1. STATEWIDE LANE ELIMINATION GUIDANCE
Florida Department of Transportation Transportation Statistics Office
STATEWIDE LANE ELIMINATION GUIDANCE
Project Overview

2. Introduction

3. Context
Local governments and agencies typically request elimination of through lanes on State roads so that recovered right-of-way can be used to create space for multimodal facilities or other features
Lane elimination projects typically proposed to:
Create more livable environments
Contribute to economic development and vitality

4. Las Olas Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale
Florida lane elimination example
Photo source: Kittelson & Associates, Inc.

5. Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach
Florida lane elimination example
Photo source: Kittelson & Associates, Inc.

6. Edgewater Drive, Orlando
Florida lane elimination example
Photo source: Project for Public Spaces

7. Purpose of Guide
Support District development of a process for reviewing lane elimination requests
Provide an example process
Serve as an informational resource
Provide foundation for adoption of statewide lane elimination review process

8. Scope of Guide
Supports evaluation of lane elimination requests proposed for:
Creation of space for pedestrian and bicycle facilities
Creation of space for landscaping buffers or medians
Addition of on-street parking
Traffic calming
Lane elimination to support dedicated transit facilities is not explicitly addressed but Guide is a relevant informational resource

9. Usage of Guide Two main sections Appendices
Example lane elimination review process
Profiles of issues and concerns associated with lane elimination projects
Appendices
Lane elimination projects in Florida
Lane elimination impacts (literature review)
Existing lane elimination processes nationwide

10. Acknowledgments
Guide relies on significant input and direction from Central Office and District staff
Additional information provided by Tri-County Regional Planning Commission in Lansing, MI

11. Example Review Process

12. Desired Example Process Characteristics
Consistent, predictable, and repeatable but also flexible
Requires consistency with adopted plans and programs
Discusses appropriate analysis years
Applicable to range of roadway types and cross sections
Includes a review checklist or review form
Includes specific, detailed review criteria
Extensible to development of statewide policy or procedure
Supports FDOT’s Statutory mandates and Districts’ priorities
Addresses diversion and impacts on diversion routes
Multidisciplinary
Requires public involvement
Considers freight routes and freight activity
Multimodal
Requires a funding assessment
Considers evacuation and emergency response needs
Identifies who has authority to approve request
Requires commitment of applicant and partners
Suitable for different time frames and implementation schedules
Includes coordination with FDOT Central Office
Includes a review schedule or timeline
Readily understandable by staff and applicants

13. Roles
Applicant: the city, county, MPO, TPO, and/or private entity proposing the lane elimination project
District Contact: coordinates District’s review activities and serves as point of contact for Applicant
District Review Team: formally reviews information, analyses, and design concepts provided by Applicant
Central Office Contact: coordinates with District Contact and tracks Central Office’s participation in lane elimination request review

14. STAGE 1 Applicant contacts District to schedule meeting.
District provides Lane Elimination Guide to Applicant.
District Contact forms District Review Team.
Applicant provides preliminary project information >2 weeks before Initial Meeting.
District Contact provides project information to District Review Team.
Initial Meeting held. District Review Team determines review process and methodology for Concept Report. Applicant prepares meeting notes.
Central Office is notified.

15. STAGE 2 Applicant and District Contact schedule Interim Meeting.
Applicant provides Draft Concept Report >30 days before Interim Meeting.
District Contact provides consolidated review comments to Applicant >1 week before Interim Meeting.
District Contact provides Draft Concept Report to District Review Team.
Initial Meeting held. Applicant prepares meeting notes.
Central Office is notified.

16. STAGE 3 END Denial Approval Applicant submits
formal Application Package to District.
District assesses
completeness and acceptability of Application Package.
District issues
approval or denial
letter to applicant.
Central Office is notified.
Applicant addresses
review comments in
Final Concept Report.
District internally
approves or denies
lane elimination request.
STAGE 3
Applicant revises and resubmits formal
Application Package
to District.
Denial
Approval
END

17. Communications Materials
Initial meeting checklist
Methodology checklist
Application checklist
Content for:
Central Office notices
Review comments letter
Approval/denial letter
Copy-able text

18. Options for Streamlining Reviews
District Review Team might opt to streamline review process under circumstances such as:
Low traffic volumes
No jurisdictional transfer, functional class change, access management class change, or speed limit change
Project is consistent with adopted plans and programs
No design variation or design exception needed
No impact to SIS, US highway, evacuation route, etc.
Applicant to provide information in Stage 1 to allow District Review Team to select appropriate process

19. Issue Profiles

20. Issue Profiles
Cover topics and concerns that may be associated with lane elimination projects
Provide background information and links to other information sources
Get more information about selected topics
Adapt the example review process
Create an alternative review process
There are trade-offs in addressing all of these issues.
Some issues are interrelated.
Successfully addressing some issues will require significant lead time.

21. Issue Profiles Safety impacts Design variances and exceptions
Freight routes/access
Traffic operations impacts
Consistency with plans and programs
Extra-jurisdictional impacts
Pedestrian and bicyclist activity
Functional classification
Structure/utility impacts
Impacts to transit routing/stops and ridership
System designation
Costs and funding sources
Impacts on parking supply and activity
Access management
Community support
Sales tax revenue and property value impacts
Emergency evacuation and response
Other issues
Environmental issues
Jurisdictional transfers

22. Appendix A
Lane Elimination Projects in Florida

23. Appendix A
A snapshot of existing and proposed lane elimination projects in Florida
Project information includes:
Status
Location
Purpose
Features and extent
Reported successes and shortcomings
Level of District involvement

24. Appendix A (cont.) Themes and trends
Many conversions of 4-lane streets to 3-lane streets
Most intended to improve pedestrian/bicycle travel
Many with placemaking, livability, and/or economic development goals
After studies identified few shortcomings
FDOT involved through review of studies and designs, jurisdictional transfers, and funding
Some projects first implemented as pilot/temporary projects

25. Appendix B
Impacts of Lane Elimination Projects (Literature Review)

26. Appendix B
Summarizes previous studies of lane elimination project impacts
Provides brief critiques of previous studies where warranted
Information used to create example process and issue profiles

27. Appendix C
Existing Processes for Reviewing Lane Elimination Requests

28. Appendix C
Describes five existing formal processes for reviewing lane elimination requests
Key findings
All processes concerned with project funding, community support, and impacts on traffic operations
Most are concerned with environmental impacts, safety impacts, consistency with planned and programmed projects, and needs of pedestrians and bicyclists
All suggest features for inclusion in statewide example process

29. FOR MORE INFORMATION Dana Knox FDOT Transportation Statistics Office
605 Suwannee Street, MS-27
Tallahassee, FL