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 Edition AASHTO 2018
Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities, 5th Edition   NEW! AASHTO 2024
Guide for the Planning, Design, and Operation of Pedestrian Facilities 2nd edition AASHTO 2021
Essentials of Bike Parking: Selecting and Installing Bike Parking That Works [PDF] APBP 2015
A Guide for Maintaining Pedestrian Facilities for Enhanced Safety FHWA 2015
Bicycle and Pedestrian Guidance for State and Local Governments FHWA N/A
Incorporating On-Road Bicycle Networks into Resurfacing Projects  [PDF] FHWA 2016
Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, 11th Edition FHWA 2025
Separated Bike Lane Planning and Design Guide FHWA 2015
Separated Bike Lanes on Higher Speed Roadways: A Toolkit and Guide  FHWA 2024
Recommended Design Guidelines to Accommodate Pedestrians and Bicycles at Interchanges ITE 2016
Traffic Control Devices Handbook ITE 2013
Designing Walkable Urban Thoroughfares: A Context Sensitive Approach  ITE 2010
Global Design Guide NACTO 2016
Transit Street Design Guide NACTO 2016
Urban Bikeway Design Guide 3rd Edition  NACTO 2025
Urban Bikeway Design Guide (Don't Give Up at the Intersection) NACTO 2019
Urban Street Design Guide NACTO 2013
Guidance to Improve Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety at Intersections NCHRP 2020
Highway Capacity Manual, 7th Edition TRB 2022
Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices  [PDF] TxDOT 2014
TxDOT Bicycle Accommodation Guidance TxDOT 2021
TxDOT Roadway Design Manual: Chapters 18 (Bicycle Facilities)  and 19 (Pedestrian Facilities)  TxDOT 2024
 
Other Resources

Title

Agency

Year
 
NCTCOG
Mobility 2050: The Metropolitan Transportation Plan [PDF] NCTCOG 2025
Trails and Bikeway Master Plan Template NCTCOG  
How Local Governments and Non-Profits Can Partner Together for Trails [PDF] NCTCOG  
Complete Streets and Context Sensitive Design NCTCOG  
Look Out Texans  NCTCOG  
Active Transportation Legislation and Resources NCTCOG  
Bicycle and Pedestrian Healthy Initiatives  NCTCOG  
Bicycle Friendly Communities and Organizations  NCTCOG  
Economic Benefits of Active Transportation NCTCOG  
Shared-Use Design Plans for Green Bicycle Parking (Parklet Pilot Project in Dallas) NCTCOG 2020
TxDOT
Bicycle Trails and Maps TxDOT  
Bicycle and Pedestrian Resources TxDOT  
Bicycle Tourism Trails Study TxDOT  
Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee TxDOT  
Bicycle and Pedestrian Local and Federal Funding Programs TxDOT  
Dallas District Bicycle Program TxDOT  
Safety
Pedestrian Safety Action Plan  [PDF] USDOT 2020
BikeSafe FHWA  
PedSafe  FHWA  
Pedestrian and Bicycle Crash Analysis Tool (PBCAT) FHWA 2025
Groups and Coalitions
National Complete Streets Coalition SGA  
Rails to Trails Conservancy RTTC  
League of American Bicyclists LAB  
Information Centers
Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center  FHWA  
National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project ITE  
Online Tools and Guides
Pedestrian Road Safety Audit Guidelines and Prompt Lists FHWA  
Bikeway Selection Guide [PDF] FHWA 2019
Interactive Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) Tool for Pedestrians NHTSA  
Oncor Hike and Bike Trail Guidelines Oncor 2014
Policy Statement on Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodation Regulations and Recommendations  USDOT 2010


 

Staff:  Daniel Snyder