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Slow Streets
Demonstration and Pilot Projects

MetroPlan is excited to enter the world of Demonstration Projects (also known as Pilot Projects). So, what exactly are demonstration projects?

Cheshire Slow Street!

Project complete!

Demonstration projects allow public agencies, community partners, and people walking, bicycling, taking transit, and driving to evaluate potential infrastructure improvements before investing in permanent changes. 
 

Demonstration projects take many forms. Here in Flagstaff, MetroPlan focuses on the solutions to the right, that allow creative ways to implement temporary changes through art and roadway changes to support safe streets for everyone!
 

Each of these is intended to be temporary in nature and focuses on collecting data and evaluating behaviors of pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers that can then be shared with our partner agencies. These are often referred to as “Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper” Street Transformations.

MetroPlan, in partnership with the City of Flagstaff, Creative Flagstaff, and Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy (FALA), received our very first Bloomberg Asphalt Art Initiative Grant to support the Cheshire neighborhood by using art and design to make the main street along N Fremont Blvd safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

The City and MetroPlan worked with the residents of Cheshire to find solutions to the community’s roadway safety concerns. They restructured the roadway to lower vehicle speeds and increase pedestrian and bicycle safety, especially as children try to access the school and park and bike lanes are blocked by parked cars. Cheshire is an intergenerational neighborhood where community members engage in the civic process to cultivate a sense of place for all its members.

Roadway Changes:

  • Demonstration projects allow communities to evaluate the impact of a roadway change without making a permanent investment.
     

Safety Improvements:

  • Demonstration projects are a way to test aspects of safety improvements before making further investments. 
     

Asphalt Art:

  • Some demonstration projects use art, typically murals on crosswalks, intersections, plazas, or other road infrastructure, designed to make streets safer and revitalize public spaces.

The Results Are In! 

The City of Flagstaff conducted a before-and-after study. The results show a reduction in speeding and improved comfort in getting around the neighborhood.

Speeding Results.PNG
Vehicle Speeds
Perceived Comfort and Safety 
Public Opinion.PNG
Community Support for Future Projects 
Future Support.PNG
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