FP's "How to" guide for Allocating Curb Space Use
A new process developed for Washington, D.C.
Define the Application
step 1
When Should a City Allocate Curb Space Use?
This new process should be applied in the following City functions: (1) current curbside management on-going activities, (2) project planning and small area studies, and (3) inclusion in land development application reviews. An advanced application of this guide offers a new opportunity to assess safety conditions, identifying conflicting movements between uses, sight distance obstructions, and other operational issues.
Examples:
•Curbside Analysis
•Multimodal Project Planning
•Complete Streets Design
•Development Review
•Safety Study
•Small Area Planning
Step 2
Identify the STudy Area
With the purpose of the analysis determined, the next step is to understand the geographic scope. Define the specific geographical boundaries and relationships between the curb space demands and the curb space supply.
Project planning studies typically assess study corridors, analyzing a corridor of parallel streets and interconnecting streets. Example: a corridor study may assign a micro-level Complete Streets network with parallel streets prioritizing different modes. Curb running bicycle or transit facilities may displace on-street parking, supporting the need for a corridor curb space study to accommodate the multimodal and parking demands within the corridor study boundaries. Land development applications should focus first on accommodating site demand on-site and along the abutting streets, then if necessary, expand to the block level for shared mobility and other supporting demands.
Examples:
•Block Level
•Study Area
•Corridor
•Small Area
Evaluate the Study Area
step 3
Define the Community Context
Regardless of the study area, the community environment is a key driver in the prioritization of curb space. Examples:
Downtown / High Intensity areas have a vibrant streetscape that supports active street-level uses and provides access to downtown businesses, residences, and transit services.
Mixed-Use / High Intensity areas serve a more diverse variety of land uses and are typically smaller in scale than Downtown / High Intensity areas.
Neighborhood Centers accommodate the movement of people and goods along the street and curb space, the curb space use balances block-level access needs with the broader priority of walking, bicycling, micromobility options, and transit access. Industrial areas possess higher volumes of large vehicles such as single unit trucks, tractor trailers and other delivery vehicles, thus the curb space should provide opportunities for temporary parking of trucks or staging of equipment or other materials associated with industrial uses.
Low-Intensity Residential areas emphasize residential access and curbside uses that provide amenity and activation.
step 4
Assess Each Street’s Function
Cities possess street functional classifications with general categories such as: Interstate, Principal Arterials, Minor Arterials, Collectors, and Local Streets. This system prioritizes both mobility (moving traffic through an area) and accessibility (providing access to land and properties). Arterials focus on high mobility, while local streets focus on providing direct access, with collectors offering a balance between the two. Interstate streets do not have curbside management activities.
Examples:
Principal Arterials: Connect major geographic areas and major activity centers, offering high mobility.
Minor Arterials: Provide access to short- to medium-length trips and are more focused on mobility than direct property access.
Collectors: Distribute traffic from local streets to the arterial system and vice-versa, providing both land access and circulation within neighborhoods.
Local Streets: Provide the lowest level of mobility and the highest degree of direct access to abutting land and properties.
Allocate Curb Space
Step 5
Reserve Curb Space for Prerequisite Uses
Before allocating other curb uses (1) ensure it is safe, (2) serves essential services, & (3) prioritizes people with special needs.
This approach broadens the focus of curbside management responsibilities addressing regulatory distances where parking is prohibited, intersection operations, site distance and emergency infrastructure access, public works functions, and all other safety uses.
Step 6
Accommodate the Modal Priority for Each Street
With safety and accessibility curb space realm reservations in place, the next highest priorities are multimodal accessibility and person movement based on the modal priority of the street and community needs. Include the sidewalk furnishing zone, curb space, and curb running travel lane in the allocation prioritization process. Examples:
- On-street curb running bicycle facilities
- Curb running transit priority lanes
- High levels of commercial loading activity
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Step 7
Consider Special Conditions
While the above steps combine community context with varying transportation functions, streets serve areas that necessitate evacuation or heightened sensitivity to safety for pedestrian, bicycle, and transit activity. Examples include schools / campuses, community centers, monument / museums, and event venues.
Step 8
Tailor Allocation to Balance Block-level Needs
Address block-level resident and tenant needs close to residential units and businesses, prioritizing them based on stakeholder input. The curb space features that support Resident and Tenant Livability may be docking for rideshare, residential deliveries & ecommerce, short-term timed or paid parking on commercial blocks to support economic activity, or tenant parking on multi-family residential blocks.
Achieve the Mission
step 9
Monitor & Optimize Curb Use
Align program goals, objectives, and performance measures. Evaluate performance of the curb space use relative to safety, accessibility, mobility, and community values goals.
