New South Wales Projects & Sites
RTA Publication:
Beyond the Pavement RTA urban design policy, procedures and design principles
introduction / overview / images / Projects
Landscape Architect: Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW
Research and Communication project
Introduction
Following the publication of its urban design pilot document Beyond the Pavement – RTA Urban and Regional Design Practice Notes in 1999, the RTA has systematically been incorporating urban design thinking into the infrastructure projects for which it is responsible.
The result has been a gradual improvement in design quality and increased community satisfaction. Many projects have received recognition and awards for design excellence for example the Eastern Distributor, the Sea Cliff bridge, the Great Western Highway upgrades, the western Sydney Transitways and the M7 motorway and many more have quietly gained community approval and value, like the cycleway work around the state, the town bypasses such as Karuah and Bangor and the many bridges such as Windsor Flood Evacuation Route and the recently opened Falcon Street bridge.
There have been many lessons learnt in the planning design and procurement of these projects and the RTA Urban Design Section has now produced an updated urban design policy and guide for RTA projects and related planning that captures these lessons and firmly establishes good urban design as a workable practice for the RTA for the forthcoming years.
This updated policy and guide is being adopted not only by project managers and teams responsible for the design and implementation of RTA infrastructure projects, but also by those in the design and construction industry who work on the state road network. Importantly for the design professions it requires urban design to be addressed on all projects that affect the built and natural environment.
- The document is titled ‘Beyond the Pavement RTA urban design policy, procedures and design principles’. It has been developed and written over a two year period by the RTA’s Urban Design Section It is a formal Government policy and applies to all road, bridge, cycleway and bus projects large or small in urban or rural contexts at the planning design or implementation stage.
- The document is split into three sections with additional information provided in appendices.
- Section one sets down the policy, which in simple terms requires all staff in the RTA who work on projects that affect the built environment to follow an urban design approach to their work. This means that they must consider and address how projects fit as sensitively as possible into their context, how good connectivity is provided especially for pedestrians and cyclists and how the projects contribute to the quality of the public domain. It requires RTA staff and its contractors to consult with the Urban Design Section and its urban designers at an early stage and continue their involvement through the project.
- Section two provides a process and tools by which the policy is implemented. Guidance is provided on which urban designers and landscape architects are suitable for RTA work (from the RTA register), when to contact them and what services they should be providing.
- Section three explains the key principles of urban design as applied to road transportation. There are nine in all covering how roads can: contribute to urban structure; fit into built form; provide good connections; fit into the landform; respond to natural pattern and landscape; incorporate natural and cultural heritage, provide an experience in movement; contribute to road safety; and be an attractive and minimal maintenance outcome.
- The policy was the recipient of the AILA NSW award for excellence in Research and Communication
introduction / overview / images / Projects
2010
