Page 563 - Sustainable Cities and Communities Design Handbook

532 Sustainable Cities and Communities Design Handbook

issues by reducing reliance on the automobile, and develop a multiuse
downtown that was economically vital, socially diverse, and environmentally
sensitive. Key initiatives included the following:

Promoting Traf ic Management
PARTA Multimodal Center (left)
Opportunities for Parents to Stay and
Shop in the Downtown
KSU Hotel/Conference Center (right)

The PARTA multimodal facility, an anchor for the Kent Central Gateway
concept, was critical to Kent’s vision of being a walkable, bikeable community
with many alternative forms of transportation, reduced traffic congestion, and
reduced need for parking in the downtown. It provided a transfer point for cars,
busses, bikes, and pedestrians, as well as a visitor’s center and retail shops.
Commuters to Kent, many of whom are students, faculty, or employees in the
local offices, can park their cars in the 300þ space center, access their bike
stored in a rental locker, walk to the campus that is one block away, or catch
a bus. The project was promoted jointly by the city; KSU; local, regional,
and state political leaders; and the PARTA and funded through a $20-million
TIGER Grant. PARTA is the ongoing manager of the facility.
Located directly across from the PARTA Multimodal Center, and another
downtown anchor project, is the new Kent State University Hotel and
Conference Center. Prior to this facility being built, there were no accom-
modations in the downtown area for parents and visitors and the University
did not have an adequate conference and training facility. This location in the
downtown provides easy access for visitors to shopping, entertainment, and
dining. In addition, the KSU is recognized worldwide for its cutting-edge
liquid crystal research. Kent state’s 41,000 sq ft Centennial Research Park,
located near the university, provides space to high-tech start-up enterprises