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Relationship of Classification to <br />Design and Operational Decisions <br />Classification does not, by itself, determine the <br />design of new streets or improvements to existing <br />streets. The classification of a street provides a basic <br />indication of how that street functions as part of the <br />overall street network. Since streets of like classifi- <br />cation often have very different characteristics in <br />terms of overall width, number of lanes, adjacent <br />land use, and other key features, the classification <br />itself only provides a starting point for the design of <br />anew street, or improvements to an existing street. <br />The actual design is influenced by a number of <br />factors, discussed more fully in the Design Stan- <br />dards and Guidelines section of this document. <br />Citizens are frequently concerned about potential <br />changes that might occur on the street they live on, <br />own a business on, or use as a driver, bicyclist, <br />walker or bus rider. There are a number of plans, <br />.:..policies and ongoing practices that affect whether <br />.and how a given street might undergo a change of <br />some sort, or conversely whether and how a <br />decision might be made,notto implement a change. <br />The types of changes or decisions that are made <br />regarding arterial and collector streets range from <br />regulation of access, to various sorts of improve- <br />ments to enhance use by different modes of travel, <br />to major expansion or construction of new street <br />segments. There is a relationship between the <br />street's classification and these actions or decisions, <br />but many other factors are important in determining <br />the particular outcome for each specific situation. <br />The following chart (Figure 5) provides a summary <br />of the priority or the likelihood of several specific <br />kinds of outcomes on various street types. The text <br />following the chart is intended to amplify and <br />provide further explanation for each type of action, <br />and the general process that the City follows in <br />implementing various actions. <br />• i '~ i i i' • Figure 5 <br /> Adding Upgrade Major New <br /> Regulate Tra~FF'ic Adding Bike Urban Corridor Street <br />Class Access Calming Sidewalks Lanes Standards Improvements Mileage <br />Freeways/Expressways Very High N/A N/A N/A N/A High Very Low <br />Urban Major Arterials High Low High High High Medium Low <br />Minor Arterials -- High Medium High High High Medium Low <br />Major Collectors Medium Medium High Medium Medium Low Medium <br />Neighborhood Collectors -- Low High Medium Very Low Low N/A Medium <br />Local Streets Very Low High Low N/A Very Low N/A High <br />37 <br />