Urban Design Associates has developed plans and urban designs which integrate transit service into neighborhoods and downtowns. We have found that cities with transit systems are better able to support pedestrian-friendly, dense, compact development. Transit adds enormous value to cities and regions and enables cities to be more visitor- and user-friendly by linking together all aspects of life. UDA’s master plans use transit as a highly visible and pleasant experience that animates the public space of the city.

TRANSIT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Transit is becoming increasingly important as our natural resources diminish and become more costly. Cities with safe, attractive and reliable transit improve mobility and grow in value as highly desirable, prestigious environments. For regions, transit systems encourage sustainable settlement patterns by focusing dense pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods around transit stations. This pattern of growth resists suburban sprawl, reduces the reliance on the automobile, and consumes less energy and resources.

THE UDA PROCESS
Common to all our work, whether it is a comprehensive plan (such as our Cincinnati Riverfront Master Plan, Norfolk Downtown Master Plan and West Don Lands Precinct Plan in Toronto, Ontario) or specific transit improvement projects on multidisciplinary teams (in Shaker Heights, Ohio and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), is our ability to communicate complex, highly technical system designs to broad and diverse audiences. With strong visual and user-friendly materials, we help design teams and transit authorities understand the impacts and opportunities of transit infrastructure options to better integrate transit into sensitive areas.
UDA’s ability to lead public design processes, a service fundamental to all of our work, better enables technical teams and transit authorities to listen and respond to political leaders, community groups and neighborhoods. UDA has found that by illustrating how transit can animate and strengthen streets and public squares, stakeholders begin to understand the enormous potential of transit to improve the quality of life in their community and their region.

TRANSIT AND REVITALIZATION
UDA’s work in urban design often sets the stage for transit projects because it helps planning agencies and transit authorities position transit as an essential component of revitalization. Transit in Toronto influences urban form because it enables the city to plan less parking. Pittsburgh’s expansion of Light Rail to the stadium area was a major influence on site selection for new stadiums and the extension of the downtown as a new, mixed-use district.

VARIETY OF PROJECT TYPES
UDA’s skills have been used on engineering teams in a diverse range of transit projects including Regional Visions, DEIS and FEIS stages of transit planning, and Preliminary Engineering. UDA’s services help teams evaluate alignment options, station planning concepts, relationships to existing and planned use, and the integration of transit into public space.