Roadway Access Management and Its Importance to the Transportation System of Developed and Developing Nations

Abstract

Access management can be generally defined as the coordinated planning, regulation, and design of access between roadways and adjacent land. The practice of access management has steadily evolved over the past century as an important element of the U.S. transportation policy. Since the 1980s, dramatic advances in access management have taken place along arterial roads, particularly in suburban settings. Colorado established the first statewide access management program in the U.S. (1980), followed by statewide codes or increased efforts in several other states. The American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets expanded its treatment of access management in 2001 and 2003, the first U.S. Access Management Manual was published by the Transportation Research Board. The documented safety and operational benefits of access management techniques have also led to policies in several other nations. These advancements continue to raise awareness of the need to manage traffic conflicts through functionally designed roadway networks with varying levels of access and mobility. This presentation explores the U.S. concept of access management, including recent developments, and addresses the importance of access management to the quality and safety of every nation's transportation system.