Community Involvement

Partnerships are expressed through collaborative transportation problem definition, shared decision-making and a mutual commitment to implementation. Community support for a project is always important.

Community Involvement

Partnerships are expressed through collaborative transportation problem definition, shared decision-making and a mutual commitment to implementation. Each stakeholder can invest in the partnership with an expectation of receiving a return on that investment. Caltrans recognizes that the construction and operating costs associated with the implementation of the livable community and CSS principles is a shared responsibility. The degree of financial contribution is a negotiated process based on roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder. Early in the planning process, stakeholders should determine their financial commitment for the various elements proposed as part of the highway improvement. Additionally, stakeholders should agree to their role in the maintenance of the main street. For further information on who to contact as well as funding options, please contact the local Caltrans District Office or the Regional Transportation Planning Agency (RTPA).2

Performance Measures

Community support for a project is always important, particularly when implementing design concepts such as those discussed here. Caltrans considers community involvement a vital part of early project planning and requires full engagement with members of a community who express interest in implementing its vision. The level of community support for a project is usually apparent in the planning and project development process. Local funding of elements of construction and maintenance or a commitment to implementing measures such as improvements to parallel city streets or access management along the main street is a clear indication of community support. For state highway main street projects, factors that help determine compatibility with community values include:

Operating speeds and Level Of Service (LOS)3
Congestion levels and reduction of motorist delay
Improved pedestrian access and mobility
Effect on school and business access
Collision Data – before and after assessment
Improved bicycle accessibility and mobility
Effect on access to adjacent businesses

The following pages describe measures that can be used in project design to enhance sensitivity to its community context.

Reducing the Number of Lanes

Reducing the number of lanes can provide space for features such as wider shoulders, bicycle lanes, wider sidewalks, medians, left turn lanes or parking. Reducing the number of lanes may decrease speeds, smooth traffic flow, and may reduce the potential for collisions. However, reducing the number of lanes may also reduce the facilities’ level of service. This strategy is normally considered as a highway transitions from rural to downtown conditions. The main street will typically have an Average Daily Traffic (ADT)3 fewer than 10,000 with approaching and departing two-lane segments and a four-lane facility through town. Consideration should be given to mobility impacts, congestion, collisions, pedestrians, bicyclists, as well as adjacent land uses such as schools, parks, libraries, homes and businesses. The District will coordinate with Headquarters Traffic Operations and Design, and should be consulted early in this process.

Reducing Lane Width

Lane width plays an important role for both motorized and non-motorized users. Wider lanes tend to improve driver comfort. The physical dimensions of cars, recreational vehicles, trucks and buses, the type of highway and prevailing speeds, all influence the selection of the appropriate lane width. For highways that serve as