Pedestrian Count Study - Downtown Raleigh Alliance

sidewalk guidelines for different areas of the City can provide a minimum
level of quality for all sidewalks:
• Along higher volume arterial and collector streets sidewalks
should be a minimum of six feet.
• In areas with street-fronting ground fl oor retail uses, such as
downtown, sidewalks should be 12- to 18-feet-wide to provide
room for sidewalk activities such as outdoor dining and sidewalk
sales.
Figure 5-6: Minimum Width on Arterial/Major
Collector
Figure 5-7: Typical Commercial Area Sidewalk
Table 5-8 provides guidance for minimum sidewalk widths by street type.
In some cases, it is possible to increase the dimensions of the sidewalk
corridor, either through acquisition of right-of-way or public walkway
easements, or by re-allocation of the overall right-of-way (such as by
narrowing roadway travel lanes or reducing the number of lanes).
Table 5-8: Minimum Sidewalk Widths
Curb Planting Strip (and furnishing zone)^ Sidewalk Width
Arterial and 1 ft 6-8 ft 6 ft*
Collector Street
Local Neighborhood
0-1 ft 6-8 ft 5 ft*
Street
Commercial 1 ft 6-8 ft 6-12 ft
Walkway
Mixed Use 1 ft 6-8 ft 10-12 ft
Center Streets
^In constrained locations, the full sidewalk width should be provided, with a reduced-width
planting strip/buffer
*Short sidewalk segments can have narrower widths in physically constrained areas.
Pedestrian Study | City Comparisons-5.13