Bike boulevards are designated bike routes on lower-volume and lower-speed streets that have shared-lane markings, “sharrows,” and additional traffic calming features. They are typically applied on streets with posted speeds of 25 mph or less and daily motor vehicle traffic of 3,000 or fewer.

Pros

• Creates bicycle priority corridors in locations that are not intended for high volumes of motor vehicle traffic.
• Provides traffic calming to neighborhood streets and can address challenging crossing locations for both people biking and people walking
• Can provide peace of mind for more inexperienced cyclists to choose cycling over driving

Cons

• Calming features can be expensive and sometimes pose maintenance or snow removal challenges

Bike lanes are designated areas exclusively for bicycles and are created through the use of pavement markings and striping. They are most impactful on streets with more than 3,000 average daily motor vehicle traffic and speeds of 25 mph or greater.

Pros

• Increases cyclist comfort and clearly identifies bicyclists’ space on streets.
• Creates separation between bicyclists and automobiles.

Cons

• Dedicated bike lanes may require narrowing or re-purposing of travel lanes or on-street parking lanes.

Protected bike lanes include the same pavement markings as bike lanes but also have a physical buffer. This buffer can be pavement markings, bollards, planters, or a raised curb. These lanes can be one-way or two-way.

Pros

• Increases cyclist comfort and clearly identifies bicyclists’ space.
• Creates physical separation between bicyclists and automobiles.

Cons

• Cycle tracks require additional street space and may require narrowing or re-purposing of travel lanes and on-street parking lanes.

Trails and sidepaths provide dedicated space for walking and biking outside the roadway. Improvements include pavement markings to separate users and enhanced crossing treatments at driveways and intersections for safety.

Pros

• Separation from vehicular traffic can improve the experience for some users.
• A boulevard section can be landscaped to add to aesthetics and user comfort.

Cons

• Sidepaths add to total right-of-way width requirements
• Drivers turning out of driveways and side streets may have a harder time seeing people bicycling on a sidepath than on an on-street facility. Sidepaths may not be appropriate for streets with large numbers of driveways

Increased frequency includes running more buses, extending routes, or increasing the frequency of existing routes.

Pros

• Improved accessibility for all riders.
• Increased frequency can result in higher ridership.

Cons

• Running additional buses has a higher operational cost for driver wages, additional buses, maintenance, and fuel.

An express route is a service that makes fewer stops than a regular route and normally runs on major roads or highways, connecting key destinations.

Pros

• Provides faster travel times.
• Can efficiently connect major hubs.

Cons

• Fewer stops may lead to limited coverage for some users.
• Express routes may benefit higher-income users while bypassing underserved communities.

An intercity bus is a longer-distance bus service that connects several cities or regions. For example, an Ames to Des Moines bus route.

Pros

• Enhances connectivity by allowing additional travel options between cities urban centers and less-populated regions.
• Most intercity buses can accommodate passengers who need an accessible travel option for longer-distance travel.
• Intercity buses are usually more affordable than flying or trains.

Cons

• There can be a potential low demand for certain routes.
• Travel times are usually longer than other transportation modes.

A new bus route or current route expansion improves the accessibility and connectivity of the community by increasing the total people and land area served.

Pros

• Additional employment and retail centers become accessible, which can reflect onto the local economy.
• More transit options can decrease the need for a car.

Cons

• Expanding routes can increase the travel times for some passengers making short trips.
• The addition of routes will increase the need for infrastructure such as bus stops or shelters.

Increased hours and service extends the time a bus operates, such as in the addition of morning or evening hours. This could include longer service hours, increased frequency, expanded routes, or weekend or holiday service.

Pros

• Increased accessibility for those with irregular schedules.
• Expanded service can increase the transportation options for no car households.
• Expanded service hours can reduce traffic congestion by accommodating more users’ schedules.

Cons

• Increased hours and service require higher operational costs.
• There is a potential for low ridership during off-peak hours.

Transit signal priority (TSP) makes it more likely that the traffic signal is green when a transit vehicle reaches a signalized intersection. This strategy reduces travel times for transit vehicles by avoiding the need to stop and start at signalized intersections

Roundabouts are an alternative option to signalized intersections. Roundabouts move traffic in a continuous counterclockwise motion around a circular center island. When a vehicle enters the roundabout, it must yield to traffic already in the roundabout.

Pros

• Reduces injury crashes by 75 percent – low chance of an angle or broadside crash (linked to more serious injuries than rear end crashes).
• Can provide enhanced pedestrian safety when crossings are placed further away from vehicles maneuvering the roundabout.
• Naturally lowers vehicle speeds and increases safety for drivers and pedestrians.
• Reduces average vehicle delay at intersections.

Cons

• Pedestrian traffic must travel a further distance outside the roundabout and crosswalks crossing exiting vehicle movements have uncontrolled conflicts.
• Creates larger right-of-way footprint.
• Initial costs of implementation may be higher than a traditional intersection.

Turn lanes provide a lane exclusively for the right or left turn movements and cause fewer delays from removing queued turning vehicles from traffic lanes.

