Strategic subterranean underpass and method

Abstract

An underpass under an intersection has a first underground level for pedestrians, accessible by one or more pedestrian accesses from the street level, a second underground level for vehicles, accessible by one or more vehicle accesses from the street level, wherein the first underground level enables pedestrians to safely cross a street underneath the intersection, and contains establishments for the pedestrians, and the second underground level provides vehicle parking. In an embodiment, tunnels connect the levels under adjacent intersections. An improved method has the steps of installing one or more pedestrian levels below ground having pedestrian accesses at selected street corners on the street above, installing establishments in the one or more pedestrian levels, and installing one or more vehicle levels below the pedestrian levels having one or more vehicle accesses at the side of streets above, wherein vehicle levels provide vehicle parking.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61 / 755,959 filed Jan. 23, 2013 the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates generally to an improved method for management of city planning More specifically, the invention relates to development of strategic subterranean underpasses that revitalize business districts and improve local economies.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Shopping streets have problems of accessibility because of high level of promiscuity between pedestrians and motorists that slows traffic especially during rush hours. It results in inefficient use of peoples' time and excessive energy consumption because the street level is shared by pedestrians, vehicle commuters, buses and other traffic. The sharing of the road surface for crosswalks delays both the pedestrians and drivers as they wait for the other having the right-of...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]The present invention is directed, in part, to a method of improving vehicular traffic and congestion while simultaneously providing pedestrians / consumers with greater freedom in accessing shopping centers and stores. The methods provided and described herein install tunnel access to pedestrians at targeted street corners whereupon pedestrian consumers can descend below the street level, where vehicles are located, and allow the pedestrians to walk leisurely from shopping store to shopping store without the fear or delay of roadway and vehicular traffic.

[0011]The methods provided herein enable city planner to incorporate these methods into their city development plans which will ultimately assist in growing the local and regional economies, increase job growth, decrease pedestrian injury and fatalities and decrease overall vehicular traffic and congestion on the roadways, thus, decreasing the amount of air and noise pollution generated by idling vehicles.

Problems solved by technology

Shopping streets have problems of accessibility because of high level of promiscuity between pedestrians and motorists that slows traffic especially during rush hours.

It results in inefficient use of peoples' time and excessive energy consumption because the street level is shared by pedestrians, vehicle commuters, buses and other traffic.

The sharing of the road surface for crosswalks delays both the pedestrians and drivers as they wait for the other having the right-of-way.

In groups, people tend to rely on the judgment of others in making the decision to cross, and vehicles may not obey the signals resulting in a collision between a vehicle and pedestrian.

Shopping space is limited to what is available at ground level and perhaps on a second level.

Due to the shortage of space, the prices are bid up, often out of the range of anything but the most established enterprises.

However, historical buildings are often protected and new development restricted, with the result that creating new space in a shopping district is relatively difficult and very expensive.

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