Fayetteville Street
Fayetteville Street was a part of the original plan of 1792 to include five public squares and a checkerboard of streets. The central square, Union Square, comprises of the state capitol and 4 main streets that defined the early quadrants of Raleigh. Fayetteville, along with, Hillsborough, Halifax, and New Bern street were named after cities that were competing with Raleigh to house the state capitol. Originally the street was composed of taverns and inns catering to local legislators. As Raleigh began to develop, Fayetteville's wide thoroughfare became the preferred area for public events and a center of commerce.
The street's viability as a mecca diminished after World War II when the automobile encouraged suburbs outside of Raleigh. This worsened when Cameron Village opened in 1947, North Hills in 1966, and Crabtree Valley in 1972. The area attempted to attract people back by building a pedestrian mall in 1977. This mall never reached its true potential and was eventually torn down to accommodate Raleigh's explosive grown in the 20th century. The street was reopened on July 29, 2006 where it now has become one of the most walkable streets in Raleigh. (http://www.wakecountyroads.com/fayetteville.html)
The street's viability as a mecca diminished after World War II when the automobile encouraged suburbs outside of Raleigh. This worsened when Cameron Village opened in 1947, North Hills in 1966, and Crabtree Valley in 1972. The area attempted to attract people back by building a pedestrian mall in 1977. This mall never reached its true potential and was eventually torn down to accommodate Raleigh's explosive grown in the 20th century. The street was reopened on July 29, 2006 where it now has become one of the most walkable streets in Raleigh. (http://www.wakecountyroads.com/fayetteville.html)
.Step 1: Put cars in their place
Fayetteville Street built a massive pedestrian road platform that brings cars up to the level of pedestrians instead of dropping pedestrians down to the street emphasizing pedestrian safety and control.
Step 2: Mix the uses
A lot of the buildings serve multiple purposes reserving the floors closest to the ground for shopping and food to promote pedestrian activity and house offices or residential space above like the 29 story RBC Plaza Building.
Step 3: Get the parking right
Street parking is free with a two hour time limit to ensure customer turnover. Large planters were also placed to restrict parking in front of the courthouse. Jeff Speck argues that street parking does have the beneficial outcome of protecting pedestrians by forming a solid barrier between the street and the sidewalk.
Step 4: Let transit work
People walking along Fayetteville St have access to a wide variety of public transit options. There are two bus systems that service the downtown Raleigh area. Capitol area transit allows people to travel between different points downtown as well as the various neighborhoods that surround Raleigh. One transit advantage in downtown Raleigh is the R-Line Circulator. This free bus service circulates downtown and allows for easy and fast transit between downtown destinations. Another system that services Fayetteville St is Triangle Transit. Triangle Transit allows people who live in the surrounding towns around Raleigh to commute downtown and not have to use their cars. This system connects Raleigh, Durham and RTP and has a yearly ridership of 1.6 million. Fayetteville St is also a short walk from Moore Square Transit Station where all these systems connect for easy transfers. Downtown Raleigh is also serviced by Amtrak, which is located just a few blocks from Fayetteville.
Step 5: Protect the pedestrian
Fayetville street protects its pedestrians through the use of fountains and cement columns that line the road creating a barrier between the cars and people. As well, the strip of road that runs through the square is slightly raised and is a different color to signify that the pedestrians rule this area.
Step 6: Welcome bikes
With wide lanes for passing cars, and wide sidewalks available for pedestrians, Fayettville St is fairly biker friendly. To encourage more bikers, we would suggest a separate bike lane to help bikers feel safer while biking.
Step 7: Shape the spaces
Fayetteville street does a great job of utilizing strategies to make pedestrians feel safe and comfortable walking on the sidewalk. The parallel parking provides a barrier between the sidewalk and the road, and the use of benches, plants, trees, and parklets makes for a pedestrian friendly environment that improves walkability.
Step 8: Plant trees
When Fayetville street was re-done one of the things implemented in the main square was a lot of green space. While these spaces are small individually the amount of them make up for it creating a nice open area that breaks up the concrete and steal infrastructures that surround this area making it more pleasing to visit.
Step 9: Make friendly and unique faces
One of the things that has happened to make it a more friendly and unique space is the implementation of underground parking that is not visible to the eye. By moving the parking underground, it allowed for businesses to move in and serve those who are work and visit Raleigh with food and a place to sit and take in downtown Raleigh. In addition to restaurants, there are green areas and fountains that are ascetically pleasing.
Step 10: Pick your winners
Fayetteville Street built a massive pedestrian road platform that brings cars up to the level of pedestrians instead of dropping pedestrians down to the street emphasizing pedestrian safety and control.
Step 2: Mix the uses
A lot of the buildings serve multiple purposes reserving the floors closest to the ground for shopping and food to promote pedestrian activity and house offices or residential space above like the 29 story RBC Plaza Building.
Step 3: Get the parking right
Street parking is free with a two hour time limit to ensure customer turnover. Large planters were also placed to restrict parking in front of the courthouse. Jeff Speck argues that street parking does have the beneficial outcome of protecting pedestrians by forming a solid barrier between the street and the sidewalk.
Step 4: Let transit work
People walking along Fayetteville St have access to a wide variety of public transit options. There are two bus systems that service the downtown Raleigh area. Capitol area transit allows people to travel between different points downtown as well as the various neighborhoods that surround Raleigh. One transit advantage in downtown Raleigh is the R-Line Circulator. This free bus service circulates downtown and allows for easy and fast transit between downtown destinations. Another system that services Fayetteville St is Triangle Transit. Triangle Transit allows people who live in the surrounding towns around Raleigh to commute downtown and not have to use their cars. This system connects Raleigh, Durham and RTP and has a yearly ridership of 1.6 million. Fayetteville St is also a short walk from Moore Square Transit Station where all these systems connect for easy transfers. Downtown Raleigh is also serviced by Amtrak, which is located just a few blocks from Fayetteville.
Step 5: Protect the pedestrian
Fayetville street protects its pedestrians through the use of fountains and cement columns that line the road creating a barrier between the cars and people. As well, the strip of road that runs through the square is slightly raised and is a different color to signify that the pedestrians rule this area.
Step 6: Welcome bikes
With wide lanes for passing cars, and wide sidewalks available for pedestrians, Fayettville St is fairly biker friendly. To encourage more bikers, we would suggest a separate bike lane to help bikers feel safer while biking.
Step 7: Shape the spaces
Fayetteville street does a great job of utilizing strategies to make pedestrians feel safe and comfortable walking on the sidewalk. The parallel parking provides a barrier between the sidewalk and the road, and the use of benches, plants, trees, and parklets makes for a pedestrian friendly environment that improves walkability.
Step 8: Plant trees
When Fayetville street was re-done one of the things implemented in the main square was a lot of green space. While these spaces are small individually the amount of them make up for it creating a nice open area that breaks up the concrete and steal infrastructures that surround this area making it more pleasing to visit.
Step 9: Make friendly and unique faces
One of the things that has happened to make it a more friendly and unique space is the implementation of underground parking that is not visible to the eye. By moving the parking underground, it allowed for businesses to move in and serve those who are work and visit Raleigh with food and a place to sit and take in downtown Raleigh. In addition to restaurants, there are green areas and fountains that are ascetically pleasing.
Step 10: Pick your winners
The street offers a lot of fun cultural activities that make the street a destination rather than just a thoroughfare.
Every Wednesday Fayetteville street hosts the Raleigh Downtown Farmer's Market that brings fresh food to City Plaza.
Every Wednesday Fayetteville street hosts the Raleigh Downtown Farmer's Market that brings fresh food to City Plaza.