Designing for Safe Mobility Checklist

The Designing for Safe Mobility Checklist will help KYTC staff and consultants plan, design, and build roads that reduce the number of serious and minor vehicle crashes while improving the safety of pedestrians, micromobility users (e.g., bicyclists), and transit users. It does not advocate a paint-by-numbers approach to design, nor does it prescribe solutions, which must be developed based on the project context. Project Development Team (PDT) members should review the checklist at several points during project development:

  • During Preliminary Design, review the checklist to verify each alternative delivers solutions that balance speed, safety, and the needs of different modes in a context-adapted manner.
  • When choosing the preferred alternative at the Preliminary Line and Grade meeting, work through the checklist systematically to determine how well each alternative blends design elements in a manner that individually and holistically facilitates safe mobility for all users.

When completing the Design Executive Summary, the Project Engineer should perform a final check to confirm the preferred alternative addresses all items to the maximum extent practical.

Designing Highways for Safe Mobility Checklist
  • Project corridor design features attempt to explicitly remedy safety concerns, eliminate existing crash patterns, mitigate user error, and fully address all issues described in the purpose and need statement.
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  • Sufficient and appropriate sight distances are provided throughout the project corridor.
    • Appropriate sight distance refers to type of sight distance (e.g., vertical and horizontal stopping sight distance, intersection sight distance, decision sight distance)
    • Enhancing horizontal and vertical sight distances alerts motorists to potential pedestrian activity at intersections. Design strategies to achieve this goal include eliminating visual clutter and curbside obstructions like on-street parking at intersections, street furniture, lighting, landscaping, or overgrown vegetation.
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  • Transition zones between contexts incorporate design features (e.g., cross-section modifications, landscaping, speed reductions, prominent vertical or horizontal signs) that clearly communicate operational expectations to motorists and non-motorized users.
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  • All practical and feasible steps were taken to minimize the operational and safety impacts of design elements that potentially conflict with user expectations.
    • Examples include installing clear signage that communicates downstream changes, and choosing design elements consistent with the functional/context classification.
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  • To the greatest extent practical, each segment of the project corridor provides all users (regardless of mode) an unobstructed view of the facility and encourages safe interactions between different types of users. Where practical, different user types are separated in space and time.
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  • The design integrates context-appropriate SAFERoad Solutions where feasible.
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  • The design incorporates adequate and safe accommodations for pedestrians, bicyclists and micromobility users, and transit users that are appropriate given the facility’s functional and context classifications.
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  • Selection of context-appropriate vertical and horizontal markings, signage, and lighting was done in collaboration with subject-matter experts.
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  • Proposed layout of construction and work zones leverages signage, barriers, and other visual cues to alert users of downstream construction activities; minimizes the potential for users to become confused or make mistakes; and establishes speed limits appropriate for the scale and scope of work.
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  • If the project terminus connects to an unimproved segment or corridor, design cues and signage alert users to downstream changes in the road environment so they can modify their expectations and behaviors accordingly.
    • Examples include vertical and horizontal signs, flashing beacons, transverse pavement markings, transverse rumble strips, and colored pavements.
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Do you have more questions? Get in touch!

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CONTACT:

Chris VanDyke

Research Scientist | Program Manager

chrisvandyke@uky.edu