Access Management: Synthesis of Practice

Abstract

Chapter 8 – Access of TAC’s Geometric Design Guide for Canadian Roads (GDG) provides a framework for the review and approval of access proposals, with the goal of ensuring safe and effective vehicle access. Chapter 8 was not updated with other GDG chapters in 2017, and needs to be rewritten. The Geometric Design Committee’s Access Management Working Group has concluded that a full literature review and synthesis of provincial and municipal practice are not feasible to conduct as a volunteer project.

Objectives

This project will synthesize current access management practices for all roadway classifications, in rural, suburban and urban areas, and will provide the technical basis for a subsequent project to update GDG Chapter 8. It will consider technical issues including:

• Geometric design requirements
• Safety considerations (e.g. conflict reduction, proximity to adjacent intersections/driveways, interaction with various road user facilities, sight distance, building setbacks, etc.; includes vulnerable road users)
• Operational requirements (e.g. turning movement restrictions, circulation/flow, etc.)
• Locational attributes such as land use type and roadway classification
• Utility and street furniture impacts
• Application of guidelines

Key tasks will include, but are not limited to:

• A review of the literature and existing access standards (e.g. TAC, non-TAC, FHWA, TRB, provincial, municipal)
• A review of available access management case studies
• A summary of best practices for consideration in subsequent work