Smart Transportation Smart Transportation is a key concept for the Paoli Roadway Improvement Project. PennDOT s Smart Transportation Guidebook (2008) outlines a comprehensive approach to transportation planning and design focused on creating transportation facilities that are safe and affordable, responsive to the needs of all users, and supportive of community planning goals and vision. Smart Transportation provides an overarching framework and approach for transportation planning and design that will be brought to this study. Best practices for some key principles of Smart Transportation are highlighted on subsequent exhibits. These exhibits summarize some of the tools available to engineers and planners applying Smart Transportation techniques. Project ojp Sponsor: Guiding Principles of Smart Transportation Consultant Cn Team: October 24, 2012 1 1
Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities Toolbox Bike Lane A portion of the roadway at least 5 wide and designated for exclusive use by bicyclists with pavement markings and/or signage. Sidewalk A paved pathway parallel to a roadway that is intended for use by pedestrians. Sidewalks must typically be at least 5 wide to comply with ADA, but are often wider with spaces for landscaping, street lighting, and other street furniture. Bike Boulevard A roadway with specific treatments to accommodate through bicycle traffic and minimize through vehicular traffic. Crosswalk A designated pedestrian area for crossing a roadway. At an intersection, crosswalks serve as an extension of the sidewalk or connecting pedestrian facility. Shared Lane A roadway with travel lanes that are shared by both vehicles and bicycles. The roadway can include striping or signage to indicate increased bicycle traffic. Path An off-road pathway, either paved or unpaved, that is intended for use by pedestrians only. Multi-Use Trail An off-road pathway at least 8 wide that is used by both bicyclists and pedestrians. Bike Box A designated area for bicyclists in front of vehicular travel lanes at signalized intersections intended to increase visibility of cyclists, reduce delay for cyclists, and help prevent accidents with right-turning vehicles. Paved Shoulder Paved shoulders can improve bicycle and pedestrian accommodations where other accommodations are not possible or provided. Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities - 4th Edition, 2012, AASHTO, Guide for the Planning, Design, and Operation of Pedestrian Facilities - 1st Edition, 2004, AASHTO, www.pedbikeimages.org and photographers Adam Fukushima and Dan Burden, Chester County Planning Commission at www.chesco.org/planning October 24, 2012 2
Traffic Calming Toolbox Gateway Treatments Special entrance treatments, including landscaping and signage, that provide identity to a community and emphasize a change in environment. Reduced Lane Widths Reduce the width of travel lanes and possibly provide additional space for other users. Chicanes A series of narrowings or curb extensions that alternate from one side of the street to the other forming S shaped curves. Raised Intersections Intersections, including crosswalks, that are raised above street level. Raised Medians or Pedestrian Refuges Raised island between travel lanes that can be designed with landscaping or provide a mid point refuge for pedestrian crossings. Curb Extensions Extensions of the curb and sidewalk used to narrow travel lanes or reduce the pedestrian crossing distance. On Street Parking Parking on one or both sides of a roadway, which provides a buffer between traffic and pedestrians on sidewalks. Textured or Raised Crosswalks Pedestrian areas that are elevated or treated with textured pavement at mid block locations or intersections to alert motorists and improve visibility of pedestrians. Speed Humps A raised rounded or flat surface on the roadway that is 12 to 22 long. Speed humps are typically used on residential or minor streets and should be placed in series. Speed Tables Similar to a textured crosswalk and a speed hump, speed tables are used to slow traffic closer to the speed limit, rather than more abruptly like a speed hump. McMahon Associates, Inc. October 24, 2012 3
Green Streets Toolbox Stormwater Tree Trench A series of street trees planted in a continuously connected subsurface infiltration system. Street runoff is captured by inlets or on the surface via curb cuts. Planter Boxes A specialized planting bed installed in the right of way or adjacent to a building, designed to manage roof, street or sidewalk runoff. Subsurface Infiltration A chamber used to temporarily store and infiltrate runoff. Porous Pavement Consists of a porous surface (asphalt, concrete, or pavers) overlain on a subsurface stone bed. Stormwater drains through the surface, is temporarily held in the voids of the stone bed, and then slowly drains into the soils. Bioretention Vegetated, shallow surface depressions that use the interaction of plants, soil, and microorganisms to capture, filter, and infiltrate runoff within the planted area. Vegetated Swale/Bioswale An uncompacted, densely vegetated, earthen channel used to reduce stormwater flow velocity and volume, and improve water quality. Road Diet and Pavement Removal Green Infrastructure measures, such as a vegetated swale buffer and porous pavement sidewalk, can be integrated into road diet projects to allow the remaining street to manage itself. Green Alleys Greening an alley is comprised of porous paving or at the very least some type of subsurface infiltration/slow release system to manage runoff from the alley itself, as well as adjacent driveways and roof leaders. Meliora Design, greengaragedetroit.com, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society October 24, 2012 4
Access Management Toolbox Joint and Cross Access Joint or cross access between adjacent non residential properties allows circulation between the properties and reduce the number of driveways and conflict areas along a roadway. Joint or cross access can be used in combination with shared parking. Non Transversable Medians Medians can be used to reduce conflict areas by physically preventing left turns and restricting turn movements to specific locations. Auxiliary Lanes Auxiliary lanes separate turning vehicles from through traffic, which can increase capacity, improve operations, and reduce conflicts. Frontage, Reverse Frontage Roads, & Service Roads Frontage, reverse frontage (shown), and service roads provide direct access to properties, allowing access to be limited on major roadways and separating local traffic from through traffic. Two way Left Turn Lanes Two way left turn lanes separate left turning vehicles from through traffic, which can reduce rear end collisions, increase capacity, and reduce travel times. Driveway Spacing Driveway spacing standards are based on roadway functional classifications and speed limits. Adequate spacing and aligning driveways reduces conflict points and preserves roadway capacity. McMahon Associates, Inc. October 24, 2012 5
Streetscape Toolbox Street trees and plants Lighting (Pedestrian Scale) Pavement materials and patterns Pavers Concrete & Brick Concrete Brick Seating Areas Bus Shelters Placemaking and Identify Benches Bicycle Parking Community Identity Wayfinding Awnings & Facades Buffering Planter Box/Strip Grass Strip Brick Glackin Thomas Panzak, Inc., McMahon Associates, Inc. October 24, 2012 6