Pros

• Increases capacity on roadway.
• Reduces low-severity, rear-end crashes by an average of 50 percent.

Cons

• Increase crossing distances for multimodal users – negatively impacting safety.
• Vehicles stacking in the turn lane can cause delays in the through lanes.

A median is the area between opposing lanes of traffic, creating a separation between opposing lanes of traffic, essentially creating a one-way road in each direction. Median types are raised, flushed, and depressed.

Pros

• Reduces vehicle crashes.
• Increases pedestrian safety by adding a pedestrian refuge in the median.

Cons

• May require on-street parking removal.
• Medians can restrict property access.
• May increase travel distance to reach destinations due to potential restricted left turns.

A road diet reduces the number of travel lanes for vehicles on a roadway. Typically involves converting an existing four-lane undivided roadway to a three-lane roadway and repurposing the additional travel lane. The additional travel lane can be repurposed into a center two-way left-turn lane, bike lanes, or street parking, or a combination.

Pros

• Reduce travel speeds and crash severity.
• Adds bicycle or parking access to roadways.
• Can be a cost-effective way to reduce speeds and create a safer travel environment from modifying existing infrastructure.

Cons

• May decrease the overall capacity of the road and lead to increased peak hour congestion.
• Can cause traffic to shift to parallel routes, leading to congestion on those roads.
• Road Right-Sizing are not a universal solution and may not be appropriate for all road types.

Ridesharing is a transportation service where riders either share a ride with others with a similar destination or where passengers share a ride with a rider through a mobile app (like Uber or Lyft).

Pros

• Reduces injury crashes by 75 percent – low chance of an angle or broadside crash (linked to more serious injuries than rear end crashes).
• Can provide enhanced pedestrian safety when crossings are placed further away from vehicles maneuvering the roundabout.
• Naturally lowers vehicle speeds and increases safety for drivers and pedestrians.
• Reduces average vehicle delay at intersections.

Cons

• Pedestrian traffic must travel a further distance outside the roundabout and crosswalks crossing exiting vehicle movements have uncontrolled conflicts.
• Creates larger right-of-way footprint.
• Initial costs of implementation may be higher than a traditional intersection.

This strategy involves widening existing roads or constructing new lanes to accommodate more vehicles.

Pros

• Increases roadway capacity and can temporarily alleviate traffic congestion and lead to smoother traffic flow and reduced travel time in the short term.
• Reduces the likelihood of accidents such as head-on crashes, especially on bends, by giving drivers additional room to navigate.

Cons

• Widening streets becomes less safe for cross street traffic, pedestrians, and bicyclists.
• Widening streets can often lead to increased traffic congestion due to induced demand from drivers choosing the higher-capacity route.
• Can negatively impact the livability of adjacent neighborhoods.
• Expanded capacity can lead to increased air pollution, loss of green spaces, and additional noise.

Improve the efficiency of traffic, pedestrians, cyclists, and transit on existing streets by coordinating signals using vehicle-to-infrastructure communication.

Pros

• Improved traffic flow – speeds, capacity.
• More efficient ROW configurations.
• Increased fuel efficiency due to less idling and smoother traffic flow.

Cons

• Increased efficiency could be at the expense of new mobility options.
• Uncoordinated implementation among multiple providers for CAV aspects.

Traffic signal timing optimization adjusts to the operation of existing traffic signal controller equipment or modernization of such equipment. May provide for fewer vehicle stops on major roads, better responsiveness or adaptation to changing traffic levels, protected time for crosswalk users, or increase yellow and all-red clearance periods for safety.

Pros

• Flexible strategy to address sharing safe crossing space between multiple travel modes.
• Cost-effective use of existing infrastructure and equipment.
• Reduces overall travel time and congestion due to vehicles stopping at fewer intersections.

Cons

• Optimization methods does not prioritize non-motorized users.
• Not able to be funded by many sources of state and federal funding.
• Without regular maintenance and monitoring, signal optimization measures may increase the “all red” phase of the traffic signal, providing less “green time” to vehicles.

Micromobility allows users to share bicycles or scooters to complete short trips. Expand transportation options to enhance mobility, focusing on first-last mile access and improving services for underserved populations.

Pros

• Reducing use of a vehicle for short or routine trips.
• Better access to transit with a larger access area through mobility hubs and short-range mobility options.
• Contributes to cleaner air and reduced carbon footprints due to zero emissions.

Cons

• Conflicts with other modes – pedestrians and vehicles.
• Regulation and enforcement of some micromobility modes can be challenging.

Wayfinding increases people's awareness and understanding of nearby destinations and the best route to reach them through signs or kiosks. The goal of wayfinding is to provide the necessary information without disrupting traffic flow.

Pros

• Provides a straightforward path for travelers to reach their desired destination.
• Symbols, arrows, and features like braille provide ease to travelers who understand different languages or require other means of communication.

Cons

• Can be a challenge to present the information in the ideal location.
• Can easily be overlooked or missed by travelers.
• Requires regular updates to communicate the most up-to-date information.