7. Road ROW Development Code review
Memo
For: Ken Cammilleri – City Administrator
From: Charles Fischer – Director of Public Works
Subject: Road Design Standards
After requested review of the Road, Cul-de-Sac and ROW standards, Public Works has
determined that most of the standards meet or exceed other local communities. Public Works
has identified potential modifications to the standard design to meet the future needs of the
community.
Current Standard: For reference
URBAN DESIGN
Type of Street Minimum Right-of-Way Width Minimum Roadway Width
(including shoulders)
Minor Arterial 120 feet 44 feet
Collector 100 feet 44 feet
Local 66 feet 32 feet
RURAL DESIGN
Type of Street Minimum Right-of Way Width Minimum
Roadway Width
Shoulder Width
(each side)
Minor Arterial 120 feet 24 feet 8 feet
Collector or
Commercial -
Industrial Street
100 feet 24 feet 8 feet
Local 60 feet 24 feet 4 feet
(3) The minimum radius for a cul-de-sac shall be forty-five (45) feet to the face of curb for urban
roadways and edge of pavement for rural roadways.
Public Works has determined the Cul-de-Sac radius of 45 feet is necessary for adequate Fire
Rescue vehicles to access the properties and winter snow removal equipment to operate in a
safe manner. Any radius smaller than 45 feet would cause concern for emergency vehicle
access in and out of the Cul-de-Sac. Further clarification on emergency vehicle access should be
discussed with the Fire Chief. The radius of 45 feet allows winter snow removal equipment
adequate space to turn around safely without the potential of damaging the vehicle or
surrounding private property whether with or without curbing. Refuse trucks are also
considered in the standard, in which, the 45-foot radius is necessary for safe passage and limit
damage to the roadway while turning.
Rural Road width design of 24 feet is also adequate for the operation of snow removal
equipment or other maintenance requirements on or along the shoulder of the roadway. If a
reduction to this standard is applied winter snow removal becomes difficult, as the standard
width of the plow with both front and side wings in operation of 14 to 16 feet in width, limited
both plow and oncoming traffic to pass at a safe distance. A proposed change would be to the
shoulder width from the current 4- and 8-foot standard to a 2- and 4-foot standard. Not only do
these current widths extend our annual maintenance requirement and future reconstruction
costs they also promote parking along the shoulder of the roadway. Public Works recommends
changing the 8-foot Minor and Collector shoulder distance to 4 feet and the Local shoulder 4-
foot requirement to 2 feet unless deemed necessary by the City Engineer to extend the width.
Public Works also is concerned of the bike routes throughout the City. Currently bike routes
have been added to our roadways with no additional space provided for safe bicycle traffic. For
future development Public Works suggests adding dedicated bike lanes where bike routes are
currently developed or have potential to extend our bike trail system. The recommendation
comes from witnessing, on occasion, vehicles and bicyclist meeting on the roadway with limited
separation, especially when two oncoming vehicles and a bicyclist meet.