VERMONT STATE DESIGN STANDARDS

 Table of Contents

October 22, 1997                                                                                                                                 Page     

1.0 Introduction 1
1.1 The Purpose of Design Standards 1
1.2 How the Standards Were Developed 2
1.3 Roadway Classification System 2
1.4 Project Planning Standards: Linkage to the Project Development Process 3
1.5 Transportation Design in the Vermont Context 4
1.5.1

Large Towns and Cities

 5
1.5.2

Small Towns and Villages

6
1.5.3

Suburban Commercial/Residential Corridors

6
1.5.4

Rural Corridors

7
1.6 General Use of the Standards 7
1.7 Use By Municipalities 8
1.8 Special Design Guidelines and Their Role in the Standards 9
1.9 Design Exceptions 9
 2.0 Freeways 10
2.1 Basic Geometric Standards 10
2.2 Special Design Guidelines 10
2.2.1

Common Tools for Freeways

 10
2.2.2

Historic/Archaeological Considerations

11
2.2.3

Natural Resources

11
2.2.4

Recreational Resources

 12
2.2.5

Scenic Roads or Views Considerations

12
2.2.6

Village or City Entrance Considerations

13
2.2.7

Economic Vitality Considerations

13
3.0 Principal Arterial Roads and Streets 14
3.1 Basic Geometric Standards 14
3.2 Level of Service 14
3.3 Design Speed 14
3.4 Sight Distance 14
3.4.1

Stopping Sight Distance

 14
3.4.2

Corner Sight Distance

 15
3.5 Lane and Shoulder Widths for Urban and Village Principal Arterials 16
3.6 Lane and Shoulder Widths on Rural Principal Arterials 18
3.7 Bridge Widths and Structural Capacities 18
3.8 Vertical Clearance 19
3.9 Horizontal Clearance 19
3.10 Alignment 20
3.11 Grades 20
3.12 Cross-slope 21
3.13 Superelevation 21
3.14 Bicycle and Pedestrian Considerations 21
3.14.1    Shared Use of the Highway by Bicycles 22
3.14.2    Bicycles on Bridges 25
3.14.3    Designated Bicycle Routes and Lanes 25
3.14.4    Pedestrian Facilities 26
3.15 Special Design Guidelines 26
3.15.1    Common Tools 27
3.15.2    Historic/Archaeological Considerations 28
3.15.3    Natural Resources 28
3.15.4    Recreational Resources 29
3.15.5    Scenic Roads or Views Considerations 29
3.15.6    Village or City Entrance Considerations 30
3.15.7    Economic Vitality Considerations 30
4.0 Minor Arterial Roads and Streets 31
4.1 Basic Geometric Standards 31
4.2 Level of Service 31
4.3 Design Speed 31
4.4 Sight Distance 32
4.4.1    Stopping Sight Distance 32
4.4.2    Corner Sight Distance 32
4.5 Lane and Shoulder Widths for Urban And Village Minor Arterials 33
4.6 Lane and Shoulder Widths on Rural Minor Arterials 34
4.7 Bridge Widths and Structural Capacities 35
4.8 Vertical Clearance 36
4.9 Horizontal Clearance 37
4.10 Alignment 38
4.11 Grades 38
4.12 Cross-slope 39
4.13 Superelevation 39
4.14 Bicycle and Pedestrian Considerations 40
4.14.1    Shared Use of the Highway by Bicycles 40
4.14.2    Bicycles on Bridges 43
4.14.3     Designated Bicycle Routes and Lanes 43
4.14.4     Pedestrian Facilities 43
4.15 Special Design Guidelines 43
4.15.1    Common Tools 44
4.15.2     Historic/Archaeological Considerations 46
4.15.3    Natural Resources 46
4.15.4     Recreational Resources 47
4.15.5    Scenic Roads or Views Considerations 47
4.15.6    Village or City Entrance Considerations 48
4.15.7      Economic Vitality Considerations 48
5.0 Collector Roads and Streets 49
5.1 Basic Geometric Standards 49
5.2 Level of Service 49
5.3 Design Speed 49
5.4 Sight Distance 49
5.4.1    Stopping Sight Distance 49
5.4.2    Corner Sight Distance 50
5.5 Lane and Shoulder Widths for Urban Collectors 51
5.6 Lane and Shoulder Widths on Rural Collectors 51
5.7 Bridge Widths and Structural Capacities 52
5.8 Vertical Clearance 54
5.9 Horizontal Clearance 55
5.10 Alignment 56
5.11 Grades 56
5.12 Cross-slope 57
5.13 Superelevation 57
5.14 Bicycle and Pedestrian Considerations 58
5.14.1    Shared Use of the Highway by Bicycles 58
5.14.2    Bicycles on Bridges 60
5.14.3     Designated Bicycle Routes and Lanes 60
5.14.4     Pedestrian Facilities 60
5.15 Special Design Guidelines 61
5.15.1    Common Tools 62
5.15.2     Historic/Archaeological Considerations 63
5.15.3    Natural Resources 64
5.15.4     Recreational Resources 64
5.15.5    Scenic Roads or Views Considerations 64
5.15.6    Village or City Entrance Considerations 65
5.15.7    Economic Vitality Considerations 65
6.0 Local Roads and Streets 67
6.1 Basic Geometric Standards 67
6.2 Design Speed 67
6.3 Sight Distance 67
6.3.1    Stopping Sight Distance 67
6.3.2    Corner Sight Distance 68
6.4 Lane and Shoulder Widths for Urban Local Streets 68
6.5 Lane and Shoulder Widths on Rural Local Roads 69
6.6 Bridge Widths and Structural Capacities 69
6.7 Vertical Clearance 71
6.8 Horizontal Clearance 71
6.9 Alignment 73
6.10 Grades 73
6.11 Cross-slope 74
6.12 Superelevation 74
6.13 Bicycle and Pedestrian Considerations 75
6.13.1    Shared Use of the Highway by Bicycles 75
6.13.2    Bicycles on Bridges 78
6.13.3     Designated Bicycle Routes and Lanes 78
6.13.4     Pedestrian Facilities 78
6.14 Special Design Guidelines 79
6.14.1    Common Tools 80
6.14.2     Historic/Archaeological Considerations 81
6.14.3    Natural Resources 81
6.14.4     Recreational Resources 82
6.14.5    Scenic Roads or Views Considerations 82
7.0 Level Of Improvement 83
7.1 Introduction 83
7.2 Applicability 83
7.3 Classification 83
7.4 Investment Categories 84
7.5 LOI Table and Discussion 85
7.6 Other Factors - Changes to Investment Categories 86
7.7 Process 87

