FIGURE 9.2: ROW EXPANSION AT INTERSECTION
Roadway classification levels range from high mobility/low access highways to low mobility/high access local roads. Having a well-defined hierarchy in a road network helps to streamline the design standards for roadways within a jurisdiction, making the road network easy to navigate for users. The existing Pearland Thoroughfare Plan depicts six levels of roadway classifications, which are provided on the Thoroughfare Map with preferred right-of-way widths but are not further defined within a policy document. General descriptions of the mobility, access, and character of each classification are provided below.
STANDARD NODE, BIG LINK
BIG NODE, SMALLER LINK
CLASSIFICATIONS
FREEWAY/CONTROLLED-ACCESS HIGHWAYS are shown in black and are part of the state system. They serve high-volume, high-speed regional traffic with full access control. Freeways in the Pearland region are SH 288 and the Harris County Toll Road Authority's (HCTRA) Sam Houston Tollway. MAJOR THOROUGHFARES shown in blue, have a minimum 120-foot right-of-way. They primarily function to provide regional mobility, but also have a smaller element of providing access. This functional class typically serves 10,000 to 30,000 vehicles per day. Major thoroughfares in Pearland include roads such as Broadway Street/FM 518, Main Street/SH 35, Bailey Avenue, Dixie Farm Road, Almeda Road/FM 521, and the Pearland Parkway. SECONDARY THOROUGHFARES shown in green, have a minimum 100-foot right-of-way. This functional class typically serves 5,000 to 15,000 vehicles per day. Examples of secondary thoroughfares in Pearland include Kirby Drive, South Fork Road, Magnolia Street, Harkey Road, and Veterans Road. MAJOR COLLECTOR STREETS shown in red, have a minimum 80-foot right-of-way. This functional class typically serves 1,500 to 10,000 vehicles per day. Collector streets provide a larger degree of access to homes and to destinations other than thoroughfares. Stone Road, Walnut Street, Fite Road, and a portion of Orange Street are examples of major collectors. MINOR COLLECTOR STREETS shown in purple, have a minimum 60-foot right-of-way. This functional class typically serves less than 2,000 vehicles per day. Minor collector streets in Pearland include North Fork Drive, Clear Lake Loop, and a portion of Orange Street.
300’
300’
SPECIAL DESIGNATION Shown in orange, this classification designates a local road with a wider right-of-way than is usual for the surrounding area. This represents roadways that provide local access but that may require a wider cross-section in the future. Intersections are essential for maintaining adequate traffic flow. While the right-of-way has been defined for each classification, it should be noted that at key intersections for right-sized thoroughfare facilities, additional right-of-way is often required to provide additional turn lanes that are not required for the entire length of the roadway. Additional right-of-way would also allow for safety improvements or ADA requirements to be implemented. By right-sizing the lanes between intersections and providing adequate turn-lanes at the intersection, the City would be able to accommodate the roadway capacity at a lower cost. Figure 9.2 demonstrates the efficiency of providing expanded intersections with narrower right-of-way along the roadway leading up to the intersection.
PEARLAND COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 2040
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Chapter 9
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