CSS consider the function of streets and roads relative to their context in terms of access and mobility for all users. Accessibility refers to the "ease with which people can reach destinations", while mobility is "the ease of movement that people experience in moving place to place" - Institute of Transportation Engineers, Smart Growth Transportation Guidelines
It is the balance between accessibility and mobility that often needs to be achieved in CSS projects.
Case Study
Accessible Pedestrian Signals: Washington, NJ Washington, NJ
This case study is one of nine case studies on accessible pedestrian signals posted by Pedestrian and Bike Information Center. These studies describe experiences of US cities that have installed Accessible Pedestrian Signals. Some of these cities have a long history of installing APS; others have more recently installed APS at one or two intersections. This and each case study includes information on the municipality's history of APS installation, process and procedures, types of devices installed, dates installed, installation, maintenance, and evaluation issues, and contact information.
Case Study
Accessible Pedestrian Signals: Maryland Department of Transportation MD
This case study is one of nine case studies on accessible pedestrian signals posted by Pedestrian and Bike Information Center. These studies describe experiences of US cities that have installed Accessible Pedestrian Signals. Some of these cities have a long history of installing APS; others have more recently installed APS at one or two intersections. This and each case study includes information on the municipality's history of APS installation, process and procedures, types of devices installed, dates installed, installation, maintenance, and evaluation issues, and contact information.
Case Study
Accessible Pedestrian Signals: Montomgery County, MD MD
This case study is one of nine case studies on accessible pedestrian signals posted by Pedestrian and Bike Information Center. These studies describe experiences of US cities that have installed Accessible Pedestrian Signals. Some of these cities have a long history of installing APS; others have more recently installed APS at one or two intersections. This and each case study includes information on the municipality's history of APS installation, process and procedures, types of devices installed, dates installed, installation, maintenance, and evaluation issues, and contact information.
Case Study
College/Chapel District - New Haven, Connecticut New Haven, CT
"...College/Chapel District, encompasses two pleasant, people-filled blocks with a lively diversified environment. The traditional look and feel of this downtown area gives the impression that it has existed this way for many, many years. Actually, its condition today is primarily the result of the efforts of one private developer, working in cooperation with the city."
Case Study
Accessible Pedestrian Signals: Portland, OR Portland, OR
This case study is one of nine case studies on accessible pedestrian signals posted by Pedestrian and Bike Information Center. These studies describe experiences of US cities that have installed Accessible Pedestrian Signals. Some of these cities have a long history of installing APS; others have more recently installed APS at one or two intersections. This and each case study includes information on the municipality's history of APS installation, process and procedures, types of devices installed, dates installed, installation, maintenance, and evaluation issues, and contact information.
Case Study
Washington SR 99 - International Boulevard Seattle-Tacoma, WA
International Boulevard is a major N/S arterial that serves local and regional traffic within Seattle-Tacoma, Washington. The Incorporated City of SeaTac developed Comprehensive and Transportation Plans that established land-use goals and proposed transportation facility improvements including the expansion of this boulevard and the improvement of its pedestrian access. This project illustrated well that dealing with multiple, conflicting stakeholders within a constrained budget and schedule is possible as long as the key stakeholders understand the problem, have a clear vision of the solution, employ an open and creative process, and commit themselves to compromise.
Case Study
Accessible Pedestrian Signals: Newton, MA Newton, MA
This case study is one of nine case studies on accessible pedestrian signals posted by Pedestrian and Bike Information Center. These studies describe experiences of US cities that have installed Accessible Pedestrian Signals. Some of these cities have a long history of installing APS; others have more recently installed APS at one or two intersections. This and each case study includes information on the municipality's history of APS installation, process and procedures, types of devices installed, dates installed, installation, maintenance, and evaluation issues, and contact information.
Case Study
Mid-block Crosswalks: School Zone in Olympia, WA Olympia, WA
This school-zone crossing boasts a staggered, paved crosswalk through a nicely planted pedestrian island. Staggered crossings force pedestrians to look right and face traffic before crossing the second portion of the road.
Case Study
Mid-block Crosswalks: Bellevue, WA Bellevue, WA
N.E. 8th St. is a busy five-lane transit corridor with staggered crossing islands at many transit stops.
Case Study
Mid-block Crosswalks: East Lansing, MI East Lansing, MI
This mid-block crosswalk traverses a major five-lane boulevard. The 60-100 foot median has a great canopy for waiting pedestrians, with elaborate architectural features.
