Access Management: South Carolina’s Experience

2. Access Management: South Carolina’s Experience Rick Werts Director of Traffic Engineering South Carolina Department of Transportation

3. Presentation Outline • What is access management? • Resources • SCDOT’s experience • Current updates • School access design • Conclusions

4. What is Access Management? Access management is the systematic control of the location, spacing, design, and operation of driveways, median openings, interchanges, and street connections to a roadway. It also involves roadway design applications, such as median treatments and auxiliary lanes, and the appropriate spacing of traffic signals.

5. www.accessmanagement.gov

6. Resources

7. Additional Resources • Links to state DOT websites and manuals • NCHRP research reports • National conference information • Past conference proceedings • Outreach programs • Training opportunities

8. TRB’s Access Management Manual

9. SCDOT’s Experience Graphics Slide Background • Increased growth in South Carolina • Congestion has created a need for more specific access management guidelines • Update current guidelines (1996) based on recommended practice from TRB’s Access Management Manual

10. Driveway Design Elements • Driveway design elements (width & radii) based on driveway classifications

11. Driveway Design Elements

12. Throat Lengths

13. Driveway Spacing • Spacing based on speed limit and AADT

14. Corner Clearances

15. Interchange Areas

16. New School Sites • Access Problems due to: • Site Selection • Inadequate internal storage • Lack of turn lanes on roadway • No traffic engineer in planning process

17. New School Sites • Planning Efforts undertaken: • Met with State Education Department • Expressed concern with site selection and school layouts • Asked to be included in planning stages

18. School Access Design • The Office of School Facilities Manual states: The SCDOT shall be consulted for roadway improvements whenever stacking loops or access to a school is modified, or whenever a new school is planned, or an addition that increase the number of students is planned. Access to a school site shall be defined by the SCDOT Traffic Engineering Division as part of the encroachment permit process.

19. School Access Design • Conduct an initial site review with School District representatives to identify potential access locations and roadway improvements • Review detailed plans and provide any recommendations needed for final approval prior to issuing permit

20. Guidelines for School Transportation Design

21. School Access Design • On-Site Stacking Lengths requirements (900 ft-1,500 ft) • Driveway Spacing requirements (600 ft. min)

22. School Access Design • Driveway lane widths and corner radii

23. Results of Planning Efforts • New schools open with minimal traffic problems • No roads are blocked by stacking traffic

24. Conclusions • Good planning yields good results • Good access standards lead to less traffic congestion and lower vehicle crashes