Technical Report Documentation Page 1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient's Catalog No. FHWA/TX-05/0-4365-P2 Vol. 1 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date URBAN INTERSECTION DESIGN GUIDE: VOLUME 1 – September 2004 GUIDELINES Resubmitted: February 2005 6. Performing Organization Code 7. Author(s) 8. Performing Organization Report No. Kay Fitzpatrick, Mark D. Wooldridge, and Joseph D. Blaschke Product 0-4365-P2 Vol. 1 9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS) Texas Transportation Institute The Texas A&M University System 11. Contract or Grant No. College Station, Texas 77843-3135 Project 0-4365 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 13. Type of Report and Period Covered Texas Department of Transportation Product Research and Technology Implementation Office 14. Sponsoring Agency Code P. O. Box 5080 Austin Texas 78763-5080 15. Supplementary Notes Project performed in cooperation with the Texas Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. Project Title: Urban Intersection Design Guidance URL: http://tti.tamu.edu/documents/0-4365-P2Combined.pdf 16. Abstract Intersections are an important part of a highway facility because the efficiency, safety, speed, cost of operation, and capacity of the facility depend on their design to a great extent. Each intersection involves through- or cross-traffic movements on one or more of the highways and may involve turning movements between these highways. Such movements may be facilitated by various geometric designs and traffic controls, depending on the type of intersection. The main objective of intersection design is to facilitate the convenience, comfort, and safety of people traversing the intersection while enhancing the efficient movement of motor vehicles, buses, trucks, bicycles, and pedestrians. In order to design intersections that are both functional and effective, designers need current information regarding intersection design that is easily accessible and in a user-friendly format. The prime objective of the Texas Department of Transportation Project 0-4365 is to produce this reference document, the Urban Intersection Design Guide, to provide this information. This document is presented in two volumes: • Volume 1 – Guidelines and • Volume 2 – Applications. This project is designed to provide TxDOT and other interested parties with useful and practical information on operations and design for intersections. 17. Key Words 18. Distribution Statement Urban Intersections, Design Guidelines, Intersection Design Examples 19. Security Classif.(of this report) 20. Security Classif.(of this page) 21. No. of Pages 22. Price 382 Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page authorized URBAN INTERSECTION DESIGN GUIDE: VOLUME 1 – GUIDELINES by Kay Fitzpatrick, Ph.D., P.E. Research Engineer Texas Transportation Institute Mark D. Wooldridge, P.E. formerly Associate Research Engineer Texas Transportation Institute currently Area Engineer Texas Department of Transportation and Joseph D. Blaschke, D. Eng., P.E. President Transportation Research Analysts Report 0-4365-P2 Vol. 1 Project 0-4365 Project Title: Urban Intersection Design Guidance Performed in cooperation with the Texas Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration September 2004 Resubmitted: February 2005 TEXAS TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE The Texas A&M University System College Station, Texas 77843-3135 DISCLAIMER The contents of this report reflect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official view or policies of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) or the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. The engineer in charge was Kay Fitzpatrick, P.E. (TX-86762). v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This project was conducted in cooperation with TxDOT and FHWA. The authors thank the members of TxDOT’s Project Monitoring Committee: Rick Collins, P.E., Project Coordinator, TxDOT, Traffic Operations Division Elizabeth Hilton, P.E., Project Director, TxDOT, Design Division John Terry, P.E., Project Advisor, TxDOT, Ft. Worth District Clay Smith, P.E., Project Advisor, TxDOT, San Antonio District Duane Browning, P.E., Project Advisor, TxDOT, Beaumont District Larry Colclasure, P.E., Project Advisor, TxDOT, Waco District Jim Cline, P.E., Project Advisor, City of Irving Special thanks go to Elizabeth Hilton for her guidance on the project, Angelia Parham for work on the earlier versions of the document, and Ivan Lorenz and Denise Robledo for patiently making the numerous graphics and typing changes. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1: Intersection Function.................................................................................................. 1-1 Section 1: Intersection Planning & Development ................................................................ 1-3 Overview.......................................................................................................................................... 1-3 Design Considerations and Objectives............................................................................................. 1-3 The Intersection Development Process ............................................................................................1-5 Policy and Procedures ...................................................................................................................... 1-6 Design Exceptions, Variances, and Waivers.................................................................................... 1-7 Ultimate Design................................................................................................................................ 1-7 Arterial to Arterial Intersection Design............................................................................................ 1-8 Section 2: Types of Intersections........................................................................................ 1-13 Overview........................................................................................................................................ 1-13 Types of Intersections .................................................................................................................... 1-13 Innovative Designs......................................................................................................................... 1-16 Section 3: Components of an Intersection.......................................................................... 1-17 Overview........................................................................................................................................ 1-17 Principles of Intersection Design.................................................................................................... 1-17 Right-of-Way Needs ...................................................................................................................... 1-17 Right-of-Way Acquisition.............................................................................................................. 1-18 Intersection Area ............................................................................................................................ 1-18 Section 4: Utility Accommodation ..................................................................................... 1-21 Overview........................................................................................................................................ 1-21 Growing Demand for Utility Accommodation............................................................................... 1-21 Alternative Installation Methods .................................................................................................... 1-22 Subsurface Utility Engineering ...................................................................................................... 1-22 Inclusion of Utility Relocation in Construction Contract............................................................... 1-22 Potential Impacts on Intersection Design ....................................................................................... 1-22 Section 5: References ......................................................................................................... 1-25 Chapter 2: Design Control and Criteria ....................................................................................... 2-1 Section 1: Modes of Travel................................................................................................... 2-3 Overview.......................................................................................................................................... 2-3 Motorized Vehicles .......................................................................................................................... 2-3 Transit and Light Rail....................................................................................................................... 2-5 Bicycles............................................................................................................................................ 2-7 Pedestrians........................................................................................................................................ 2-7 Section 2: Users .................................................................................................................... 2-9