Hasn't the term "urban boulevard" been at time employed with exaggeration ? In many instances, it is used to help the local population to accept a major road infrastructure project in an urban setting, when in fact integrating the new infrastructure into the existing built environment merely consists of some safety measures and landscaping improvements along the sides of the roadway. Nonetheless some cities have actually succeeded in maintaining active local neighbourhoods while accommodating heavy traffic flows in the same physical space. The efforts undertaken over the past 10 years, in Orleans, Rodez, Dijon and Saint-Chamond, have demonstrated the relevance of this type of road project for urban areas at different scales urban boulevard can answer different planning needs and exhibiting different planning needs, whether in newly-developed districts or within an existing urban fabric. This document is the first stage of studies conducted by the Certu on the subject of urban boulevards. It is primarily intended for those who are planning a road project through an urbanised area in spite of heavy traffic volumes. (A)
Abstract