To design and build streets that work for all people, engineers and planners use a wide range of design tools, guides, and resources. Research on topics related to bicycling and walking is changing rapidly, and new guidelines are developed regularly to translate these important research findings into practice.

Multiple design resources can inform design decisions. Organizations like the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO), Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) and many others offer general guidelines and project-specific tools to help professionals make these decisions. These guidelines promote design flexibility to ensure context-sensitive applications.

Finding the right tools and guides for a specific issue can be daunting due to the sheer volume of available resources. To make this process easier, PBIC developed the Design Resource Index, which identifies relevant design resources and helps the reader navigate to the appropriate section of each tool. The Design Resource Index is useful for understanding how these design tools and resources interact with one another, and helps agencies easily navigate the landscape of design guidelines.

Resources

Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways (MUTCD)
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
Defines the standards used by road managers nationwide to install and maintain traffic control devices on all streets, highways, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, and site roadways open to public travel.

Separated Bike Lanes on Higher Speed Roadways: A Toolkit and Guide
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
Provides policies and resources to help agencies implement separated bike lanes on higher speed roads.

Roadway Cross-Section Reallocation: A Guide
National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP)
Describes how street design decisions impact communities and transportation outcomes.

Crosswalk Marking Selection Guide
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
Synthesizes existing research and best practices for crosswalk markings to offer guidance for selecting crosswalk marking designs.

Guide for Maintaining Active Transportation Infrastructure for Enhanced Safety
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
Addresses maintenance of active transportation facilities for achieving mobility and safety goals.

More Resources >

 

Examples

CTDOT Complete Streets Design Criteria to Improve Roadway Safety and Enhance Mobility
Connecticut DOT
Announces that CTDOT implemented new Complete Streets design criteria.

Ten Features of Walkable Communities
Public Square
Outlines ten features of walkable communities.

Development of Statewide Design Guidelines for Improving Pedestrian Safety on High-Speed Arterials in Louisiana
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge
Develops statewide guidelines for pedestrian safety on high-speed arterials.

An Overview and Recommendations of High-Visibility Crosswalk Marking Styles
Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC)
Examines research on crosswalk marking design and explores types of marking patterns under various traffic and roadway conditions.

Separated Bike Lanes—Making Roads Safer for Bicyclists
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
Describes how separated bike lanes are making roads safer for bicyclists and impacts of these efforts in Richmond, VA.

More Examples >