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Efland-Buckhorn-Mebane Access Management Plan <br /> 12. Driveway Width <br /> Along older urban arterial streets, it is common to find many narrow driveways. Older <br /> commercial driveway and parking lot designs tended to use ten to fifteen foot wide <br /> driveways. This type of design will safely accommodate only one vehicle at a time, <br /> either an entering or an exiting vehicle. Another common problem is driveways in <br /> urban and rural areas that are too wide. In some cases, the driveway may have no <br /> discernible boundaries or curbs. Both situations create operational and safety <br /> concerns. A properly designed driveway helps turning traffic move off the roadway <br /> more quickly and reduces the likelihood of crashes. <br /> 13. Clearing Driveways Away From Corners <br /> Clearing driveways away from corners is the simplest, yet perhaps the most critical <br /> access management treatment. <br /> What is corner clearance? <br /> Corner clearance is the minimum distance required between an intersection and an <br /> adjacent driveway along an arterial road or collector street. <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 />