Abstract:
Two seemingly similar streetscape design concept projects in Prince George's County, Maryland were conducted by the Maryland State Highway Administration. Both projects utilized the State's planning process for design of streetscape projects. Both projects involved high-volume arterials in heavily suburbanized areas, with high levels of pedestrian and transit usage. Both contained adjacent frontage roads that led to less-than-desirable traffic operations. Both had active citizens associations and elected officials that took a significant role in shaping the finished product. However, this is where the similarities end. Due to the nature of the local population in each area, the emphasis on engineering or landscape architecture issues, the presence or absence of additional right-of-way, and the function of each roadway, the solutions to each of these projects' challenges had differences. This paper presents these two streetscape projects that, on the surface, appear to be very similar in nature, but in reality, demand different solutions for effectively dealing with bicycle facilities, pedestrian safety, traffic flow, and general urban revitalization. It showcases how these projects were similar and also how they differed, specifically addressing the engineering and urban planning designs that were necessary to manage the problems in each. Due to the differences in the design concepts for each project, the paper exemplifies the importance of community input in the planning process.
