Green Hills Walkability Projects
Pedestrian Refuge AT HILLSBORO CIRCLE AND BANDYWOOD
December 2017
INSUFFICIENT INFRASTRUCTURE
The crosswalk at Hillsboro Circle and Bandywood Drive lacked sufficient safety features to ensure pedestrian safety. Vehicles often cut the turn, crossing through the crosswalk. With the high usage from the retired teachers housing (large tower in backdrop), the crosswalk lacked features to compensate for the longer travel time that senior citizens typically need to cross the street.
LONG-TERM INSTALLATION
Improvements were made to existing pedestrian infrastructure in the Green Hills neighborhood. Consisting of a major shopping center and dozens of additional retail, Green Hills also has a large multi-unit retired teacher housing known as Green Hills Apartment. This housing is separated from nearby shopping by the heavily traveled Hillsboro Circle road. This road additionally separates the Apartment from the Kroger grocery store immediately across the street.
The long-term installation is located within the existing crosswalk at the intersection of Hillsboro Circle and Bandywood Drive. The goal of the improvement was to increase safe access for pedestrians, particularly those of the Green Hills Apartment, to nearby retail and grocery. This was done by creating a pedestrian refuge between the travel lanes along Hillsboro Circle, and implementing a guided turn lane for drivers entering to/from Bandywood Dr.
An initial brainstorming session was conducted with the Alliance for Green Hills, Metro Public Works, Metro Planning, and local Council members. From this meting, the intersection crosswalk was identified as a needed improvement area.
SAFER CROSSING
The pedestrian refuge was created using pavement tape, and flexible delineators. The tape was provided with AARP funds, with the delineators being donated by Metro Nashville Public Works. The delineators were installed by a local contractor using AARP funds. Tape was placed around the center portion of the crosswalk, directing turning vehicles around the central portion of the crosswalk. The delineators were installed along the outside of the newly created refuge, raising visual awareness and further encouraging vehicles away from the refuge.
Improved Mid-block crossing AT BANDYWOOD BEND
The only pedestrian connection between two major retail centers, the mid-block crosswalk along Bandywood Drive was identified as an area of needed improvement to better support pedestrian access and safety.
Improvements were made to existing pedestrian infrastructure in the Green Hills neighborhood. Consisting of a major shopping center and dozens of additional retail, Green Hills also has a large multi-unit retired teacher housing known as Green Hills Apartment. This housing, and general pedestrian access, is limited between shopping and retail centers. One of the major divisions between two of these centers is Bandywood Drive. Bandywood Drive seperates Bandywood Mall and Kroger, with smaller retail and the mixed-use Hill Center to the south. The mid-block crosswalk at the Bandywood Mall is the only pedestrian infrastructure traversing Bandywood Drive
An initial brainstorming session was conducted with the Alliance for Green Hills, Metro Public Works, Metro Planning, and local Councilmembers. From this meting, the mid-block cross was identified as a needed improvement area.
The mid-block cross was imprived using solar panel reflectors and a pedestrian crossing sign.Both the reflectors and sign were purchased with AARP funding. The sign was installed by a local contractor using AARP funds.
Funding for this projects was provided by AARP
Bandywood Improvements: A Step Towards A Walking District In Green Hills
November 2017
Intersection Intervention plan at Hillsboro Cir and Bandywood Dr
Improvements to existing mid-block crossing on Bandywood Dr
Green Hills Park Fest
September 2016
In conjunction with the Alliance For Green Hills we created renderings to show the community at their movie in the park night what changes could be made to make their neighborhood a more walkable place.
Want more on walkability in Green Hills? Read our publication Creating A Walkable Green Hills
GREEN HILLS JANES WALK
May 2016
Stacy Dorris with Council Person Russ Pulley on the Jane's Walk
Shade Parade Founder, Stacy Dorris, lead a walk around Green Hills. They met at Whole Foods Cafe and toured the walkable and not-so-walkable areas of the commercial district as part of the Nashville Jane's Walks.
Jane's Walk is a movement of free, citizen-led walking tours inspired by Jane Jacobs. The walks get people to tell stories about their communities, explore their cities, and connect with neighbors.
For this event TURBO painted a crosswalk at the busy intersection of Hillsboro Circle and Hillsboro Drive to protect pedestrians crossing for the walk and to illustrate the importance of crosswalks in this area.
Green Hills Walkability Holiday Event
December 2015
People from all over Nashville come to Green Hills to do their Shopping. The biggest issue with coming to this area to shop is dealing with the automotive congestion. Most people will drive from one parking lot to the next even if when a desired store is less then a tenth of a mile away. The reason most people will drive between stores is because the pedestrian infrastructure is lacking, it is unenjoyable and even dangerous to walk in this area.
With this project, TURBO is creating a fun, festive, and safe environment for shoppers to walk between the Green Hills Mall and Hill Center.
