Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/231222
Sarasota News Leader December 20, 2013 Page 11 New Urbanism planners say these corridors — such as Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley, CA, and Octavia Boulevard in San Francisco — accommodate a lot of traffic, encourage walking and still allow for parking in front of buildings. The roadways are also designed to also allow links from the main route to an adjacent grid of streets. The boulevard, with a decreased speed limit from 45 mph to 30 mph, would transform Fruitville Road into a more pedestrian-friendly environment. The boulevard in Sarasota would feature primary traffic lanes with wide sidewalks and medians on both sides, said Jonathan Paul, interim director of transportation for Sarasota County. The medians would incorporate on-street parking sections as dividers to separate the main traffic artery from side lanes. 'KEY TO THE VISION' Another big plus of the design would be the on-street parking in front of commercial buildings, Paul pointed out. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration would have to approve the plan for Fruitville Road because the route is located in close proximity to the interstate. New Urbanists say Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley, CA, accommodates a lot of traffic and encourages walking, and it still allows for parking in front of buildings. Image courtesy Sarasota County