3. DESIGN CRITERIA FOR HIGHWAYS AND RAILWAYS.
DESIGN CRITERIA
THE PHYSICAL DESIGN OF A NEW HIGHWAY IS CONTROLLED BY MANY FACTORS. UNDERSTANDING THE
TRAFFIC CHARACTERISTICS, PROVIDING FOR ALL TRANSPORTATION MODES, SELECTING THE
APPROPRIATE DESIGN VEHICLE AND DESIGN SPEED, AND DETERMINING THE ACCESS MANAGEMENT
STRATEGY ARE ALL KEY TO SUCCESSFULLY DELIVERING A PROJECT THAT MEETS THE GOALS AND VALUES
OF PRACTICAL DESIGN. DESIGN CRITERIA CONSIST OF A DETAILED LIST OF CONSIDERATIONS TO BE USED
IN NEGOTIATING A SET OF ROAD STANDARDS. THESE INCLUDE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES,
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSTRAINTS, SAFETY, PHYSICAL
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS (SUCH AS TOPOGRAPHY, CLIMATE, AND SOILS), TRAFFIC REQUIREMENTS,
AND TRAFFIC SERVICE LEVELS. OBJECTIVES SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED FOR EACH ROAD AND MAY BE
EXPRESSED IN TERMS OF THE AREA AND RESOURCES TO BE SERVED, ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS TO BE
ADDRESSED, AMOUNT AND TYPES OF TRAFFIC TO BE EXPECTED, LIFE OF THE FACILITY AND FUNCTIONAL
CLASSIFICATION. ADDITIONAL OBJECTIVES MAY ALSO BE DEFINED CONCERNING SPECIFIC NEEDS OR
PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED IN THE PLANNING STAGE.
THE DESIGN OF A NEW HIGHWAY INVOLVES VARIOUS FACTORS THAT HELP ENSURE THE ROAD MEETS ITS
INTENDED PURPOSES AND ACCOMMODATES ENVIRONMENTAL, SAFETY, AND TRAFFIC NEEDS. HERE'S A
SUMMARY OF KEY DESIGN CRITERIA:
1. RESOURCE MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES: THIS REFERS TO UNDERSTANDING WHY THE ROAD IS
BEING BUILT, SUCH AS FOR TIMBER HARVESTING, COMMUNITY ACCESS, OR AGRICULTURAL
NEEDS. THESE OBJECTIVES GUIDE DECISIONS ON CAPACITY, LOCATION, AND ROAD FEATURES.
2. PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS: TOPOGRAPHY, CLIMATE, SOIL, AND VEGETATION
CHARACTERISTICS MUST BE CONSIDERED TO ENSURE THE ROAD IS DURABLE AND FUNCTIONAL
IN ITS SPECIFIC ENVIRONMENT.
3. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSTRAINTS: ISSUES LIKE SOIL EROSION, DIFFICULT GEOLOGICAL
CONDITIONS, OR POLITICAL AND SOCIAL CONCERNS MUST BE ADDRESSED TO MINIMIZE
NEGATIVE IMPACTS DURING CONSTRUCTION AND USE.
4. TRAFFIC REQUIREMENTS: ESTIMATING THE AVERAGE DAILY TRAFFIC (ADT) FOR DIFFERENT
VEHICLE TYPES HELPS DEFINE THE ROAD'S CAPACITY AND LAYOUT, ENSURING IT
ACCOMMODATES THE EXPECTED TRAFFIC VOLUME OVER TIME.
5. TRAFFIC SERVICE LEVEL: THIS DESCRIBES THE OPERATING CONDITIONS OF THE ROAD, SUCH AS
SPEED, TRAVEL TIME, SAFETY, AND COMFORT. THE SERVICE LEVEL AFFECTS FACTORS LIKE LANE
WIDTH, ROAD SURFACE TYPE, AND DESIGN SPEED.
6. VEHICLE CHARACTERISTICS: THE DESIGN VEHICLE (MOST COMMON USERS) AND CRITICAL
VEHICLE (LESS FREQUENT BUT NECESSARY FOR SPECIFIC TASKS) HELP DEFINE THE NECESSARY
ROAD STANDARDS, ENSURING SAFE AND EFFICIENT USE BY ALL VEHICLES.
7. SAFETY: DESIGN FEATURES LIKE STOPPING DISTANCE, SIGHTLINES, AND CLEARANCE ARE
CRITICAL FOR ROAD SAFETY, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE ROAD SERVES MIXED TRAFFIC TYPES. SAFETY
ELEMENTS ARE INTEGRATED BASED ON EXPECTED TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AND ROAD
ENVIRONMENT.
8. ROAD USES: UNDERSTANDING THE TYPES OF USERS—SUCH AS LOGGING CREWS, RANCHERS, OR
COMMUNITY MEMBERS—HELPS IN PLANNING THE ROAD TO MEET SPECIFIC NEEDS, SUCH AS
SPACE FOR LARGE VEHICLES OR ACCESS FOR AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT.
9. ECONOMICS: THE COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ROAD DESIGN IS EVALUATED BY CONSIDERING
CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE, AND LONG-TERM OPERATIONAL COSTS. THIS ENSURES THE
ROAD MEETS ITS OBJECTIVES WITHIN BUDGET AND PROVIDES VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY OR
INDUSTRY.
THESE CRITERIA GUIDE THE DESIGN PROCESS, ENSURING THE ROAD IS SAFE, EFFICIENT, AND
SUSTAINABLE WHILE MEETING ITS FUNCTIONAL GOALS AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS.
