Verification of Failure Components of the 17th ShahrivarPedestrian Zone Project in Tehran

 In Iran, being inspired by advanced countries and old patterns of Iranian city pedestrian spaces, the creation of pedestrian zones in the metropolises of the country has become popular to shift from car-oriented to walkability. The creation of the pedestrian zones in Tehran city after a number of relatively successful experiments, such as the 15th Khordad pedestrian zone and Sepahsalar pedestrian zone was followed by the creation of the 17th Shahrivar pedestrian zone. But, the 17th Shahrivar pedestrian zone based on the evidences such as the findings of scholars, criticisms of authorities and the discontent of the local people, is a rather unsuccessful experience.

This research with an analytical and profound look tries to methodically explain the main failure components of the 17th Shahrivar pedestrian zone in Tehran.

For this purpose, the qualitative approach and the basic tools for collecting information including documents, semi-structured interviews and field observations have been used. The textual data collected mainly by coding, counting and creating the thematic network and the place data mainly by counting, photographing and mapping organized and conceptualized. In this stage, authors have inferred the main causes of project failure with scrutinizing all findings, examining the relationship between the main themes with each other, considering the theoretical foundations of the research and relying on rational and logical arguments.

The findings of the article show that the main issues of the project failure are the three main problems: “The lack of proper need assessment, feasibility study and providing infrastructure for the project”, “Marginalizing local people in the process of planning and implementation” and “Macro economic, political and managerial issues”. Meanwhile, the main factor behind the defects and problems of the project seems to be political, managerial, and economic conditions and objectives. The experience of the 17th Shahrivar pedestrian zone indicates that the potential positive impacts of pedestrian zone creation on improving the quality of the environment are only possible if they are correctly located and have a sustainable and grassroots planning and management approach.