Barrier Categories

Safety

• Barriers that create unsafe conditions and risk for pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users. This includes issues related to infrastructure condition and design that compromise safety.
• Examples: Unsafe intersections, poor lighting, damaged sidewalks, unsafe crossings, speeding zones, lack of bike lanes, lack of accessible infrastructure, etc.

Auto-Oriented Development

• Barriers caused by car-centric design and missing connectivity. These issues often limit access to key destinations and can be improved through physical development or redesign.
• Examples: Long blocks, wide high‑speed roads, separated uses (housing far from jobs/services), disconnected paths to schools, workplaces, or transit stops, inadequate crossings, etc.

Social/Equity

• Barriers that affect fairness, accessibility, and quality of life, particularly for underserved communities. This includes environmental impacts and limited access to essential services.
• Examples: Noise or air pollution, inaccessible transit stops, reduced access to jobs, healthcare, and education.

Others

• Any barrier not covered above.

Improvement Ideas

Pedestrian Infrastructure

• Pedestrian Bridge – Provides safe crossing over high-speed roads or freeways.
• Raised Crosswalks – Improves visibility and slows vehicles at crossings.
• Pedestrian Refuge Islands – Adds a safe waiting space in the middle of wide roads.
• Sidewalk Repair/Installation – Ensures continuous, ADA-compliant pedestrian paths.

Bicycle Infrastructure

• Bike Lanes (Protected or Buffered) – Creates dedicated space for cyclists.
• Bike Boxes – Provides a safe area for cyclists at intersections ahead of vehicles.
• Shared-Use Paths – Allows pedestrians and cyclists to travel safely off-road.
• Wayfinding Signage for Bikes – Improves navigation and connectivity.

Intersection & Crossing Enhancements

• Signalized Intersection – Adds traffic signals for safer pedestrian and vehicle movement.
• High-Visibility Crosswalks – Uses bold markings for better driver awareness.
• Curb Extensions (Bulb-outs) – Shortens crossing distance and improves sightlines.
• Flashing Beacons – Alerts drivers to pedestrian presence at unsignalized crossings.

Traffic Calming & Speed Management

• Speed Humps – Reduces vehicle speeds on local streets.
• Road Diets – Narrows or reduces lanes to slow traffic and add bike/ped space.
• Landscaped Medians – Provides visual narrowing and pedestrian refuge.

Environmental & Equity Solutions

• Install green buffers and noise barriers to reduce pollution impacts.
• Promote low-emission zones and tree planting for cleaner air.
• Encourage mixed-use development to bring housing closer to jobs and services.
• Expand access to jobs, healthcare, and education through improved transit connectivity.