Skip to main content

AASHTO committee calls for flexibility in road design guidelines

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials' (AASHTO) Standing Committee on Highways has approved a resolution calling for the next update to AASHTO's design guidelines to better address multi-modal transport issues. That committee is made up of engineers from various state Departments of Transportation and recommended the changes to AASHTO’s Green Book, or Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets). The research-based, peer-developed guidance serves as the basis for t
June 1, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
The 4944 American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials' (AASHTO) Standing Committee on Highways has approved a resolution calling for the next update to AASHTO's design guidelines to better address multi-modal transport issues.

That committee is made up of engineers from various state Departments of Transportation and recommended the changes to AASHTO’s Green Book, or Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets). The research-based, peer-developed guidance serves as the basis for the design of roads on the National Highway System, as well as many state and local roads.

"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," said Kirk Steudle, Standing Committee on Highways chair and director of the 1688 Michigan Department of Transportation. "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."

"Multi-modal design philosophies have been described using a variety of names, including context-sensitive solutions; practical design and complete streets," said Bud Wright, AASHTO executive director. "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."

Related Content

  • May 21, 2012
    Professional training key to the future of ITS
    A substantial portfolio of resources is available and expanding, to help employers and professionals build essential skills for current and future needs – the ITS Professional Capacity Building Program. Pete Goldin reports. The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) views ITS as key to the future of transportation, as is evident from the department’s ITS Professional Capacity Building (PCB) program. This is a further manifestation of USDOT’s commitment to ITS. The PCB program provides anyone in the transpo
  • July 30, 2012
    Monitoring and transparency preserve enforcement's reputation
    What can be done to preserve automated enforcement's reputation in the face of media and public criticism? Here, system manufacturers and suppliers talk about what they think are the most appropriate business models. Recent events in Italy only served to once again to push automated enforcement into the media spotlight. At the heart of the matter were the numerous alleged instances of local authorities and their contract suppliers of enforcement services colluding to illegally shorten amber signal phase tim
  • January 30, 2012
    UK government to investigate best practice for travel information
    The UK Government has been advised by an internal inquiry that it should investigate examples of best practice in travel information services. So where might it look? Jon Masters reports. Publication of a UK Government report on road congestion this year has highlighted a need to look beyond home borders when searching out answers to pressing problems. With regard to issues of travel information in particular, UK transport professionals would do well to look overseas for solutions they can emulate.
  • October 20, 2016
    New US DOT committee to shape the future of automated transportation
    The US Department of Transportation (US DOT) is seeking innovators and experts to join a cross-modal committee to shape the future of automated transportation technologies. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx has announced the establishment of an Advisory Committee on Automation in Transportation (ACAT), which will serve as a critical resource for the Department in framing federal policy for the continued development and deployment of automated transportation. Members of the committee will assess th