A "road diet" entails converting a four-lane undivided roadway to a two-lane roadway plus a two-way left turn lane by removing a travel lane in each direction. The remaining roadway width can be converted to bike lanes, on-street parking or sidewalks. In cities throughout the world, roadways have been put on "road diets," and these improvements have generated benefits to all modes of transportation including transit, bicyclists, pedestrians and motorists. These benefits include reduced vehicle speeds, improved mobility and access, reduced collisions and injuries, and improved livability and quality of life. This paper explores the livability impacts of the geometric changes produced by road diet projects. These livability impacts have not been previously evaluated in any research effort or manner. The impacts of the road diet cross section evaluated include improved quality of life, street character, and comfort and safety for pedestrians, bicycles, and transit. The content, application, and results of a public opinion livability survey are presented. The survey was administered along four-lane undivided and three-lane streets with comparable width, character, and traffic flow. The livability survey solicited information from people living and working adjacent to the streets with factors directly related to its livability. Five sites were chosen for the survey and data collection in Washington, Iowa, and Georgia, and in Canada and New Zealand. The focus of the paper is on the impacts of geometric changes in roadway cross section on livability and context sensitivity.
Samenvatting