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Even today, street design standards are based first on accommodating efficient, free, and rapid motor vehicle flow. Decisions about geometry and operations of a street typically begin with reducing...

From the 1970s through the late 2010s, transportation analysis of the impact of development projects and land use plans focused heavily on automobile Level of Service (LOS), a performance measure...

Traditional efforts to meet increasing travel demand are typically based on a supply-oriented approach largely supported by the lack of physical and fiscal limitations on where, when, and how...

Rethinking Parking Requirements: There are new ways to consider how much vehicle parking a city, development, or region should have. Many parking zoning codes err on the side of caution to accommodate...

The efficient use of parking facilities can provide numerous benefits related to site design, trip generation, development cost, and building design and function. When implemented effectively, parking...

Current project feasibility challenges necessitate clear entitlement paths to engage a range of private and non-profit partners and successfully deliver healthy, connected, prosperous, and...

The design of new development is often driven by the physical planning requirements and outlined in zoning codes. Setbacks, height and bulk limits, and building density are factors that directly...

The integration of retail and other commercial uses within transit-oriented development (TOD) is a key contributing factor to placemaking, or the creation of vibrant, livable public spaces. Providing...

Light Rail Transit—or LRT—has shaped cities as they developed concentrations of activities and upward growth by providing a clean and efficient mode of transportation for large concentrations of...

VTA Transit Passenger Environment Plan

VTA Bicycle Technical Guidelines

VTA Bus Stop & Passenger Facilities Design Criteria and Standards

National Association of City Transportation Officials...

Section 1

Metropolitan Transportation Commission. “Priority Development Areas (PDAs).” https://mtc.ca.gov/our-work/plans-projects/focused-growth-livable-communities/priority-development-areas

Se...

Higher priority design elements and traffic management features on business park streets support efficient movement of vehicles while supporting pedestrian and bicycle activity typical of a campus...

Higher priority design elements and traffic management features on the residential arterial streets support neighborhood livability and land access.

• Provide a planting strip in the furnishing zone...

Higher priority design elements and traffic management features on shared streets supporting community activity.

• Design pedestrian areas and vehicular areas at the same level and avoid the use of...

Illuminate parking facilities at recommended minimum average illumination levels used by the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES).

• Point lights downward to minimize light pollution and excess...

Minimize use of tall shrubs in favor of lower shrubs and groundcovers to allow for greater visibility within a parking area for pedestrian and vehicular safety. Clear lines of sight minimize...

Provision high environmental quality parking facilities that improve water quality by filtering and cooling though stormwater best management practices, including vegetated swales and rain gardens.

Locate ADA accessible parking spaces closest to an accessible entrance or dispersed at multiple accessible entrances. Provide clear accessible routes with wayfinding from all ADA accessible spaces...

Provide back-in angled parking in conjunction with bicycle lanes or provide a separated bikeway between the parking and the sidewalk. Avoid head-in angled parking because drivers entering and existing...

Provide separate space close to building entrances or in other designated and intuitive locations for shared bicycle and scooter parking that is outside a pedestrian path of travel.

Conform parking structure height and façades to match the surrounding built environment and adjacent uses. Parking structures should complement the scale and character of the neighborhood.

• Consider...

Provide mid-block pedestrian connections where blocks exceed three hundred and twenty-five (325) feet (100m) in length to facilitate pedestrian connectivity and increased access to transit. It is...

Pursue the use of excess land adjacent to transit and roadway rights-of-way, and under elevated structures where available. Unused space beneath elevated transit lines and roadways can be...

Visual cues, landmarks, and useful signage orient pedestrians with their surroundings and destinations and provide safe and easy navigation. Clear sight lines to and from station stops increase...

Ensure open spaces are sized relative to their context.

Size open spaces based on their intended programming. Parks that are larger than needed for their intended programming can be difficult...