A, B, C or D?

  

 

Once been told that the best choice is mostly the 1st. Therefore, I'd I prefer Option A utilizing the commercial limited-livability as an environmental shield for the community from the implications of Arterial Road. Providing an easy-family and short commuting, This option will evolve by increased business footfalls to option C. Both B & D shall be spatial-invaders into the community balanced geometry.

Kevin AbbottKevin Abbott   • 1stPremium • 1stUrban Design, Development and Placemaking Specialist, and now a AuthorUrban Design, Development and Placemaking Specialist, and now a Author11 hours ago • Visible to anyone on or off LinkedIn

Can you solve this urban design problem?
In the masterplanning for an upcoming greenfield TOD, there was a deep discussion about how to spatially arrange the town centre, do we; (A) align it parallel to the movement corridor, or (B) perpendicular from the transit station.
What would you do?
For context, we are using the stock standard TOD guidelines, and our plot sizes are in a vicinity of 60 x 120m for mixed use town centre plots while residential would stretch longer. For transit at this stage, we are relaying on a road-based bus route, but we also planned for a fixed rail service down the track (pun intended).
Parallel is a traditional approach, it captures the movement of road traffic and therefore would be logical. However, the goal is to move the transit numbers beyond the typical range and developed a thriving walkable centre, the reason for a perpendicular approach.
Both have merits, but they also get more complex once you introduce fixed rail, due to at-grade crossings restrictions and distance from station.
This is my way of having an on-line design charrette, I’m seeking everyone’s input as I already explored the pro’s and con’s for both options – but I want to know what everyone else thinks. If you were master planning a new TOD which, would you choose – parallel or perpendicular, and why?
I’ve provided various diagrams to illustrate both parallel and perpendicular approaches, before and after fixed rail is introduced. So, would you choose A, B, C or D?