Case Study
US Route 101-Lincoln Beach Parkway Lincoln County, OR
U.S. Route 101 is one of the most scenic highways in the United States; not surprisingly, it serves high local, regional, and tourist travel demands. A major conflict facing the entire Route 101 corridor was the need to provide better access to resort-oriented communities to enhance economic development while balancing the impact of capacity improvements, an issue was particularly acute in Lincoln Beach. Jurisdictions along the highway eventually approved the concept of a Pacific Coast Scenic Parkway to "increase the aesthetic experience, assist in access control, and develop community identity," despite its deviation from typical ODOT design concepts.
Case Study
Accessible Pedestrian Signals: Dunedin, FL Dunedin, FL
This case study is one of nine case studies on accessible pedestrian signals posted by Pedestrian and Bike Information Center. These studies describe experiences of US cities that have installed Accessible Pedestrian Signals. Some of these cities have a long history of installing APS; others have more recently installed APS at one or two intersections. This and each case study includes information on the municipality's history of APS installation, process and procedures, types of devices installed, dates installed, installation, maintenance, and evaluation issues, and contact information.
Case Study
Mid-block Crosswalks: City Place, West Palm Beach, FL West Palm Beach, FL
City Place has one of the nation's most attractive crossings, with lots of pavers, palm trees and other architectural details. Chicanes on both sides of the road create a tropical island for crossing pedestrians.
Case Study
Mid-block Crosswalks: Bridgeport Way, University Place, WA University Place, WA
Bridgeport Way is a busy boulevard with a very thin median. Many of its crosswalks are signal controlled with high quality signs, markings and pavings, and lighting.
Crosswalks: Toucan Crossings, Tucson, AZ Tucson, AZ
At these half-signal concept Toucan Crossings in Tucson, AZ, motorists stop for short periods to allow bicyclists and pedestrians highly efficient crossings. A pedestrian island, sometimes covered, forces cars to turn right, while allowing safe crossing for bicyclists and pedestrians.
Excerpt
Access Control: Flexibility in the AASHTO Guidelines Access control is among the most useful tools the transportation agency has to maintain safe and efficient operations. Judicious use of median treatments, driveway permits, and driveway geometry can enhance the operation of the road without undue burden on landowners accessing their property. Achieving access control may mean acquiring the abutting property owner's right of access, limiting future driveways when large parcels are sold or developed, or directing or limiting certain turning movements through geometric restrictions. more...
from
A Guide for Achieving Flexibility in Highway Design
Building a True Community: Final Report of the Public Rights-of-Way Access Advisory Committee
The following report is a recommendation for a new national set of guidelines that define the details necessary to make the streetscapes in public rights-of-way accessible to all users. This report has been prepared by the Public Rights-of-Way Access Advisory Committee (PROWAAC), convened by the U.S. Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (the Access Board) to address access to public rights-of-way for people with disabilities. The guidelines proposed in this report do not call for a minor adjustment here and there, they ask for a dramatic change from the way public rights-of-way have been designed in the past. However, they do not require dramatic changes to streets that were built in the past. It is important to understand that the recommended standards, if adopted, will apply whenever new streets are created and whenever existing streets are reconstructed or otherwise altered in ways that affect their usability by pedestrians. Implementation of these recommendations will not require jurisdictions to rebuild existing streets solely to meet these standards.
-- Public Rights-of-Way Access Advisory Committee, Editorial Subcommittee
Article / Paper / Report
Designing Sidewalks and Trails for Access: Part I: Review of Existing Guidelines and Practices
This report presents the findings of the
Phase I study. A number of factors that
affect the accessibility of sidewalks and
trails in the United States are presented.
The history of accessibility legislation
and an overview of current accessibility
laws are provided as a social backdrop
to the study. The travel characteristics
of people with disabilities, children, and
older adults are analyzed in relation to
their use of sidewalks and trails. The
effects of current legislation pertaining to
sidewalk and trail project planning and
funding are reviewed. Current design
practices used in the design of sidewalks
and trails are described and analyzed in
terms of accessibility, engineering, and
construction.
