What is the best way to design a roadway that accommodates both pedestrians and motorists?

1 Understand the context

The first step in designing a roadway is to understand the context of the area, such as the land use, the population, the travel patterns, the existing facilities, and the future plans. This will help planners identify the goals, objectives, and performance measures for the roadway project. For example, a roadway in a dense urban area may have different priorities than a roadway in a rural area. The context also influences the level of public involvement and stakeholder engagement that is needed for the project.

2 Apply the complete streets approach

The complete streets approach is a policy and design framework that aims to create roadways that are safe, comfortable, and convenient for all users, regardless of their age, ability, or mode of transportation. This means that planners should consider the needs and preferences of pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, motorists, and freight operators when designing a roadway. The complete streets approach also encourages the integration of land use and transportation planning, as well as the promotion of environmental, social, and economic benefits.

3 Use appropriate design standards and guidelines

Design standards and guidelines are tools that help planners determine the dimensions, features, and elements of a roadway, such as the width, alignment, slope, curvature, pavement, drainage, lighting, signage, markings, signals, and barriers. Design standards and guidelines are based on engineering principles, best practices, and research findings. However, they are not rigid rules, but rather flexible recommendations that can be adapted to the specific context and conditions of a roadway. Planners should use design standards and guidelines that are relevant, updated, and consistent with the goals and objectives of the roadway project.

4 Incorporate multimodal facilities and amenities

Multimodal facilities and amenities are components of a roadway that enhance the mobility and accessibility of different modes of transportation, such as sidewalks, bike lanes, bus lanes, transit stops, crosswalks, ramps, medians, islands, roundabouts, and parking. Multimodal facilities and amenities should be designed to provide adequate space, visibility, connectivity, and comfort for each mode, as well as to reduce conflicts and crashes among them. Planners should also consider the potential impacts of multimodal facilities and amenities on the traffic flow, capacity, and operation of the roadway.

6 Evaluate and monitor the outcomes

The final step in designing a roadway is to evaluate and monitor the outcomes of the project, such as the changes in traffic performance, safety, accessibility, livability, and user satisfaction. Evaluation and monitoring can help planners assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the roadway design, as well as to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges of the project. Evaluation and monitoring can also provide valuable feedback and learning for future roadway projects and improvements.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?