Street Design Manual

Section 3.2.4 Major Streets The categories of streets classified as “Major Streets” are Avenues with four or more lanes and Boulevards.

A. Avenue 4-Lane, Parallel Parking B. Avenue 4-Lane and 6-Lane, Divided C. Multi Way Boulevard, Parallel Parking or Angular Parking

Four- and Six-Lane Avenues have a similar purpose to two- and three-lane Avenues but apply to thoroughfare and arterial streets that require four or more lanes to accommodate traffic demand. Avenues with four or more lanes always feature medians. Signalized intersections are spaced further apart on major streets to better facilitate vehicular mobility. Midblock pedestrian crossings shall be installed on long blocks to maintain walkability in areas where pedestrian usage could be heavy. Major transit routes are often found on these corridors. Boulevards are designed to support multiple travel modes, including automobiles, freight movers, transit vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists. Boulevards balance high vehicular capacity with high pedestrian and vehicular accessibility to adjoining urban land uses. Landscaped medians, including those incorporating GSI practices, separate and buffer through traffic from a local access are that accommodate parking, low-speed vehicular traffic, bicyclists and pedestrians. There are two typical multi-way boulevard configurations: parallel and angled parking where a center median exists with two additional side medians and accessways. Multi-Way configurations are intended to fully support multiple travel modes, providing a high level of mobility and access. They have high vehicular capacity and side accessways provide additional options for right turns, allowing intersections to operate more efficiently.

Raleigh Street Design Manual – Page 21