Road Access Management

The proliferation of driveways and other direct access to highways is a major contributor to the functional deterioration of highways, as well as to traffic accidents. As new accesses to a highway are constructed and traffic signals erected, the speed and capacity of the highway decrease, and congestion and hazards increase.

A highway access management plan studies an entire length of highway and identifies access management techniques. In the case of highways that are already largely developed, an access management plan focuses on reducing the number of conflict points, for example by limiting the number of left-turn access points. Along highways where significant future growth is expected, a highway access management plan can identify, in advance of development proposals, where driveway accesses will be allowed and where shared driveway access will be required.

Provisions for shared driveways and interconnected parking areas are most effective and uniformly applied when enacted by a local law. Sharing access with adjacent businesses, connecting parking lots, and building rear service roads can all help to ease traffic conflicts and improve pedestrian safety.