Representatives from several state departments of transportation met recently to discuss and approve a resolution to revise street-design and highway-construction guidelines, providing for more flexibility.
This resolution was adopted during the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials’ (AASHTO) annual spring meeting in Des Moines, Iowa.
“We have seen consistent growth in walking and biking throughout the country, and we also have seen an increase in crashes and fatalities involving them,” Kirk Steudle, a Michigan Department of Transportation official, said. “Our state agencies need robustly researched guidance on how to best incorporate all modes of travel when designing safe and efficient roadways that serve all users.”
This resolution would lead to changes in AASHTO’s Green Book, which consists of guidance for the development of roads according to multiple state and local plans and research-based information and recommendations for the U.S. highway system.
“Multi-modal design philosophies have been described using a variety of names, including context-sensitive solutions, practical design and complete streets,” AASHTO Executive Director Bud Wright said. “Regardless of the name, the ultimate goal is always to design a safe transportation system that supports a greater quality of life and robust economy.”
