Taunton Transit Oriented Development - Roger Williams University

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Taunton Transit Oriented Developmentnorth of the pond to the southern portion occupied by the formerrubber factory and converted rail station. There is easy accessfrom Arlington Street; however access from Longmeadow isseen as critical due to the existing signalized intersection andbridge connection to Rt. 140 south of the Taunton Green. A busconnection was assumed to link the GATRA terminal and MainStreet by way of the Arlington Street.Individual Project DescriptionsKeith CarlsonThe proposed MBTA site in Taunton provides an opportunity fora truly unique form of Transit Oriented Development. Myintention is to provide a link to the rail and also exploit thenatural features of the site to create a communal and recreationalfocus for residents and commuters alike. My proposal utilizes thenatural features of the site to organize development along asweeping landscape that bridges the northern and southern endsof the site. The existing pond is utilized as a celebrated waterelement along with winding trails and views across the site.Tothe south, the curve of the landscape culminates in a public plazafocusing on the train station with coffee shops, restaurants andoutdoor seating. The primary street linking both sides of the siteis lined with retail storefronts, topped with housing and smalloffices. Lower density housing wraps around the central park tothe northern end of the site where there is apartment stylehousing as well as a daycare and community center. The overallenvironment created provides a unique blend of transit orienteddevelopment with the natural features of the site.Michael CimorelliThe current condition of the MBTA site suggested a sinuous lineof exfoliating masses physically stretching across a north / southaxis of the rail line while visually connecting the user throughframed perspectives along the east / west axis. The form of thewetlands and the artificial condition of the rail line initiated theconceptual notion of two arms: one reaching out and acceptingusers from the south end and one arm reaching out and grabbingusers from the north end of the site while interlocking at a centralnode. The central node was positioned in accordance with thequarter mile walking radius for the site’s inhabitants andfunctions as a gravitational pull where each “arm” progressivelybecomes more public approaching the belly of the site where therail platform is located.The articulation of the individual masses within each “arm” wasalso responsive to the power and dynamics of the rail line. Themajority of the masses are double loaded corridors as anexpressive yellow line that acts as the circulation through thebuilding while visually linking the individual masses as a wholeto the site. Two other shifts occur within the building massesthat respond to desired views as well as concealed parkingspaces beneath the buildings themselves.Cheryl DownieMy design for the Taunton MBTA site seeks to integrate TransitOriented Development with the surrounding area by improvingcirculation and enhancing the natural features of the site. Acentralized plaza created adjacent to the station platform allowsfor three access points. The mixed-use plaza has offices andhousing above retail activity. The primary access to the plaza isvia an east / west boulevard with a drop-off point and pedestriangrade crossing. The townhouses on the northern side of theboulevard are at ground level, while the southern townhouses areraised to allow for parking on the ground level. Retail along thestreet hides the parking. A bus and car drop-off is located on thewestern side of the tracks, where short-term parking is provided.A third access point is to the north, near a community building25
Taunton Transit Oriented Developmentwhich contains a daycare and youth center. Parking is providedfor commuters, and residents in the new apartment buildings.The existing dead-end streets in this area are reconnected andsingle-family homes are added. To the south, duplex homes areadded and a phased relocation of the ball fields allows for thecreation of a major public park surrounding the pond.Alejandro KordaThis scheme focuses on a centralized commons and plaza space.This area is framed by offices and retail stores at the lower level,and restaurants with coffee shops on the upper level that provideviews to the green space below. The bus and rail platforms are indirect connection with this plaza space and the commuterparking lot. Connecting to this central area are bars of housingthat sit on a raised "carpet" of green that enables the ground levelto become an extensive parking area. The design also embracesthe natural features of the site as part of the composition. Trafficconditions are dissipated by a circular drive that connects intothe city grid. Moving towards the perimeter of the circle, singlefamilyhousing is introduced to bring harmony, privacy and aconnection with the surrounding residential areas.Erica Meilhede & Valerie MorinThe Primary focus of this proposal is to provide the area with avibrant and livable community. The location of the site withinthe suburban fabric lends itself to the creation of a node to theSouthwest - near the existing train station. At the center of thenode lies the train platform surrounded by a pedestrian plaza.The plaza is supported by local businesses- including smallshops, a restaurant and a café as well as housing on the upperlevels. An illuminated clock tower acts as an anchor to the siteand the surrounding fabric. In order to create a pedestrianfriendly environment and reduce the dependency on automobiletransportation, parking and the primary traffic flow are kept tothe periphery of the plaza. Designated drop-offs allow easyaccess for buses and cars without interfering with the notion ofthis pedestrian node. Commuter parking is located in a structuredparking garage concealed by commercial space and multifamilyhousing. The parking garage can be accessed by a mainboulevard or a secondary road connecting the site toLongmeadow Street. The two access points to the east of thetracks will relieve traffic congestion along Route 44/Dean Streetduring peak commuting hours.Environmental constraints also played a vital role in theorganization of the master plan. The wetlands defined theplacement of major roads and buildings. The pond in the centerof the site will be revitalized, providing a focus for a communitycenter and pedestrian / bike paths linking the northern andsouthern portions of the site. The community requested that thetwo existing baseball fields be incorporated into the design. Thefields remain in the same general location, but have been rotatedto better utilize the surrounding areas. The density of the area ishighest at the nodal point while the scale as it approaches theexisting fabric - thereby creating a coherent connection betweenold and new.FindingsThe MBTA park & ride proposal included 600 parking spaces onthe site of the former rubber factory. By reducing the allottedcommuter parking to 300 spaces, developing both sides of thetracks and expanding the study area to include the nursing hometo the south and the granary and lumberyard to the north it waspossible to accommodate between 200 and 300 residential unitsand varying degrees of office and retail space in a mixed useenvironment. These numbers may need to be adjusted once a fullstudy is made to identify and locate the existing wetlands. Anyfuture development strategy would also have to take into accountthe level of remediation required for the factory site.26
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