TOOLBOX ON INTERSECTION SAFETY AND DESIGN: GEOMETRIC DESIGN

This toolbox on at-grade intersections in urban and suburban areas is from a set of conference proceedings on Intersection Safety: Achieving Solutions Through Partnerships. The author summarizes the general principles of intersection design and highlights the application of techniques and practices that increase the safety and efficiency of intersection operations. The first section discusses the fundamentals of intersection operation and safety, the components of intersections, and how these elements contribute to the design process. The second section presents the standards for intersection design, including the considerations for horizontal and vertical alignments and cross-sections. The author also includes a discussion of the various intersection sight distance conditions and the design of channelization elements. The third section focuses on application of specific design treatments and innovative intersection configurations that can improve the operational efficiency and safety of intersections within high volume arterial corridors. The final two sections of this chapter highlight the application of access control and management techniques and traffic calming principles to enhance the safety and efficiency of intersections, including the design and placement of driveways near intersections and the use of geometric features to reduce speed, decrease flow rates, and enhance pedestrian safety at neighborhood intersections.