01661310

Component

Autonomous vehicles (AVs) offer an opportunity to significantly reshape urban streets. However, much like predictions of AV uptake and usage patterns, the form and extent of this street reshaping is highly uncertain. While numerous studies identify the impact AVs may have on street operations and policy, this paper presents the first case study to investigate AVs’ potential influence on street design. As an auto-oriented thoroughfare slated for significant redevelopment in the coming decades, 4th Street in San Francisco provided an ideal case study for future-proofed street design. The 4th Street new mobility street design methodology comprised four steps. First, transportation and land use data were used to generate existing and projected conditions. Second, future mode share scenarios were developed using a range of AV market uptake assumptions. Third, application of existing data to the new mode share scenarios produced future capacity and demand data. Finally, this data enabled development of a new people-centered and future-proofed street design. This research produces two key findings. First, in urban areas, the curb will be the center of increasing levels of conflict. As AV services escalate passenger loading demand, on-street parking will remain in high demand if legacy vehicles remain in circulation. Balancing passenger loading with on-street parking will be crucial. Additionally, building more high-quality bicycle facilities will remain critical to achieving safer, more sustainable communities. Second, AVs are highly likely to bring greater efficiencies to roadway operations, presenting a significant opportunity to repurpose this regained road capacity for other modes.

This paper was sponsored by TRB committee ABE30 Standing Committee on Transportation Issues in Major Cities.

18-05038

English

18p

2018

Transportation Research Board 97th Annual Meeting

Digital/other

Figures; References; Tables

Autonomous intelligent cruise control; Highway design; Intelligent vehicles; Mobility; Urban design

San Francisco (California)

Design; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Vehicles and Equipment

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2018 Paper #18-05038

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Jan 8 2018 11:15AM