Page 65 - TransportationPlanUsetsGuide

Local Street Connectivity
Local Streets are intended to provide direct property access. Local Streets should provide routes for local
trips to help keep through trips on Collector and Arterial streets. While Local Streets are not intended to serve
through traffic, the aggregate effect of Local Street connectivity impacts the effectiveness of the Arterial and
Collector system. Therefore, a connected Local Street system should be established in order to provide for
local travel needs and to help preserve the capacity of the Arterial and Collector streets for longer or regional
trips. Local Street connectivity requirements are defined in the CDC.

Community Plan Local Street Connectivity Maps
The Local Street system will provide a connected network that facilitates local travel needs, lands that have
been determined to be of sufficient size and that are candidates for development or redevelopment, are
identified on the Local Street Connectivity maps/ Local Street Connective Maps and standards are used to
meet Metro’s street connectivity requirements, provide a generally direct and uncircuitous pattern of streets
and to ensure the development will not preclude future street connections to lands not yet developed. The
Local Street Connectivity Map indicates where, as part of development, Local Streets are required to connect
to the existing system. Where it is impracticable to provide a Local Street connection based on criteria in the
CDC, bicycle and pedestrian accessways are required instead. The general connectivity requirements of the
CDC apply to lands not on these maps. ADOPTED TEXT

Washington County has identified potential Local Street Connectivity Lands. These lands are defined as con-
tiguous vacant or underdeveloped urban lands of five (five) acres or more. On these lands, new development
would be subject to a shorter block length standard (530 feet vs. the existing 600 foot standard). In addi-
tion, cul-de-sacs are limited to no more than 200 (two hundred) feet and no more than 25 dwelling units are
allowed on closed end streets that cannot be extended due to physical or environmental constraints. Within
areas designated as Local Street Connectivity Lands, the connectivity standards are applicable to mixed use
developments including multi-family and/or commercial development. Street connections would be required
where practicable on such lands.

Circulation System Design and Transit Oriented Design Principles
Throughout Washington County the design and location of the circulation system in a community is the key
element for determining pedestrian connectivity and the arrangement of land uses. These principles and
standards are of particular importance for Transit Oriented Districts. Within Transit Oriented Districts, an
urban scale block dimension and clearly delineated pedestrian system should provide direct connections to
transit service. These direct pedestrian connections should be clearly marked and designed to avoid conflicts
with vehicles. When developing the design, considerations may include the anticipated concentrations of
employment or housing as well as public building and common open spaces.

PART 3: TRANSPORTATION MODAL ELEMENTS 53
Effective November 27, 2015 • Updated December, 15 2016