![]() This is the premise behind NCHRP Report 1036, Roadway Cross-Section Reallocation: A Guide, which is currently in the pre-publication stage. ![]() Space used for travel lanes that often sit empty could be repurposed for other transportation facilities like sidewalks and bike lanes, or even other community amenities and resources like parks and housing.Įverything comes down to tradeoffs. Streets make up more than 80% of public spaces in cities and towns. More space for streets means less space for other public resources.Adding lanes to account for peak hour demand leads to increased wait times for all users resulting from increased cycle length and less efficient signal phasing. The more travel lanes, the longer wait times for all modes.Widening an intersection can result in several safety challenges, including increased exposure for pedestrians and bicyclists crossing at the intersection and increased crashes due to the introduction of additional conflict points. How do we adjust for capacity? While subtle improvements can be achieved through signal timing and traffic control, macro adjustments come through the construction of additional lanes. Overdesigning facilities for cars makes them less safe for people walking and biking.Along with increasing the risk of crashes, speeding-involved crashes are more likely to result in an injury or fatality. Even with lower posted speed limits, it is well researched and documented that emptier roads are associated with speeding and lower compliance with posted speeds. ![]()
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