General Plan Update Review Committee Draft Elements Part 2 For ...

• Traffic controls are incorporated including speed
limits, bulb outs, modern roundabouts, signage,
and truck routes to restrict commercial traffic in
neighborhoods.
The 2030 General Plan provides for new routes in
partially developed portions of the Planning Area
and expands the capacity and efficiency of the existing
system. In addition, the Plan provides for narrower
streets in some areas than might otherwise be
designed based upon current traffic design standards
and requirements alone.
Balanced Modes
Another objective is to create a balanced transportation
system that serves public transit, bicyclists and
pedestrians as well as private motor vehicles. Careful
integration of land use and transportation and
attention to the design and location of all roadway
elements is essential to support pedestrian-oriented
development and maintain the “small-town” atmosphere
that Visalians desire. The 2030 General Plan
includes new bikeways, trails and pedestrian facilities
to link neighborhoods, schools, major recreation
sites, and commercial centers including downtown.
The Plan also fosters compact development, which
can support additional public transit. By facilitating
use of alternative modes of travel, Visalia will encourage
physical activity, reduce auto-dependency, and
lessen roadway congestion.
4.3 OVERALL CIRCULATION SYSTEM
PLANNING
Roadway Network
In Visalia, the roadway system is based on a traditional
grid pattern, on which all modes of transportation
depend to some degree. This pattern has been
modified in recent years to include some suburban
curvilinear and cul-de-sac streets in several areas in
the City. While State Routes 63, 99, 198 and 216 provide
regional east/west and north/south access, these
large arterials and freeways create lineal barriers to
connectivity on smaller city streets.
Functional Street Classifications
Visalia’s roadway system is set up around a hierarchy
of street types, which are commonly referred to as
functional classifications. These functional classifications
for most major streets are illustrated on Figure
4-1 and summarized as follows:
Freeways
Freeways provide intra- and inter-regional mobility in
Visalia. Freeway access is restricted to primary arterials
via interchanges. State routes 99 and 198 are the
only freeways within the Planning Area.
• State Route 99 is a four- to six- lane divided freeway
with a landscaped median. The northbound
segment between Betty Drive in Goshen to Avenue
384 south of Kingsburg (Fresno County) contains
three travel lanes; the remainder of State Route 99
in Tulare County contains two northbound and
two southbound travel lanes. With approximately
55,000 daily trips near State Route 198, State Route
99 is the second most traveled roadway in the
DRAFT ELEMENTS
For General Plan Update Review Committee
Good roadway design is essential to support
pedestrian-oriented development and maintain a
“small-town” feel (top).
Visalia’s roadway system is set up around a hierarchy
of street types, including arterials such as Ben Maddox
Way (bottom).
AUGUST 2012
4-3