Access Management

Access management is the systematic control of the location, spacing, design and operation of driveways, median openings, interchanges and street connections to a roadway. National research has demonstrated multiple benefits associated with good access management. The chief goal of access management planning is to reduce the number and severity of conflicts between through moving traffic and traffic attempting to turn. Successfully managing these conflicts can result in fewer automobile and pedestrian accidents, reduced congestion and preservation of public investment in the road network.

Visualize Access Management Benefits

 

Left turn conflicts created by poor Access Management

Left turn conflicts minimized by Access Management

Right turn conflicts created by poor Access Management

Right turn conflicts minimized by Access Management

Regional Access Management Initiative (GRTA, GDOT, and ARC)

Click here (available soon), to learn more about an interagency initiative involving ARC, the Georgia Department of Transportation and the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority, that is designed to implement better access management practices in the region.

Since 2005, ARC has supported access management by requiring all roadway capacity projects (not including highways and freeways) funded with L230 transportation funds, to include an access management plan. The purpose of the access management plan is to help minimize and organize existing and future access points in order to preserve the effectiveness of the capacity adding project. The current L230-funded projects required to include an access management plan component are:

  • DK-065C: Panola Rd., from Thompson Mill Rd. to Fairington Rd.
  • DK-065E: Panola Rd., from Snapfinger Woods Dr. to GA 12 (Covington Hwy.)
  • DK-328: Lithonia Industrial Blvd. Extension, from Hillandale Dr. to Evans Mill Rd.
  • DK-330: Turner Hill Rd., from Mall Pkwy. to 1,500 feet west of McDaniel Mill Rd.
  • FA-236A: East Fayetteville Bypass, from South Jeff Davis Dr. to GA 54 (Fayetteville Rd.)
  • GW-309: West Liddell Rd./Club Dr. Connector, from Steve Reynolds Blvd. to Satellite Blvd. (includes I-85 bridge)

Specific Access Management Planning Requirements for L230 Funded Roadway Capacity Projects (PDF) are included here.

Existing Access Management Plan Locations

Access management planning occurs at state, regional, local, and individual corridor levels. Generally, as the jurisdictional area gets smaller the plans get more specific in the details. The following two documents are real world examples of corridor level access management plans. Although the desire outcomes are generally the same, these two plans vary in the methods used to accomplish the goal.

Regional & National Examples

  • Arthur K. Bolton Parkway Overlay Zone (PDF) - This overlay was adopted in Spalding County. Among other things. it limits access to SR 16 to existing public roads and driveways.
  • Bruton Smith Parkway Design District (PDF) - ARC’s Community Choices Program assisted Henry County in creating this overlay which incorporates access management principles into design regulations along SR 20 between I-75 and the Atlanta Motor Speedway.
  • Iowa US 6 Access Management Agreement (PDF) - This agreement takes a relatively straight forward approach. It establishes the locations and nature of all future access points and traffic signals along the corridor.
  • Florida US 19 Overlay District (PDF) - This plan goes beyond access permitting by incorporating access management principles into development requirements along the corridor.

Programs Responsible for Access Mangement Strategy Implementation:

Click here to review proven Access Management Benefits (Peachtree Industrial Blvd. Case Study in PDF format).  For further assistance regarding access management planning, call (404) 463-3306 or email us.