One-Way Routes

General Description:

One-Way Routes only allow travel in one direction along a corridor.  They eliminate many conflicts with opposing traffic and can create a circulating effect in some circumstances (e.g. grid-type areas).  Travel times can be reduced and confusion can be minimized through proper one-way routing.

Effects of Solution:

¨ Increase Passenger Throughput

þ Increase Roadway Capacity (Reduces conflicts to increase capacity)

þ Manage System Efficiency (Minimizes conflicts along a facility)

¨ Reduce Local Demand

One-way Routes increase capacity because of the reduced conflicts between opposing traffic and maximizes efficiency of the facility. 

Examples of Implementation and Contacts:

Red Rock Canyon – BLM

Dave Wolf, Manager, RRCNCA

Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge

Stephen Labuda, Jr., Refuge Manager, Laguna Atascosa NWR, USFWS

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

William Wellman, Monument Manager, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Cost/Financial Information:

Source: A Toolbox for Alleviating Traffic Congestion and Enhancing Mobility, Institute of Transportation Engineers.  (Cost/financial information is estimated, and will vary based on size and scope of project, number of units, etc.)

Simple conversions of two-way routes may only involve striping and resigning costs (see the Pavement Striping Techniques and Improved Traffic Control Devices fact sheets).  New facilities will be much more expensive, see the New Highways and Routes fact sheet.

Capital Cost

Converting two-way streets to one-way                  $.5-2K/block

Additional Resources:

A Toolbox for Alleviating Traffic Congestion and Enhancing Mobility; available for order at: http://www.ite.org/bookstore/index.asp

Federal Highway Administration publication: Flexibility in Highway Design, available at: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/flexibility/index.cfm

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