Issues to Consider in Developing an Intersection Design Guide (0-4365-1)

The safe and efficient operation of an intersection is directly related to its design. For example, when signal heads or signs are poorly placed, motorists can make decisions that cause the traffic to proceed slower than optimal and, in worse cases, cause crashes. Decisions made during the design of an intersection occur after examining a series of tradeoffs. A document is needed that discusses all related geometric and operational issues involved in the design of an urban intersection. This document, to be called the Intersection Design Guide, would assist in producing an intersection design that results in accommodating motorists (including large trucks, where applicable) and other users (e.g., pedestrians and bicyclists) in a safe and efficient manner. At the conclusion of the project, the Intersection Design Guide is to be an online manual with appropriate connections to the Department's other online manuals.