Redefining Regional Highway Corridors: Strategic Design Guide

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OUTCOME TOOLBOX O.7 SEPARATED SLIP LANE A more elaborate version of the deceleration lane, a separated slip lane provides local access by providing a parallel road for local traffic only. The slip lane can serve one or multiple intersections. any traditional boulevards use slip lanes to allow faster ow in the central boulevard lanes, and facilitate local movement and turns on smaller parallel lanes. Slip lanes are always one-way and enable vehicles entering and exiting a busy road to have ample space to make turns without necessitating a traffic signal. The slip lane also accommodates local traffic looking to navigate from one local street to another, allowing that traffic to avoid the busy central lanes entirely. Benefits to a slip lane include completely separating local from through lanes. The space between the main road and the slip lane can be landscaped as a median, planted with trees or shrubs, and include lighting and signage. Many traditional boulevards even place the pedestrian walkway in this median, lined by trees on both sides, although this design re uires a very large right-of-way and is most appropriate to urban environments with a high degree of pedestrian activity. For urban arterials that weave in and out of smaller towns, the slip lane is a road treatment to use in town to create clear protection for local movement, provide an attractive front door for residential neighborhoods, and allow space forrows of trees or similar green boulevard landscaping without infringing on sight distances. Slip lanes are most feasible where there is ample right-of-way available outside the travel lanes. The median between through lanes and slip lanes should be minimum of 6 for landscaping.

High-visibility crosswalks

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Slip Lanes

BENEFITS: Driver safety: provide slower turning movements clearer path of travel

Pedestrian safety: shorter crossing distances and higher visibility to drivers

AV: clearly delineate edge of pavement and path of travel

Community: improved aesthetics and clearer access points


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