff to prepare SmartCode-based TOD and corridor redevelopment plans for three RTS transfer centers and ASARCO redevelopment (both projects combined as Connecting El Paso) and a citywide Comprehensive Plan (Plan El Paso). We also directly assisted City staff in preparing five FTA transit grant applictions and a TIGER III grant application to help implement these plans and projects. Our work has included:
- Creating SmartCode-based “Street Atlases” for each TOD and corridor catalyst area that specify multimodal cross-section design for every street integrated with recommended Transect-based urban design and land use character;
- Developing new SmartCode-based street cross-sections and designs as part of the Street Atlases and prioritized design implementation guidance;
- Participating in 3, 12-day (two-week) charrettes addressing different areas and aspects of the city;
- Providing best-practices multimodal planning and street design guidance during and after the charrettes for photo-simulations, cross-sections, streetscapes, design plans, and other work products;
- Co-conducting SmartCode-based transportation training for City, Sun Metro (transit agency) MPO, and TXDOT staff to plan, design, and implement walkable streets;
- Providing strategic guidance to City and Sun Metro staff and elected officials on current planning efforts for the RTS and potential streetcar routel; and
- Providing existing and future transportation technical and policy analysis; developing mode- and issue-specific goals and policies; and providing overall implementation guidance.
Connecting El Paso was adopted unanimously by City Council in January 2011. Plan El Paso was adopted unanimously by City Council in March 2012.
Links:
USEPA 2011 Smart Growth Awards: www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/awards/sg_awards_publication_2011.htm
Plan El Paso (and Connecting El Paso): www.planelpaso.org
Dover, Kohl & Partners: www.doverkohl.com