7.1.1 Introduction

Arterials provide for travel between major points in both urban and rural areas.
Design criteria presented in this chapter apply to new construction and reconstruction projects
 for arterial highways on the State Highway System.
Reconstruction work generally includes substantial changes in the geometric character of the highway, such as widening to provide additional travel lanes, significant horizontal or vertical realignments, major improvements to the pavement structure to improve long-term service, or bridge replacement. For further discussion of this definition refer to
AASHTO’s A Policy of Geometric Design of Highways and Streets
.
This chapter discusses the features and design criteria for arterials and includes the following sections and subsections:
7.1 Design Considerations
  • 7.1.1 Introduction;
  • 7.1.2 Target Design Values;
  • 7.1.3 Design Speed;
  • 7.1.4 Design Traffic Volumes;
  • 7.1.5 Levels of Service;
  • 7.1.6 Travel Lane Width and Number of Lanes;
  • 7.1.7 Shoulders;
  • 7.1.8 Speed Change Lanes;
  • 7.1.9 Parking Lanes;
  • 7.1.10 Intersections;
  • 7.1.11 Medians;
  • 7.1.12 Curbs;
  • 7.1.13 Cross Slope and Superelevation;
  • 7.1.14 Grades;
  • 7.1.15 Roadside Design;
  • 7.1.16 Structures;
  • 7.1.17 Vertical Clearance;
  • 7.1.18 Grade Separations, Interchanges, and Ramps;
  • 7.1.19 Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities; and
  • 7.1.20 Access Control.
7.2 Rural Design Elements
  • 7.2.1 General Characteristics;
  • 7.2.2 Typical Section;
  • 7.2.3 Transitions to Four-Lane Divided Highways;
  • 7.2.4 Converting Two-Lane Roadways to Four-Lane Divided Facilities; and
  • 7.2.5 Converting Two-Lane Roadways to Optimized Roadway Cross-Sections.
7.3 Rural Town Design Elements
  • 7.3.1 General Characteristics; and
  • 7.3.2 Typical Section.
7.4 Suburban Design Elements
  • 7.4.1 General Characteristics; and
  • 7.4.2 Typical Section.
7.5 Urban and Urban Core Design Elements
  • 7.5.1 General Characteristics; and
  • 7.5.2 Typical Section
This chapter is organized with an introductory section on the general design considerations for arterials, followed by separate design discussions for local roads in rural, rural town, suburban, urban, and urban core contexts.