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Thoroughfare planning objectives are achieved through both: <br />(1) improving the operational efficiency of thoroughfares; <br />and <br />(2) improving the system efficiency through system <br />coordination and layout. <br />OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY <br />A street's operational efficiency is improved by increasing <br />the capability of the street to carry vehicular traffic and <br />People. In terms of vehicular traffic, a street's capacity is <br />defined as the maximum number of vehicles which can pass a given <br />point on a roadway during a given time <br />roadway and traffic conditions, Period under prevailing <br />physical features of the roadway, CnatureyOfstrafficeandyweather. <br />Physical ways to improve vehicular capacity include street <br />widening, intersection improvements, improving vertical and <br />horizontal alignment, and eliminating roadside obstacles. For <br />example, widening of a street from two to four travel lanes more <br />than doubles the capacity of the street by <br />providing <br />maneuverability for traffic. Impedances to traffic flow 1caused by <br />Slow moving or turning vehicles and adverse effects of horizontal <br />and vertical alignments are thus reduced. <br />Operational ways to improve street capacity include: <br />(1) Control of access - A roadway with complete access <br />control can often carry three times the traffic <br />handled by a non - controlled access street with <br />identical lane width and number. <br />(2) Parking removal - Increases capacity by providing <br />additional street width for traffic flow and reducing <br />friction to flow caused by parking and unparking <br />vehicles. <br />(3) One -way operation - The capacity of a street can some- <br />times be increased 20 -50 %, depending upon turning move- <br />ments and overall street width, by initiating one -way <br />traffic operations. One -way streets can also improve <br />traffic flow by decreasing potential traffic conflicts <br />and simplifying traffic signal coordination. <br />(4) Reversible lanes - Reversible traffic lanes may be <br />used to increase street capacity in situations where <br />heavy directional flows occur during peak periods. <br />(5) Signal phasing and coordination - Uncoordinated signals <br />and poor signal phasing restrict traffic flow by <br />creating excessive stop- and -go operation. <br />., <br />