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Imagine a multilane urban/suburban roadway where traffic is heavy, yet moves well; accommodates drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists; allows easy entry to and exit from businesses and other destinations; and has fewer crashes and other conflicts. Chances are this road is benefitting from corridor access management, a strategy that seeks an appropriate balance between the safety and mobility of a roadway facility with the access needs of adjacent land uses.
While managing access at a single location may help improve safety and operations within an immediate vicinity, application of access management along an extended corridor has been shown to improve safety, mobility, accessibility, and even business along an entire stretch of roadway because it favorably impacts ALL properties along that corridor.
Effective access management on a corridor-wide scale can achieve:
➲ 5-23% reduction in crashes along two-lane rural highways
➲ 25-31% reduction in severe crashes along urban/suburban arterial roads
Corridor access management preserves the flow of people and freight, and enables safe access to businesses and neighborhoods using a combination of policies and strategies, such as closing, consolidating, or improving driveways, median openings, and intersections; adding or redesigning medians; and planned spacing of intersections, median openings, and driveways.
Studies conducted by State and local agencies, national organizations, and transportation trade associations consistently show that access management notably improves traffic flow and safety for travelers. In addition, strong evidence shows that it can ultimately improve business in many cases by making it easier to get to and from destinations. The FHWA Office of Safety identified corridor access management as a Proven Safety Countermeasure because of the ability of this strategy to reduce crashes
The FHWA Office of Safety identified corridor access management as a Proven Safety Countermeasure because of the ability of this strategy to reduce crashes.
Corridor Access Management – Technical Summary [HTML] [PDF] – Executive Summary (2015) [HTML] [PDF]
Safety Evaluation of Access Management Policies and Techniques (2015) [HTML] [PDF]
Access Management Manual, 2nd Edition (TRB, 2014) – [ISBN 978-0-309-29541-3 for Interlibrary Loan requests or purchase through TRB Bookstore]
Local and Rural Road Safety Briefing Sheets – Access Management (Driveways) (2014) [HTML] [PDF]
Proven Safety Countermeasures – Corridor Access Management (2011) [HTML] [PDF]
Access Management in the Vicinity of Intersections – Technical Summary (2009) [HTML] [PDF] [PPT]
Intersection Safety Issue Briefs – #13 Access Management (2009) [HTML] [PDF]
Intersection Safety Strategies (2008)
Unsignalized Intersections – Implement Driveway Turn Restrictions [HTML] [PDF]
Signalized Intersections – Restrict Access to Properties Using Driveway Closures or Turn Restrictions [HTML] [PDF]
Signalized Intersections – Restrict Cross-Median Access Near Intersections [HTML] [PDF]
FHWA Office of Operations Access Management Information [HTML]
National Highway Institute Course #133078 "Access Management, Location and Design" [HTML] [PDF]
Crash Modification Clearinghouse (quick search: access management) [HTML]
Transportation Research Board Access Management Committee (AHB70) Resources
Corridor Visualization Explorer Tool (via TeachAmerica) [HTML]
Median Handbook (Florida) [PDF]
Access Management Informational Brochure (Florida) [PDF]
Highway Access Management Guidebook (Washington State) [PDF]
Access Management – Safe Access is Good for Business Video [YouTube]
Citizen’s Guide to Transportation – Access Management Brochure (New Hampshire) [PDF]
Raised Medians: How 9” of Concrete Can Improve Your Drive Brochure (Utah) [PDF]
Iowa Access Management Awareness Project Resources (Iowa) [HTML]
State Highway Agency Highlighted Resources – AM Manuals, Policies, Brochures, Reports, etc. (click on orange boxes)
Roundabouts and Access Management (Florida, 2014) [PDF]
Raised Median Economic Impact Study (Utah, 2013) [PDF]
Before-and-After Safety Study of Roadways Where New Medians have been Added (Florida, 2012) [PDF]
Michigan Access Management Program Evaluation [PDF]
State of the Practice in Highway Access Management (NCHRP Synthesis 404) (TRB, 2010) [PDF]
Guide for the Geometric Design of Driveways (NCHRP Report 659) (TRB, 2010) [PDF]
Median Intersection Design for Rural High-Speed Divided Highways (NCHRP Report 650) (TRB, 2010) [PDF]
Economic Effects of Access Management Techniques (North Carolina, 2009) [PDF]
An Evaluation of Right-Turn-In/Right-Turn-Out Restrictions in Access Management (Michigan, 2009) [PDF]
A Prioritization Process for Access Management Implementation (Utah, 2007) [PDF]
Guide for Analysis of Corridor Management Policies and Practices (Florida, 2007) [PDF]
Assessing the Safety Benefits of Access Management Techniques (Utah, 2006) [PDF]
A Guidebook for Including Access Management in Transportation Planning (NCHRP Report 548) (TRB, 2005) [PDF]
Access Management Guidebook (Texas, 2005) [PDF]
Transportation Research Board Access Management Committee (AHB70) Home Page [HTML]