What's New in City Design

ITE Curbside Management Practitioners Guide



This 2018 Guide (50 pages) from the Institute for Transportation Engineers (ITE) provides an overview of planning consideration for curbside management. Curb space is where movement meets access, however, is not always optimized for its highest and best use. Traditional uses, such as on-street parking and loading, are experiencing increased competition for space from technology-enabled uses such as Transportation Network Companies such as Uber and Lyft, as well as increased deliveries with e-commerce.


Benefits & Problems Addressed

New curb management techniques: The Guide covers the gamut of traditional and emerging users and uses, with new ideas on managing competition for curb space.

Heightened attention to curbsides as public assets: Curb space uses and regulations have historically been assembled piecemeal and overwhelmingly allocated to underpriced private vehicle storage. This recognition is critical for proper asset prioritization, pricing and management.

Curbsides as dynamic infrastructure: Cities often regard curbs as fixed, rather than flexible infrastructure. However, the Guide reframes curb management for a more flexible and dynamic approach.


Tips & Techniques

Introduction: The purpose of this document is to provide guidance on best practices for curb space allocation policy and implementation based primarily upon the outcomes of tested strategies. The Guide presents planning and implementation considerations for curbside management or sharing, policy development, prioritization, available tools and treatments, and evaluation metrics.

Planning Considerations: Curbside management exists at the nexus of transportation, land use, and economic development. Managing curb space effectively requires matching regulations and operations to clear policy goals: universal access; sustainable ecosystems; resilient economies; and a safe, reliable, and equitable transportation system.

Essential Right-of-Way Functions: Seattle identifies six essential functions: (1) Mobility, (2) Access for People, (3) Access for Commerce, (4) Activation, (5) Greening, and (6) Storage.



Available Tools and Treatments: The following are exapmes covered in the Guide:

Planning and Implementation: Flex Zones, Layered Network Approach to Modal Prioritization, Living Previews (or Tactical Urbanism),

Access to Loading/Unloading Zones:  Passenger Access (Loading/Unloading Space, Geofencing for For-Hire Vehicles), Freight Access (Freight Zone Pricing, Off-peak Delivery and Congestion Pricing, Delivery Vehicle Staging Zones, Urban Consolidation Centers for Last Mile Delivery), Both (Moving Loading and Access around the Corner,

Parking: Demand-Based Pricing, Time Limits, Time-of-day Restrictions, Reduced Occupancy Targets, Inclusion of Off-street Options, Priority Parking Programs,

Transit: Transit Lanes, Bus Queue Jumps, Bus Bulbs and Bus Boarding Islands, Commuter Shuttle and Private Transit Management, Automated Enforcement of Transit Spaces,

Bicycle: Protected Bikeways (Cycle Tracks), Bicycle and Shared Mobility Device Storage.

Pedestrian and Activation: Curb Extensions, Wider Sidewalks, Parklets,

Treatment Selection Process: In general, the curbside management treatment selection consists of the following steps: (1) Inventory Existing Conditions, (2) Identify Land Use and Activity Considerations to Develop Modal Prioritization, (3) Identify Appropriate Treatment Alternatives, (4) Assess and Present Alternatives for Public Feedback, and (5) Refine and Implement Treatments

Performance Measurement: The Guide presents several tables with example performance metrics for (1) Mobility, (2) Livability, (3) Accessibility, (4) Safety, (5) Efficiency, and (6) Economic Vitality

Future Considerations: Curb space needs will continue to evolve as mobility options change and technology advances.  Some of the evolution will involve factors such as the ability to manage curbs in real time, the ability to apply micropayments for short transactions, and the increasing use of data.


Resource

ITE Curbside Management Practitioners Guide