This page attempts to lay out the various layers of standards, requirements, ordinances, etc. that lead street and road designs in Lynchburg, Virginia to use the lane widths that they do.

• 5.3 Local Streets in Urban Areas
  • 5.3.2.1 Width of Traveled Way
    • “Lanes for moving traffic preferably should be 10 to 11 ft [3.0 to 3.3 m] wide, and in industrial areas they should be 12 ft [3.6 m] wide. Where the available or attainable width of right-of-way imposes severe limitations, 9-ft [2.7-m] lanes can be used in residential areas, and 11-ft [3.3-m] lanes can be used in industrial areas. Added turning lanes where used at intersections should be at least 9 ft [2.7 m] wide, and desirably 10 to 12 ft [3.0 to 3.6 m] wide, depending on the percentage of trucks. Where bicycle facilities are included as part of the design, refer to the AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities (6).
  • 5.3.2.2 Number of Lanes
    • “On residential streets where the primary function of the street is to provide access to adjacent development and foster a community environment, at least one unobstructed moving lane must be provided even when parking occurs on both sides. The level of user inconvenience occasioned by the lack of two moving lanes is remarkably low in areas where single-family units prevail. Local residential street patterns are such that travel distances are less than 0.5 mi [1 km] from the trip origin to a collector street. In multifamily-unit residential areas, a minimum of two moving traffic lanes to accommodate opposing traffic may be desirable. In many residential areas, a minimum roadway width of 26 ft [8 m] is needed where on-street parking is permitted. This curb face-to-curb face width of 26 ft [8 m] provides a 12 ft [3.6 m] center travel lane that provides for the passage of fire trucks and two 7-ft [2.2-m] parking lanes. Opposing conflicting traffic will yield and pause in the parking lane area until there is sufficient width to pass.”
• 6.3 Collectors in Urban Areas
  • 6.3.2.1 Width of Roadway
    • “The width of a collector street should be planned as the sum of the widths of the ultimate number of lanes for moving traffic, parking, and bicycles, including median where appropriate. Lanes within the traveled way should range in width from 10 to 12 ft [3.0 to 3.6 m]. In industrial areas, lanes may be 12 ft [3.6 m] wide except where lack of space for right-of-way imposes severe limitations; in such cases, lane widths of 11 ft [3.3 m] may be used. Added turning lanes at intersections, where used, should range in width from 10 to 12 ft [3.0 to 3.6 m], depending on the volume of trucks. Where shoulders are provided, roadway widths in accordance with table 6-5 should be considered. Additional guidance on the width of roadways used by transit vehicles can be found in the AASHTO Guide for Geometric Design of Transit Facilities on Highways and Streets (8).”