 

 

 

 

List of Tables
3.1 Minimum Stopping Sight Distance for Principal Arterials (Wet Pavements)  
  Rehabilitation, Reconstruction or New Construction 15
3.2 Minimum Corner Sight Distances for Principal Arterials 16
3.3 Minimum Width of Lanes and Shoulders for Two Lane Rural Principal Arterials 18
3.4 Minimum Clear Zone Distances 20
3.5 Maximum Grades for Rural Principal Arterials 21
3.6 Maximum Grades for Urban and Village Principal Arterials 22
3.7 Minimum Width of Paved Shoulder Area to Accommodate Shared Use of  
 

Rural Principal Arterial Roadways by Bicycles

23
3.8 Minimum Width of Paved Shoulder Area to Accommodate Shared Use of Urban or  
 

Village Principal Arterial Streets With Curbing by Bicycles

24
3.9 Minimum Width of a Shared Use Curb Lane to Accommodate Shared Use of  
 

Urban or Village Principal Arterial Streets by Bicycles

25
4.1 Minimum Stopping Sight Distance for Minor Arterials (wet pavements)  
 

Rehabilitation, Reconstruction or New Construction

32
4.2 Minimum Corner Sight Distances for Minor Arterials 33
4.3 Minimum Width of Lanes and Shoulders for Two Lane Rural Minor Arterials 34
4.4 Minimum Clear Zone Distances 37
4.5 Maximum Grades for Rural Minor Arterials 39
4.6 Maximum Grades for Urban and Village Minor Arterials 39
4.7 Minimum Width of Paved Shoulder to Accommodate Shared Use of Rural Minor  
 

Arterial Roadways by Bicycles

41
4.8 Minimum Width of Paved Shoulders to Accommodate Shared Use of  
 

Urban or Village Minor Arterial Streets With Curbing by Bicycles

42
4.9 Minimum Width of a Shared Use Curb Lane to Accommodate Shared Use  
 

of Urban or Village Minor Arterial Streets by Bicycles

43
5.1 Minimum Stopping Sight Distance for Collectors (wet pavements) 50
5.2 Minimum Corner Sight Distances for Collectors 50
5.3 Minimum Width of Lanes and Shoulders for Two Lane Rural Collectors 52
5.4 Bridges to Remain in Place on Collector Roads and Streets 54
5.5 Minimum Clear Zone Distances 55
5.6 Maximum Grades for Rural Collectors 57
5.7 Maximum Grades for Urban and Village Collectors 57
5.8 Minimum Width of Paved Shoulder to Accommodate Shared Use of  
 

Rural Collector Roadways by Bicycles

59
5.9 Minimum Width of Paved Shoulders to Accommodate Shared Use of  
 

Urban or Village Collector Streets With Curbing by Bicycles

59
5.10 Minimum Width of a Shared Use Curb Lane to Accommodate Shared Use of  
 

Urban or Village Collector Streets by Bicycles

60
6.1 Minimum Stopping Sight Distance for Local Roads/Streets (wet pavements) 67
6.2 Minimum Corner Sight Distances for Local Road and Streets 68
6.3 Minimum Width of Lane and Shoulders for Rural Local Roads 69
6.4 Bridges to Remain in Place on Local Roads and Streets 71
6.5 Minimum Clear Zone Distances 72
6.6 Maximum Grades for Rural Local Roads 74
6.7 Minimum Width of Paved Shoulder to Accommodate Shared Use of Paved  
 

Rural Local Roadways by Bicycles

76
6.8 Minimum Width of Paved Shoulders to Accommodate Shared Use of Urban  
 

or Village Local Streets With Curbing by Bicycles

77
6.9 Minimum Width of a Shared Use Curb Lane to Accommodate Shared Use  
 

of Urban or Village Local Streets by Bicycles

78
7.1 Classification Matrix - Roadway 88
7.2 Classification Results 89
7.3 Statewide Overview 90
7.4 Classification Results by County 91