When you think about transportation, images of cars, planes or ships might first come to mind. Actually, however, transportation includes a vast, multi-modal network of facilities and infrastructure that work together to provide access, mobility, and safety needs for drivers, bicyclists, transit users, and pedestrians. The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) defines a pedestrian as a person afoot, in a wheelchair, on skates, or on a skateboard. This type of transportation user is typically accommodated through the design of sidewalks, multi-use paths, crosswalks, pedestrian refuges (at roadway intersections), lighting, and curb treatments, such as handicap ramps and detectable warnings.
The Bonton transportation team understands the unique needs, challenges, and opportunities associated with implementing pedestrian facilities, and works to identify solutions to improve pedestrian access and mobility within the larger transportation network. Our team has extensive experience in pedestrian facility design, regularly drawing upon the skills and knowledge integral to successfully delivering projects for:
> Sidewalk
> Multi-use paths
> Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant facilities (curb ramps, detectable warnings, transitions, etc.)
> ADA transition projects, which assess existing pedestrian facilities to identify non-ADA compliant features and provide compliant solutions through pedestrian design improvements
Coupled with technical skill, our team must leverage their experience while implementing all applicable pedestrian facility design guidelines and regulations, including:
> Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LADOTD) Design Guidelines and Standards
> American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO): Guide for the Planning, Design and Operation of Pedestrian Facilities
> A Guide to the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG)
> Public Right of Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG)
> Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)
Together with our clients and partners, Bonton is proud to take the lead on “complete streets” policy implementation (see below for more details) through numerous constructed and ongoing pedestrian facilities across our community. To date, we’ve contributed to a wide range of range of projects designed to improve the pedestrian facility network within the Baton Rouge area, including:
> LSU Avenue Sidewalks (Yale Street to West Lakeshore Drive) — a newly constructed sidewalk facility with landscaping improvements
> Christian Street Sidewalk Improvements (East Lakeshore Drive to Perkins Road) — a newly constructed sidewalk with drainage culvert improvements and landscaping
> Harding Boulevard Pedestrian Improvements — a newly constructed sidewalk with ADA curb ramps and facilities
> Silverleaf Avenue Pedestrian Improvements — a newly constructed sidewalk with ADA curb ramps and facilities
> North Harrell’s Ferry Road Pedestrian Improvements — a newly constructed sidewalk with ADA curb ramps and facilities
> Claycut Road Pedestrian Improvements — a newly constructed sidewalk with ADA ramps
> Ardenwood-Lobdell Connector Design Study & Design — a roadway and pedestrian facility design project for a roadway extension that includes pervious sidewalk facilities, ADA compliance, crosswalks, and pedestrian safety measures (project currently in design phase)
> Fairfields Avenue ADA Transition Projects — a project that identifies and evaluates existing non-ADA compliant features along existing facilities and provides improvement recommendations to transition facilities to current ADA guidelines (project currently in design phase)
> South Harrell’s Ferry Road Multi-use Path — a design project for a new multi-use path with ADA-compliant facilities (curb ramps, crosswalks, etc.), drainage improvements and green infrastructure features (project currently in design phase)
> Louisiana Highway 73 (Essen Lane to US 61 [Airline Highway]) — A roadway rehabilitation project that includes Portland cement concrete panel replacement, sidewalk repair/replacement, ADA curb ramp installation, and concrete curb replacement
Bonton’s work and advocacy in pedestrian facility design reflects the firm-wide commitment to complete streets — safe, accessible transportation infrastructure that meets the needs of all users, from drivers and public transit users to bicyclists and pedestrians. When implementing complete streets initiatives, our team also works to incorporate green infrastructure as much as possible. MOVEBR defines green infrastructure as a resilient approach to managing stormwater runoff that aims to protect, restore, and mimic the natural water cycle. (Read more about these two topics in our next post!)
We’re excited to lead our communities forward with thoughtful, safe and effective pedestrian facility design. To learn more about how our team, clients and partners are building better transportation infrastructure for all users, please get in touch with us.