Document Type

Report

Publication Date

10-2020

Abstract

This research evaluates opportunities for retrofitting residential streets with alterative designs with the overall goal of improving their function, reducing their negative impacts and reducing maintenance costs. This is accomplished through three main research tasks. First, we conduct a comprehensive review of the street design literature with a focus on studies that report how alterative or unique designs that are relevant to the residential street context affect travel behavior, traffic flow, safety, crime and environmental impacts. We then survey residential streets in several study neighborhoods to measure typical design features and cross sections. With this information we then evaluate which alterative street designs could be used to retrofit typical Albuquerque residential streets within currently used right of way. For this subset of alternatives, we estimate the expected benefits and construction and maintenance costs using information from our literature review and the city’s unit construction cost data. Findings suggest that street lighting may provide significant benefits in terms of both traffic safety and crime reduction, while design alternatives using curb can realize considerable traffic safety benefits while keeping annual costs low. The complex woonerf design that combined multiple alternatives had the highest benefit-to-cost ratio. Pavement treatments including permeable asphalt and white asphalt sealant had costs that outweighed direct environmental benefits.

Comments

Tran-SET Project: 19PPUNM01

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