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9 <br />14. Shared/Joint Driveways And/Or Cross Access <br />Driveway spacing and driveway density are important considerations in managing <br />access. When driveways are spaced too closely together or the number of driveways <br />per block or mile becomes too large, a significant increase in traffic accident rates <br />occurs. Traffic also tends to become congested more quickly in such situations. <br />What is driveway sharing? <br />A shared driveway is when two or more adjacent properties use the same driveway for <br />ingress and/or egress. Shared driveways are very common in newer commercial <br />areas, for instance at strip malls, regional shopping centers, and office parks. Sharing <br />driveways is simply good design practice since conflict points caused by motorists <br />entering and leaving the businesses are reduced. This will, in turn, tend to reduce <br />traffic accidents associated with turning traffic and improve the traffic flow on the main <br />road. <br />What are joint and cross access? <br />Joint and cross access are formal, legal methods of ensuring that adjacent properties <br />can share driveways. In the case of joint access, two adjacent property owners share <br />a driveway along their common property line. In the case of cross access, one <br />property owner has the legal right to access and use a driveway that is on the adjacent <br />property owner's land. <br />Joint and cross access can be built into private real estate titles through easements. <br />They can also be encouraged or required in local planning or design standards or in <br />municipal and county ordinances. <br />15. Continuous Two Way Left-Turn Lanes <br />Continuous two-way-left-turn lanes (TWLTL) are a common access management <br />treatment when combined with driveway consolidation and corner clearance. TWLTLs <br />simultaneously provide a separate lane for left turning vehicles and property access. <br />Typically, they are used as the center lane of a five-lane roadway. A less common <br />design involves three lanes, a TWLTL in the center for left turns and one lane in each <br />direction for through traffic. <br />Recent theory suggests avoiding this design unless road right-of-way conditions are <br />restrictive. <br />16. Three-Lane Roadways With Two-Way Left-Turn Lanes <br />Continuous two-way left-turn lanes (TWLTL) are a common access management <br />treatment. Typically, they are used in the center of afour-lane roadway. However, a <br />less-common design involving three lanes - a TWLTL in the center for left turns and <br />one lane in each direction for through traffic - is being used more and more frequently. <br />At first, the idea of a three-lane road may seem strange. But under the right <br />circumstances they can work very well, operating better and more safely than afour- <br />lane undivided road. <br />17. Raised Medians At Intersections <br />Raised medians with left-turn lanes at intersections offer acost-effective means for <br />reducing accidents and improving operations at higher volume intersections. The left- <br />turn lanes separate slower turning vehicles from through traffic and provide a protected <br />space for these vehicles to decelerate and turn. The raised median prohibits left turns <br />into and out of driveways that may be located too close to the functional area of the <br />intersection. <br />4 <br />