Access Management Policy 2013 - Kansas Department of ...

KDOT Access Management Policy
• Proper deceleration distance within left- or right-turn lanes.
• Traffic signals spaced to allow progression along a corridor.
In order to manage access on Kansas highways, the AMU focuses on four core areas (access
planning, transportation engineering, access permitting, and coordination and awareness) as the
center of its business practice. By focusing on implementing these four core areas, the benefits or
goals of access management are achievable—safety, efficiency, and economic activity.
2.1 Benefits of access management
Managing access on roadways improves safety, efficiency, and economic activity. Motorists
benefit from fewer decision points and traffic conflicts. Pedestrians benefit by crossing vehicle
paths less often due to fewer driveways. Businesses benefit from a more efficient road system,
which expands their market areas. The maintaining agency (state, city or county) benefits from
being able to maintain safety and efficiency on the highway system while supporting economic
activity.
2.2 Safety
A compelling benefit of access management is safety. National research consistently
shows that about 40 percent of all crashes are access related. 2 The percentage is even
higher in urban areas because there are more access points along urban roadways. As
the number of access points along a roadway increases so do the number of conflict
points. Conflict points occur where the paths of two or more roadway users cross.
Each conflict point is a potential accident; conflict points can occur for any travel
mode or between travel modes, such as when a vehicle crosses a pedestrian sidewalk.
The most likely cause of accidental death in the country is traffic crashes. Each day nationwide
there are approximately 15,000 crashes and an average of 90 fatalities and 6,000 injuries which
involve vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians. The FHWA captured national data which showed that
areas where access management policies were implemented experienced
• A 5 to 23 percent reduction in all crashes along two-lane rural highways.
• A 25 to 31 percent reduction in severe (injury/fatal) crashes along urban/suburban arterials. 3
2 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Traffic Safety Facts 2009 (Early Edition)
3 FHWA-SA-12-006, Proven Safety Countermeasures: Corridor Access Management
2-2 | P age | January 2013 Chapter 2—What is access management