Implications of Modifying State Aid Standards: Urban Construction or Reconstruction to Accommodate Various Roadway Users

The degree of modal split in the United States has continued to change with increased use of non-motorized modes. To accommodate a variety of users, context-sensitive solutions are being pursued. Such solutions call for the sharing of right-of-way by multiple user groups with different and often competing demands. Traditionally, the needs of vehicular traffic have been prioritized as evident in many current design standards. This research focuses on developing guidance for design decisions to best balance the competing needs and accommodate all expected roadway users. Non-standard design solutions, often associated with complete streets, were investigated in two major contexts. The first involved a comprehensive review of the current-state-of-the-practice in design standards, complete streets, and associated legislation in Minnesota and nationally. Second, a detailed analysis of 11 'complete street' study sites was conducted. The study primarily focused on evaluating changes in safety and operations between the periods before and after implementation. Differences in the characteristics of the study sites and varying degrees of changes and improvements conducted at each site prevented an aggregate quantification of the implications of complete street improvements across all sites, and specific recommendations for changes in design standards. Nevertheless, the analysis of complete street designs implemented at the 11 study sites suggest that changes made to these study sites did not result in adverse safety or operational impacts. Therefore, providing flexibility and modification to the State Aid Design Standards in the context of complete streets and conditions specified in this research appears to be a reasonable consideration.