Across the Arterial: Mid-block Shared-Use Path Crossings of Multilane Roadways in California
Source: Rails to Trails Conservancy
Successful shared-use paths offer a continuous and extended recreation and transportation experience. Avoiding vehicular interaction is a major challenge in urban environments where shared-use paths intersect the roadway network on a regular basis. In the best cases, the paths are grade-
separated from roadway traffic with pedestrian bridges or under-crossings. However, geometric constraints, financial resources and incompatible adjacent land uses can require trail planners to contemplate and implement at-grade crossings.
The focus of this report are these challenging at-grade crossings of multilane roadways at mid-block locations (but the report does not suggest that at-grade crossings are a suitable substitute for bridges and under-crossings where they are feasible and required to meet the trail system goals). The approximately 50 such at-grade crossings located in California exhibit a range of measures to reduce the potential of collisions and provide a good user experience. This brief overview of treatments is intended as an introduction for both planners and community members. For engineering design and construction of the crossings, in-depth resources listed in Appendix A can be consulted.