--
Federal Highway Administration
Article / Paper / Report
Designing Sidewalks and Trails for Access: Part II: Best Practices Design Guide
This guidebook is the second part of
a two-phase project focused on designing
sidewalks and trails
for access. It was
created to provide
planners, designers,
and transportation
engineers with a
better understanding
of how sidewalks
and trails should
be developed to
promote pedestrian
access for all users,
including people
with disabilities.
--
Federal Highway Administration
Article / Paper / Report
Technical Bulletin: Accessible Parking
This technical bulletin from the United States Access Board answers common technical questions concerning accessible parking. Note: This technical assistance is intended solely as informal guidance; it is not a determination of the legal rights or responsibilities of entities subject to the ADA.
--
US Access Board
Article / Paper / Report
Accessible Rights-of-Way: A Design Guide
This design guide for accessible rights-of-way includes an overview of the Americans with Disabilities Act and best practices in accessible rights-of-way design and construction.
Smart Growth - Transportation Guidelines: An ITE Proposed Recommended Practice
This publication "addresses those aspects of smart growth related to transportation--the effects of transportation and land use on each other and the characteristics of transportation systems and services that can encourage and support smart growth. The report primarily contains transportation concepts for accommodating growth and improving quality of life by providing more mobility choices and reducing dependence on personal vehicle use."
--
Institute of Transportation Engineers
Book
Traffic Calming: The Solution to Urban Traffic and a New Vision for Neighborhood Livability
"Traffic Calming is a holistic, integrated approach based on common sense which seeks to maximize mobility while creating a more livable city by reducing the undesirable side effects of that mobility. One definition of traffic calming is 'environmentally compatible mobility management.'"
Design Flexibility "In general, the public more easily accepts the lack of flexibility in motorway design because of the purpose of these roads, mobility is gained at the expense of aesthetic treatment. Greater design flexibility was observed for urban and rural non-motorways that are typically responsive to site-specific conditions." more...
from
Geometric Design Practices for European Roads
Website
Accessible Pedestrian Signals: Synthesis and Guide to Best Practices (opens in a new window)
This online guide is an interim product for NCHRP Project 3-62, Guidelines for Accessible Pedestrian Signals, which is being carried out under a contract with The University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center under the direction of David L. Harkey (Principal Investor). It provides background information on how pedestrians who are blind or visually impaired cross streets, and how Accessible Pedestrian Signals assist this process.
Accessible Pedestrian Signals: Charlotte, NC Charlotte, NC
This case study is one of nine case studies on accessible pedestrian signals posted by Pedestrian and Bike Information Center. These studies describe experiences of US cities that have installed Accessible Pedestrian Signals. Some of these cities have a long history of installing APS; others have more recently installed APS at one or two intersections. This and each case study includes information on the municipality's history of APS installation, process and procedures, types of devices installed, dates installed, installation, maintenance, and evaluation issues, and contact information.
Case Study
Accessible Pedestrian Signals: Atlanta, GA Atlanta, GA
This case study is one of nine case studies on accessible pedestrian signals posted by Pedestrian and Bike Information Center. These studies describe experiences of US cities that have installed Accessible Pedestrian Signals. Some of these cities have a long history of installing APS; others have more recently installed APS at one or two intersections. This and each case study includes information on the municipality's history of APS installation, process and procedures, types of devices installed, dates installed, installation, maintenance, and evaluation issues, and contact information.
Case Study
Accessible Pedestrian Signals: Morgantown, WV Morgantown, WV
This case study is one of nine case studies on accessible pedestrian signals posted by Pedestrian and Bike Information Center. These studies describe experiences of US cities that have installed Accessible Pedestrian Signals. Some of these cities have a long history of installing APS; others have more recently installed APS at one or two intersections. This and each case study includes information on the municipality's history of APS installation, process and procedures, types of devices installed, dates installed, installation, maintenance, and evaluation issues, and contact information.
"Connectivity - between cities, communities, activity centers, urban regions, and neighborhoods - is what makes an area both accessible and mobile...Consideration of all modes is important in the concept of mobility"
"The CSD approach is current practice in several European countries, which use these roadway geometric design concepts and tools to address mobility, safety, and community issues."
"Busy arterials that are fed by residential streets that end in cul-de-sacs are typical of sprawl; they create huge super-blocks that concentrate automobile traffic onto a few routes and hamper accessibility via transit, walking and biking. Compact development generally includes a network of interconnected streets with shorter blocks that allow greater accessibility and a broader choice of routes for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists."
