Synthesis of Information Related to Highway Practices. Topic 53-12. Practices for Adding Bicycle and Pedestrians Access on Existing Vehicle Bridges
Many state departments of transportation (DOTs) have created plans for improving or expanding existing bicycle/pedestrian networks to increase active transportation options along their state-owned roadways. Expanding these networks on roadways might be accomplished by reallocating roadway space to dedicate space or by constructing new facilities to safely accommodate active transportation users. However, since many vehicle bridges were not originally designed for active transportation users (e.g., no sidewalks or shoulders), they represent one source of gaps in existing and potential active transportation networks. Closing these gaps across an existing vehicle bridge is a common problem for state DOTs with no “one size fits all” solution. The objective of this synthesis is to document the practices employed by state DOTs to provide or improve access to existing vehicle bridges for active transportation users. The synthesis will only focus on existing vehicle bridges and not on new construction. Information to be gathered includes (but is not limited to) the following: (1) Practices for state DOTs to consider in retrofits (bridge identification, scoping, and funding, known ADA accessibility barriers, statewide bicycle/pedestrian plan, safety issues, policy changes requiring active transportation accommodations, etc.); (2) Characteristics of the bridges where access has been added (e.g., tolled/non-tolled, historic, superstructure, original lane layout, average daily traffic, or another unique characteristic that enabled success); (3) Techniques and standard details that DOTs have used, are using, or have considered using to improve active transportation access to existing vehicle bridges (e.g., separated bicycle lanes, shared bicycle/vehicle lanes, sidewalk extensions, new sidewalks, cantilevered sidewalks, dedicated bridges, or other treatments); (4) Considerations for successful deployment (ADA compliance on and off the bridge, scoping processes, funding strategies, project coordination and timing with other infrastructure owners and operators, etc.); (5) Practices on knowledge transfer between state DOTs and other infrastructure owners and operators (identifying successes, overcoming barriers, design criteria, and policies, etc.); (6) Practices on state DOT bicycle/pedestrian coordinator roles in bridge retrofits; (7) Case studies of selected state DOT practices and projects to exhibit (minimum three).
Language
- English
Project
- Status: Completed
- Funding: $45000
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Contract Numbers:
Project 20-05, Topic 53-12
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Sponsor Organizations:
National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Synthesis
Transportation Research Board
500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)
444 North Capitol Street, NW
Washington, DC United States 20001Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC United States 20590 -
Project Managers:
Wadsworth, Trey
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Performing Organizations:
Texas Transportation Institute
Texas A&M University System
3135 TAMU
College Station, TX United States 77843-3135 -
Principal Investigators:
Hudson, Joan
- Start Date: 20211222
- Expected Completion Date: 20230622
- Actual Completion Date: 0
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Access; Bicycle lanes; Case studies; Cyclists; Highway bridges; Improvements; Nonmotorized transportation; Pedestrians; Sidewalks; State departments of transportation; State of the practice; Walkways
- Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting; Terminals and Facilities;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01771601
- Record Type: Research project
- Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
- Contract Numbers: Project 20-05, Topic 53-12
- Files: TRB, RIP
- Created Date: May 18 2021 12:40PM