Streetscape is the visual design of a street and involves making a street attractive, but it also includes functional elements, and the design is intended to remain in place for generations. Streetscaping is an important part of road and transit projects.
According to various studies, an attractive, functional streetscape can make a difference to economic development in the surrounding area. In a 2014 report ranking the walkability of the largest 30 US cities, Foot Traffic Ahead , cities with more walkable spaces were more likely to have economic prosperity. A key element of the highest ranked cities was transit improvement projects which include streetscaping – such as vivaNext.
Streetscape includes long-term elements like wider sidewalks, tree-lined streets, and transit and bike lanes. It’s visually consistent, with features like the patterned pavers used in the sidewalks of rapidways in York Region. Consistency is not only pleasing to the eye – it’s also helpful for finding our way around and creating a distinct character of place.
Some streetscapes, like the Champs-Elysées in Paris and Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, are so attractive that they are a destination in themselves. Rapidway projects are being built to suit both form and function in Markham, Newmarket, Vaughan and Richmond Hill. In these key cities and towns, development is already on the way, and having attractive streets with transit stations within walking distance will benefit everyone.