Design Guidelines & Other Resources


 

There are several resources and published guidelines for designing and implementing active transportation facilities including trails and on-street bikeways. Below are resources to aid in the process of successfully completing bicycle and pedestrian facilities in your community.

Also listed below are various other resources, including guidance for developing master plans, tools for soliciting data related to active roadway users, and more.

Design Guidelines and Manuals

Title

Organization

Year

A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets, 7th EditionAASHTO2018
Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities, 5th Edition   NEW!AASHTO2024
Guide for the Planning, Design, and Operation of Pedestrian Facilities 2nd editionAASHTO2021
Essentials of Bike Parking: Selecting and Installing Bike Parking That Works [PDF]APBP2015
A Guide for Maintaining Pedestrian Facilities for Enhanced SafetyFHWA2015
Bicycle and Pedestrian Guidance for State and Local GovernmentsFHWAN/A
Incorporating On-Road Bicycle Networks into Resurfacing Projects  [PDF]FHWA2016
Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, 11th EditionFHWA2025
Separated Bike Lane Planning and Design GuideFHWA2015
Separated Bike Lanes on Higher Speed Roadways: A Toolkit and Guide FHWA2024
Recommended Design Guidelines to Accommodate Pedestrians and Bicycles at InterchangesITE2016
Traffic Control Devices HandbookITE2013
Designing Walkable Urban Thoroughfares: A Context Sensitive Approach ITE2010
Global Design GuideNACTO2016
Transit Street Design GuideNACTO2016
Urban Bikeway Design Guide 3rd Edition NACTO2025
Urban Bikeway Design Guide (Don't Give Up at the Intersection)NACTO2019
Urban Street Design GuideNACTO2013
Guidance to Improve Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety at IntersectionsNCHRP2020
Highway Capacity Manual, 7th EditionTRB2022
Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices  [PDF]TxDOT2014
TxDOT Bicycle Accommodation GuidanceTxDOT2021
TxDOT Roadway Design Manual: Chapters 18 (Bicycle Facilities)  and 19 (Pedestrian Facilities) TxDOT2024
 
Other Resources

Title

Agency

Year

 
NCTCOG
Mobility 2050: The Metropolitan Transportation Plan [PDF]NCTCOG2025
Trails and Bikeway Master Plan TemplateNCTCOG 
How Local Governments and Non-Profits Can Partner Together for Trails [PDF]NCTCOG 
Context Sensitive DesignNCTCOG 
Look Out Texans NCTCOG 
Active Transportation Legislation and ResourcesNCTCOG 
Bicycle and Pedestrian Healthy Initiatives NCTCOG 
Bicycle Friendly Communities and Organizations NCTCOG 
Economic Benefits of Active TransportationNCTCOG 
Shared-Use Design Plans for Green Bicycle Parking (Parklet Pilot Project in Dallas)NCTCOG2020
TxDOT
Bicycle Trails and MapsTxDOT 
Bicycle and Pedestrian ResourcesTxDOT 
Bicycle Tourism Trails StudyTxDOT 
Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory CommitteeTxDOT 
Bicycle and Pedestrian Local and Federal Funding ProgramsTxDOT 
Dallas District Bicycle ProgramTxDOT 
Safety
Pedestrian Safety Action Plan  [PDF]USDOT2020
BikeSafeFHWA 
PedSafe FHWA 
Pedestrian and Bicycle Crash Analysis Tool (PBCAT)FHWA2025
Groups and Coalitions
National Complete Streets CoalitionSGA 
Rails to Trails ConservancyRTTC 
League of American BicyclistsLAB 
Information Centers
Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center FHWA 
National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation ProjectITE 
Online Tools and Guides
Pedestrian Road Safety Audit Guidelines and Prompt ListsFHWA 
Bikeway Selection Guide [PDF]FHWA2019
Interactive Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) Tool for PedestriansNHTSA 
Oncor Hike and Bike Trail GuidelinesOncor2014
Policy Statement on Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodation Regulations and Recommendations USDOT2010



 

Staff:  Daniel Snyder