CNU, ITE refine manual

Over the next 12 months, individuals associated with CNU and the Institute of Traffic Engineers (ITE) will work on making refinements to a guide the two organizations have produced: Context Sensitive Solutions in Developing Major Urban Thoroughfares for Walkable Communities. Some new urbanists have suggested eliminating functional classifications, e.g. “arterial,” and instead using only thoroughfare types, e.g. “avenue.” This would make the terminology consistent with how new urbanists describe local streets and roads. Other possible changes include calling for smaller turning radii at intersections to reduce pedestrian crossing distances. The goal is to have a final version of the guide adopted as a “recommended practice” in about a year, according to Brian Bochner, senior research engineer at the Texas Transportation Institute. The document focuses on major urban thoroughfares and uses the Transect to identify the context for designing them. CNU will sponsor a Transportation Summit Nov. 6-8 in Charlotte, North Carolina. “Charlotte will be the premier city in the US for integrating transportation and land-use plans,” said Danny Pleasant, interim director of the city DOT.