Transportation Plan - Town of Garner

INTERSECTIONS
PURPOSES
Intersections have to strike a balance between vehicular traffic throughput (intersection delays are the major
source of delay in urbanized areas) with the need to promote safe walking and bicycling. The following are best
practice targets for Garner’s intersections for Local/Collector and Boulevard/Thoroughfare typologies. Note that
the turning radii expand with the speed of the intersecting facility, as do the requirements for managing driveway
access points.
CHALLENGES
• Maintaining adherence to state and national standards for vehicular throughput that may not be sensitive to
the surrounding land uses
• Accomplishing multiple objectives to accommodate cars, bicycles, pedestrians and transit vehicles (on transit
routes) safely and effectively
PARTS OF AN INTERSECTION. Strong crosswalk treatments (A)
help to ensure pedestrian safety and ADA compliance that
otherwise could cost the Town heavily; (B) wayfinding signage at
congested locations can help reinforce a welcoming and open
public atmosphere that is proven to increase foot traffic and
decrease crime; (C) and (D) are amenities like water fountains,
trash receptacles, and seating areas that increase the utility and
vitality of the street; and (E) indicates curb extensions or “bulb
outs” that reduce the pedestrian crossing distance and force
traffic to slow to make turns.
The bottom graphic indicates the various zones of a street: the
door zone that, on a residential street includes front and side
yard setbacks; an amenity zone that may include everything from
mailboxes to front porches; a streetscaping zone with planted
materials that can serve as a stormwater retention area to
improve the quality of drinking water (see Green Streets section);
and street interface area, where pedestrians, cyclists, and
automobile drivers must interact. Design elements on both sides
of the curbline can greatly influence how that interaction occurs.
Appendix E: Design Guidance Page | 180