West Baltimore

Pedestrian/Bike Loop
Project

N. Fulton Street Mural (Lyle Kissack & MICA Community Arts, 2004)
 Presentation

• Goals of the Improvements

• Project Team Introduction

• Existing Conditions

• Other On-going Initiatives

• Recommendations

• Summary of Case Studies

• Path Forward

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 Goals for the Improvement
Under contract with City DOT, investigate the feasibility of various
options to provide streetscape around the US 40 corridor from
Fulton Street to Calhoun Street, which would enhance existing
communities, serve as a catalyst for new development, and be
consistent with other currently planned improvements such as the
MARC Parking Lot Expansion and the Red Line Transit Study.

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 Project Team Introduction
• Baltimore City Dept. of Transportation
 – Mark R. Brown, City Planner
• Rummel Klepper Kahl, LLC
 – Elford Jackson, P.E.; Project Engineer
• Mahal Rykiel and Associates
 Ken Schmidt, RLA, ASLA; Landscape Architect
 Terry Burns, Landscape Architect

• RJM Engineering
 Stormwater Management Design
• AB Consultants
 Surveying and Utility Designation

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 Existing Conditions

Franklin Street Looking East Mulberry Street Looking West

Franklin Street Looking East

Mulberry Street Looking West

Mulberry Street Looking East

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 Other On-going Initiatives
1. MTA’s Red Line east-west light rail alignment between West
Baltimore MARC and MLK Blvd., including a station between
Calhoun and Carey Streets
2. MTA to construct 645 additional spaces for the West Baltimore
MARC Parking Lot between Smallwood St. and North Monroe St.

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 Concept Recommendations
• Create a 3,675 feet (0.70 mile) “loop” with recreational park
feature along the interior areas along Franklin and Mulberry
Streets above US 40 highway.
• Make the pedestrian overpass a pleasant experience.
• Provide a vibrant social place with human comfort.

Source: Google Earth, 2008

LEGEND OF CONCEPT RECOMMENDATIONS

Create a loop recreational park feature

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 Fulton Street Improvements
• Rehabilitate existing Fulton Street bridge to convert the two (2) 12-foot wide sidewalks and one (1)
15-foot wide ‘U-turn’ lane into planted areas, and provide connection with a future new bike/ped-
path system in the grass area adjacent to Franklin / Mulberry Streets.

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 Concept Recommendation #1
• Pedestrian / Bike pathway with straight alignment
• Placement of additional trees and defined landscape areas
• Stormwater improvements
• Lighting upgrades
• Site furnishings and artwork opportunities
• Dog park and stations

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 Concept Recommendation #2
• Pedestrian / Bike pathway with curvilinear alignment
• Placement of additional trees and defined landscape areas
• Stormwater Improvements
• Lighting upgrades
• Site furnishings and artwork opportunities
• Dog park and stations

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 Allees of trees
• Trees on both sides of the pathway

Ben Franklin Parkway, PA

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 Allees of Trees
• Trees on one side of the pathway

New York, NY

China

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 Placement of Trees
• Formal vs. Informal
 Define the edge
 Manipulate the space

Owings Mills, MD

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 Defining Edges in the Landscape
• Berms
 Sculpting the landscape
• Drifts of plantings
• Mown edges

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 Native Plants Require Less Care
• Native/Adaptive Ornamental & Meadow Grasses
 Drought tolerant – Require less watering
 Low maintenance – Cut back once-yearly
 Provides seasonal interest
 Less mowing = less consumption of fossil fuels

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 Capturing Stormwater Runoff
• Bioretention and Green Solutions
 Capturing stormwater runoff
 Provides deep watering for plants

• Double Duty
 Curb extensions with bioretention also help
with traffic calming

Curb Openings to allow

runoff into rain gardens

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 Lighting
• Street and Pedestrian Lighting

Opportunities exist to include solar and LED lighting

Typical Baltimore street lighting – “Shoe box” and “Washington Globe” fixtures

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 Site Furnishings
• Pathway Benches
 Provide deterrents for sleeping and skateboarding on benches
 Use recycled materials or green products

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 Site Furnishings
• Litter/Recycling Receptacles
 Custom fixtures can be artistic

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 Dog Parks
• Design Elements
 Separate large from small dogs
 Provide for agility training
 Display rules and regulations
 Kiosk for community events
 Provide Pet Stations for clean-up
 Must be fenced for pet safety

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 Dog Parks
• Pet Stations

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 Summary of Case Studies

Boston, MA
Duluth, MN
Seattle, WA
Trenton, NJ

• A common goal of these projects has been reconnecting communities

separated at one time by the construction of an interstate
• In the majority of the case studies, the development was parkland.
• All case studies that have been implemented were found to improve
the quality of life in the surrounding communities

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 Path Forward for City DOT
• Compile public review comments to determine consensus on design issues:
 Straight or curved pathway alignment
 Linear tree configuration or informal arrangements
 Tree placement on one or both sides of pathway
 General location for amenities; dog park, community garden, and points of interest

• Initiate Preliminary Design

 Incorporate field survey
 Prepare existing utility plan
 Develop site design features
 Evaluate hydrology and hydraulic aspects

• Apply for Federal funding in 2011.

• Continue to support ongoing initiatives in the corridor, including the MARC
parking lot expansion and the Red Line.
• Consider a phased approach for implementing recommendations, such as
starting with initial recommendation and then expand the park loop east
towards Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard.

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