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FHWA Home / Safety / Geometric Design / Publications / Benefits of Access Management: Access Spacing

Benefits of Access Management: Access Spacing

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Benefits of Access Management

ACCESS SPACING

SIGNAL SPACING

Increasing the distance between traffic signals improves the flow of traffic on major arterials, reduces congestion, and improves air quality for heavily traveled corridors. The appropriate spacing between signals for a particular corridor depends greatly upon the speed and flow of traffic, but anything greater than two signals per mile has a significant impact on congestion and safety.

A major synthesis of research on access management found that each additional signal over two per mile (i.e., a one-half mile signal spacing) increased travel time by over six percent. [4] A study of an intersection in Cincinnati where a signal was added found a 20 percent increase in peak travel times. [11]

Signals Per Mile Increase in Travel Time (1%)
2
-
3
9
4
16
5
23
6
29
7
34
8
39

A demonstration project in Colorado revealed that half mile signal spacing and raised medians on a five-mile roadway segment reduced total hours of vehicle travel by 42 percent and total hours of delay by 59 percent, compared to quarter mile signal spacing. [1]

Improved speeds and travel times translate directly into environmental benefits. An ongoing study in Texas found that a ten mile four-lane arterial with one-half mile signal spacing reduced fuel consumption by 240,000 gallons from increased speed and 335,000 gallons from reduced delay, compared to quarter mile signal spacing. [14]

Increasing the distance between signals also reduces the incidence of crashes. A review of crash data from seven states demonstrated that the crash rate increased substantially with additional signals per mile. [4] This is partly related to access spacing, which is presented next.

Signals Per Mile Crashes Per Million VMT
Under 2
3.53
2-4
6.89
4-6
7.49
6+
9.11

DRIVEWAY SPACING

Appropriate driveway spacing presents another major access issue. Large numbers of driveways increase the potential conflicts on the road. Fewer driveways spaced further apart allow for more orderly merging of traffic and present fewer challenges to drivers.

The congestion impacts of reduced driveways are fairly clear. It is impossible for a major arterial or highway to maintain free flow speeds with numerous access points that add slow moving vehicles. A research synthesis found that roadway speeds were reduced an average of 2.5 miles per hour for every 10 access points per mile, up to a maximum of a 10 miles per hour reduction (at 40 access points per mile). [4] With higher numbers of access points, congestion will increase significantly.

An overabundance of driveways also increases the rate of car crashes. An examination of crash data in seven states indicated found a strong linear relationship between the number of crashes and the number of driveways. Rural areas had a similar, but less strong relationship. [4,7]

Bar Chart: Crashes Per Million VMT/Driveways Per Mile - Under 20 Urban 4, 20 to 40 Urban 6.5, 40 to 60 Urban 8, Over 60 Urban 9, Under 15 Rural 1.5, 15 to 30 Rural 2, Over 30 Rural 3

 

Page last modified on October 15, 2014
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Federal Highway Administration | 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE | Washington, DC 20590 | 202-366-4000