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Rightsizing Streets <br /> The needs of our communities evolve over time, and our street design should, too. That's the idea <br /> behind `rightsizing streets'—reconfiguring the layout of our streets to better serve the people who <br /> use them, whether they're commuters driving, shoppers walking, or children bicycling. Across the <br /> country, communities large and small are achieving impressive safety, mobility, and community <br /> outcomes by implementing such reconfigurations. Project for Public Spaces created this rightsizing <br /> resource to highlight the accomplishments of these communities and share best practices. <br /> Our transportation staffcan advise stakeholders and decision-makers, skillfully facilitate a rightsizing <br /> process, andadeptly produce rightsized designs for agencies and community groups. <br /> What is `Rightsizing' a Street? <br /> Rightsizing is the process of reallocating a street's space to better serve its full range of users. <br /> Picture a four lane road that was built thirty years ago in an undeveloped area, but that now has <br /> housing, shops, and an elementary school in close vicinity. The needs of the community surrounding <br /> that road have changed over three decades— and the design of that road may need to change to <br /> meet those needs as well. It may need a sidewalks or a median to help people cross safely, or on- <br /> street parking for folks who want to frequent local shops, or other safety features to prevent injuries. <br /> Rightsizing a road can encompass a broad array of redesign measures, and should always <br /> be sensitive to context and the vision of the local community, but often involves some or all of the <br /> following goals and strategies: <br /> Typical Goals <br /> • Increasing safety and access for all users <br /> • Encouraging walking, biking, and transit use <br /> • Supporting businesses and the local economy <br /> • Creating places that foster community livability <br /> See Project Selection and Before & After Measurements for more info on selecting streets for <br /> rightsizing and methods of measuring rightsizing's outcomes. <br /> Typical Strategies <br /> • Converting vehicle travel lanes to other uses <br /> • Narrowing vehicle lanes <br /> • Adding bike lanes <br /> • Improving pedestrian infrastructure <br /> • Changing parking configuration <br /> • Adding roundabouts and medians <br />