Pedestrian Safety and Accessibility Best Practices for Channelized Right Turn Lanes

Summary:

This research sought to identify best practices for channelized right-turn lanes (CRT) that better accommodate the safety and accessibility needs of all road users. This was accomplished through a comprehensive literature review, a state-of-the-practice survey of state and local roadway agencies (nationwide and within Minnesota), a review of agency policy and guidance materials (nationwide and MnDOT), and a series of focus group meetings focused on vulnerable road users. Feedback received both from the survey of transportation agencies and the focus group sessions performed as a part of this research suggest that roadway agencies throughout the United States are moving toward proactive policies for the use of CRTs that emphasize safety and mobility for vulnerable road users. This movement is generally based on the concerns for the safety of vulnerable road users outlined in the prior section and commonly includes 1.) minimizing the use of CRTs at urban and suburban intersections and/or 2.) designing new CRT facilities or retrofitting existing facilities with mitigation strategies to improve the safety and accessibility for vulnerable road users. This information was synthesized along with the best practices found in the research literature and agency policy/guidance materials to develop implementation guidance, which is organized within the report as follows: 1.) guidance for use of CRTs based on the project scenario; 2.) traffic control recommendations for CRTs; 3.) recommended design features for CRTs; and 4.) recommended mitigation strategies intended to improve CRT safety and/or accessibility for vulnerable road users.

Final Deliverables:

• Pedestrian Safety and Accessibility Best Practices for Channelized Right Turn Lanes (Report #2024-31)
• Designing channelized right-turn lanes to increase pedestrian and cyclist safety (Research Summary)

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