ROADS LESS TAKEN

A growing attitude is emerging among cities and towns across the country that roads should fit into the community, not the other way around. More municipalities are expecting transportation engineers and bureaucrats to work with their specific needs for livable communities where pedestrians, not automobiles, are the priority. The "Green Book," published by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), on highway and street design is being challenged by many activists that seek to shrink the size of roads and create a slower pace for traffic, commerce, and pedestrians. Increasingly, designers and engineers are utilizing "traffic calming" principles such as turnarounds, extended curbs, and narrower streets. If a design deviates from Green Book standards, it is up to engineers to document and rationally analyze the safety of the change as a safeguard against liability.