Streets define the character of our neighborhoods.
Yet too many communities still rely on outdated standards for local streets. In communities across the country, planners, engineers, developers, and local officials are trying to create more livable neighborhoods by taking a new look at design requirements for residential streets. While interstate highways and arterial highways properly assign foremost priority to traffic needs, the residential environment must respond to many other concerns. In some ways, residential streets should be considered as extensions of our front yards, rather than as transportation facilities. Unfortunately, outdated regulations in many communities require residential streets to be designed to standards that are suitable for major roadways.