FDOT Context Classification Guide

FDOT Context Classification Guide Complete Streets Handbook The Florida Department of Transportation July 2020 Contents Chapter 1: FDOT Context Classification 4 INTRODUCTION TO CONTEXT CLASSIFICATION 7 DETERMINING PROJECT-SPECIFIC CONTEXT CLASSIFICATION 24 TRANSPORTATION CHARACTERISTICS Chapter 2: Linking Context Classification to the FDM and Other Documents 33 AASHTO’S A POLICY ON GEOMETRIC DESIGN OF HIGHWAYS AND STREETS 33 FDOT DESIGN MANUAL (FDM) 41 SPEED ZONING MANUAL 42 FDOT TRAFFIC ENGINEERING MANUAL 42 ACCESS MANAGEMENT 42 QUALITY/LEVEL OF SERVICE HANDBOOK 43 FLORIDA GREENBOOK Appendix A: Context Classification Case Studies Appendix B: Frequently Asked Questions Chapter 1: FDOT Context Classification It is the policy of the Florida Department of demand of the roadway is, and the challenges and Transportation (FDOT) to routinely plan, design, opportunities of each roadway user (see Figure construct, reconstruct, and operate a context- 1). The context classification and transportation sensitive system of streets in support of safety and characteristics of a roadway will determine key mobility. To this end, FDOT uses a context-based design criteria for all non-limited- access state approach to planning, designing, and operating the roadways. This Context Classification Guide provides state transportation network. FDOT has adopted a guidance on how context classification can be used, roadway classification system comprised of eight describes the measures used to determine the context classifications for all non-limited-access state context classification of a roadway, and describes the roadways. The context classification of a roadway relationship of context classification with theFDOT must be considered, along with its transportation Design Manual (FDM) and other FDOT guidance. characteristics and the built form to understand who the users are, what the regional and local travel FIGURE 1 STEPS TO UNDERSTANDING USES AND USERS OF THE CORRIDOR PRIOR TO DESIGN Evaluate Context Classification Understand: • Roadway Users • Regional and Local Travel Demand Identify Transportation • Challenges/Opportunites of Characterisitcs Each User 3 FDOT Context Classification occur in the sequence shown. Identifying the context INTRODUCTION classification is a step in the planning and design TO CONTEXT processes, as different context classifications will have CLASSIFICATION different design criteria and standards. The context classification system broadly identifies The use of context classifications to determine criteria the various built environments existing in Florida, for roadway design elements is consistent with as illustrated in Figure 2. State roadways extend national best practices and direction, including the through a variety of context classifications. FDOT’s 2018 American Association of State Highway and context classification system describes the general Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Greenbook characteristics of the land use, development patterns, and the National Cooperative Highway Research and roadway connectivity along a roadway, providing Program (NCHRP) Report 855: An Expanded cues as to the types of uses and user groups that will Functional Classification System for Highways likely utilize the roadway. Figure 2 should not be and Streets. These documents propose a similar taken literally to imply all roadways will have every context-based approach to design that incorporates context classification or that context classifications context, user needs, and transportation functions into FIGURE 2 FDOT CONTEXT CLASSIFICATIONS C1-Natural C2-Rural C2T-Rural Town C3R-Suburban Lands preserved in a natural Sparsely settled lands; may Small concentrations of Residential or wilderness condition, include agricultural land, developed areas immediately Mostly residential uses including lands unsuitable grassland, woodland, and surrounded by rural and within large blocks and a for settlement due to natural wetlands. natural areas; includes many disconnected or sparse conditions. historic towns. roadway network. 4 FDOT Context Classification the design process. This research was born out of a RELATIONSHIP TO THE FDM need to better define contexts beyond urban and rural The determination of a roadway’s context classification classifications, and to incorporate multimodal needs is required to identify the appropriate design criteria into the existing functional classification system. in the FDM. For non-limited-access roadways, the FDM provides design criteria and standards based on This chapter outlines the steps to determine a context classification. roadway’s context classification. Measures used to determine the context classification are presented, For implementation of context-based planning and and a process to define the context classification is design, the FDM and other FDOT documents provide outlined for: a range of design controls based on FDOT’s context classification and functional classification. The key • All projects on existing roadways and for projects context-based design controls are: that propose new roadways and are in the Project Development and Environment (PD&E) or design • Design users • Design vehicle phases; and • Design speed • Traffic characteristics • Projects evaluating new roadways in the planning and Efficient Transportation Decision Making An overview of these design controls is described in (ETDM) screening phases Chapter 2 of this Guide. C3C-Suburban C4-Urban General C5-Urban Center C6-Urban Core Commercial Mix of uses set within small Mix of uses set within Areas with the highest densities Mostly non-residential blocks with a well-connected small blocks with a and building heights, and within uses with large building roadway network. May extend well-connected roadway FDOT classified Large Urbanized footprints and large long distances. The roadway network. Typically Areas (population >1,000,000). parking lots within network usually connects to concentrated around a Many are regional centers and large blocks and a residential neighborhoods few blocks and identified destinations. Buildings have disconnected or sparse immediately along the corridor as part of a civic or mixed uses, are built up to the roadway network. or behind the uses fronting economic center of a roadway, and are within a well- the roadway. community, town, or city. connected roadway network. 5 FDOT Context Classification HOW CONTEXT CLASSIFICATION most recent data available using the steps outlined in the following sections. A project-level evaluation INFORMS PROJECTS confirms the most appropriate context classification The context classification of a roadway informs for a roadway reflecting up-to-date existing and/or decisions made during FDOT’s various project future conditions as precisely as possible. The context development phases, so that state roadways are classification resulting from this evaluation is called planned, designed, constructed, and maintained the “project-level” context classification of a roadway to support safe and comfortable travel for their segment (see Figure 3). Depending on the complexity anticipated users. Context classification helps identify or sophistication of the area, districts may sometimes the anticipated users of the roadway. It is important find it necessary to modify the approach or apply that the users and their respective needs are additional levels of classification. To ensure statewide understood early in the life of a project: consistency, contact the State Complete Streets • Prior to the development of the design scope Program Manager if this is anticipated. of services, for resurfacing, restoration and rehabilitation (RRR), traffic operations, safety, and How Context Classification is Stored in RCI other projects that do not qualify for an ETDM screening; and The Roadway Characteristics Inventory (RCI) is a database of information related to the roadway • During the planning phase, for projects that environment maintained by FDOT. The database have a planning phase and/or qualify for EDTM includes information on a roadway’s features and screening. characteristics*. The preliminary context classification is stored in the RCI as Feature 126 – Preliminary Understanding the needs of all users at these early context classification. This feature includes two phases assures that the project scope of services characteristics: defines all necessary improvements and that the budget is adequate for design, right-of-way, and • Preliminary context classification – This construction. The context classification and users feature was initially populated with the preliminary inform key design elements, such as the design context classification from each districtwide speeds, lane widths, and types of pedestrian, bicycle, evaluation. Each district will update this dataset with transit, and freight facilities to be included in the the project-level context classification as project-level design concept. The context classification should be evaluations are completed. determined and/or confirmed at the beginning of each project phase, including planning, PD&E, and design. • Future context classification – This characteristic contains the future context classification. It is populated by the district, as applicable, when Preliminary Context Classification Designations project-level future context classifications are Preliminary existing context classification designations completed. Not all roadway segments will have a have been developed for the state roadway system by future context classification

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