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Streets nest into the scaled nature of land use. Local and collector streets are land uses that fill in between buildings and sites. Arterial streets can serve as corridor spaces, which connect...

Create a connected network of streets, sidewalks, and bikeways.

• Streets should follow a grid pattern and avoid loops or cul-de-sacs that limit multi-modal access to peripheral streets. Where cul-de...

Provide wide sidewalks with unobstructed through zones. The through zone is the part of the sidewalk reserved for pedestrian movement along the street.

• Sidewalk widths should be in the range of 6...

Design narrower travelways. Travelway width affects pedestrian crossing distance and vehicle speed, but also the street’s sense of enclosure, visual appearance, and perception as a barrier. Wide...

Minimize conflict points and shorten crossing distances.

• Reduce the number of motor vehicle lanes pedestrians and bicyclists must cross. If the intersection legs are wide because of right-turn...

Speed up transit. On VTA’s high-frequency network, provide design and operational enhancements that reduce transit vehicle delay.

• Implement transit signal priority (TSP) by installing necessary...

Higher priority design elements and traffic management features on mixed-use streets support a thriving pedestrian environment.

• Provide wide sidewalks zones.
• Provide high-amenity transit...

San José, CA - Downtown Better Bikeways Quick-Build Network (2018 to 2019)

In 2018, inspired by international examples, San José began implementing a network of connected low-stress bikeways...

Fort Collins, CO, USA - Multimodal Level of Service Standards

The City of Fort Collins was one of the first cities to adopt Multimodal Level of Service (MMLOS) standards to evaluate how projects...

Washington State, USA - DOT Moving Washington Program

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is considered a national model for its...

Berkeley, CA, USA - Reforming Parking Policies to Support Smart Growth Study

The City of Berkeley, CA implemented a Smart Growth Study to better manage their parking supply, especially within their...

King County Metro Transit, WA, USA - Parking Supply Case Study

King County Metro Transit faced issues of high demand for Park & Ride facilities and did not have funding to create new parking. King...

Austin, TX, USA - Plaza Saltillo, Community Benefits Through Joint Development

Plaza Saltillo, a joint development project at Austin’s eastern Downtown Commuter Rail Station, opened its first phase...

Austin, TX, USA - Smart Growth Matrix

To streamline the review process, give a clear sense of development expectations, and provide a financial incentive for Smart Growth, the City of Austin (Texas...

Downtown Container Park, Las Vegas - Experiential Retail

Downtown Container Park is a community-focused, experience-based retail development as part of a $350 million investment to revitalize...

How Cities Benefit with a Transit-First Policy

Presently, cities are enacting goals to reduce climate change from vehicle emissions, decrease vehicle miles traveled and improve equitable outcomes...

Every street is a transportation link for every mode; differences are based on the balance of how each mode is prioritized. Street design should complement surrounding land uses and support walking...

The design of parking facilities plays a significant role in a transportation system as parking is always the very start and end of any passenger vehicle trip. Parking design and layout has a...

Communities designed to enable people to accomplish daily activities in equal comfort through multiple transit modes lead to healthy, vibrant public life. Concentrating services, activities, and...

As the Congestion Management Agency (CMA) and transit agency for Santa Clara County, VTA plays an active role in integrating land use and transportation planning.

VTA’s Land Use and Transportation...

Originally invented as a tool to separate housing from hazardous industrial activities, zoning serves as the primary tool that local jurisdictions use to regulate land uses. However, traditional...

Even today, street design standards are based first on accommodating efficient, free, and rapid motor vehicle flow. Decisions about geometry and operations of a street typically begin with reducing...

From the 1970s through the late 2010s, transportation analysis of the impact of development projects and land use plans focused heavily on automobile Level of Service (LOS), a performance measure...