SIDEWALK SUBCOMMITTEE
RESEARCH AND SUPPORT
June 2016
Payton Lockhart, MPC Intern
A. Introduction
The following report is a bulleted outline of sidewalk ordinances and policies from
different cities in the Southeastern United States, namely in Tennessee. In doing internet
research, I have found that metropolitan areas create policies, codes, and ordinances
based off of research and plans created by AASHTO, NHTSA, the ADA, and different
work from city and county engineers. This report looks at Metropolitan
Nashville/Davidson County, Shelby Co., and Hamilton Co.
B. Questions
1. What are the design and construction standards for sidewalks?(TDOT)
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Min. width: 5 ft.
4 ft. when curbs are in place.
*7’ wide or 5’ with a 2’ grass strip.
2% max cross slope
Min. thickness: 4 inch.
Must be made with Class “A”, Portland Concrete in residential areas.
Brick in Historical districts.
2. What are the ADA standards for sidewalks?
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See attached ADA standards and regulations.
https://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/buildings-andsites/about-the-ada-standards/background/ada-aba-accessibilityguidelines-2004/chapter-4-accessible-routes
See also Part C for a detailed look at ADA sidewalk standards.
3. How will sidewalks impact stormwater runoff?
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If constructed improperly, sidewalks can:
o Displace groundwater
o Increase the amount of impervious area within a site, further
preventing infiltration of stormwater runoff into the soil.
If constructed with correct grading, development and permeable materials,
and appropriate gutter size, there will be little to impact on stormwater runoff.
For more information, follow this link:
http://coastalgadnr.org/sites/uploads/crd/pdf/GGG2B.pdf
4. How will driveways and sidewalks interface? Should there be a standard for curb cuts
(residential and commercial).
 According to AASHTO guidelines, there should be a standard for curb cuts.
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Residential: Similar to a parallel curb ramp, a parallel driveway crossing
provides a level landing by lowering the sidewalk to the grade of the street
(Figure 4-36).
Commercial: AASHTO recommends that commercial buildings construct as
few entrances as possible, and share parking space. In instances where this
does not occur, it “increases the number of driveway crossings and forces
pedestrians to encounter automobiles repeatedly. If the driveway crossings do
not have level landings, people with mobility disabilities must also repeatedly
negotiate severe cross-slopes.”
See link for figures and more in-depth guidelines:
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bicycle_pedestrian/publications/sidewa
lks/chap4b.cfm
5.
At what point during the development of a project/subdivision should sidewalks
be required to be constructed?
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Could not find any specific requirements for when sidewalks are to be
constructed, but according to different Department of Public works, they may be
required by the developer or city depending on the need.
6.
Can the construction of sidewalks be guaranteed by a financial surety such as a
bond? If so, what are the details (amount of surety, time period within which sidewalks
must be constructed, etc)?
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Yes, Bonds are often taken as financial surety. ****
7.
What are the costs associated with sidewalk construction, including land, grading,
design, and construction. What are the costs of different materials, i.e., concrete, brick,
pavers, and any other potential material?
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It all depends, where price is typically designated by developers and contractors.
8.
Is there a threshold (minimum number of lots/units in a subdivision or residential
development) below which sidewalks would not be required?
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9.
I could not find any evidence in my research about a threshold below which
sidewalks would not be required.
Who will maintain the sidewalks?
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In Shelby, Hamilton, and Davidson Counties, the suburban residents are left to
maintain the sidewalks pertaining to their property.
In non-suburban areas, the city is left to maintain the sidewalks.
10.
Can a fee-in-lieu provision be incorporated into any requirement for sidewalks to
provide an alternative to sidewalk construction? If so, what are the parameters for a feein-lieu? Amount, who administers, where used, time frame for use.
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Yes, a fee-in-lieu provision appears to be widely and typically allowed.
Parameters depend upon city. See link below.
https://www.municode.com/library/tn/metro_government_of_nashville_and_davi
dson_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CD_TIT13STSIPUPL_DIVIGE
RE_CH13.02GEPR_13.02.010FEEUCOOTASESPA
11.
Can the developer/property owner provide a trail in lieu of a sidewalk? If so,
what are the standards for the trail?
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12.
No indication if a trail can be provided in lieu.
What value, if any, do sidewalks add to developments?
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Determined upon the market and buyer of property; almost always,
sidewalks command a higher price for property, according to realtors I
interviewed.
13.
Should sidewalk requirements be dependent on or related to through-traffic or
expected traffic count?
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Sidewalk requirements appear to be dependent on access to other pedestrian
networks, ADA standards, and rules set by the city engineer.
No evidence of through-traffic/expected traffic requirements in residential areas.
Commercial areas typically do have larger sidewalk requirements due to large
through traffic/pedestrian needs.
14.
Should street parking be prohibited in subdivisions where sidewalks are not
required?
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Did not find any indication of restricted street parking in sidewalk research.
15.
Could minimum road width be reduced to accommodate sidewalks without
affecting stormwater runoff?
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Perhaps roads could be minimized; from different stormwater ordinances, there is
no evidence to suggest that it would negatively affect runoff.
This question would be best suited for the city engineer.
16.
Should the distance to bus stops (school and otherwise) be considered in
determining where/when sidewalks should be constructed as the parental responsibility
zones are now?
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According to city codes and regulations, it is highly advisable that distance to
different bus stops be considered to determine where sidewalks should be
constructed in order to help pedestrians walk safely to their needed transportation.
Looking at these documents, it is looked highly upon to have a large network of
pedestrian walkways in both residential and commercial areas. (NHTSA)
C. ADA Standards
The ADA plays a large part in sidewalk policy. Every city and county has to
enforce ADA regulations to legally build sidewalks. The following are the general
regulatory policies made by the ADA:
402 Accessible Routes
402.1 General. Accessible routes shall comply with 402.
402.2 Components. Accessible routes shall consist of one or more of the following
components: walking surfaces with a running slope not steeper than 1:20, doorways,
ramps, curb ramps excluding the flared sides, elevators, and platform lifts. All
components of an accessible route shall comply with the applicable requirements of
Chapter 4.
Advisory 402.2 Components. Walking surfaces must have running slopes not
steeper than 1:20, see 403.3. Other components of accessible routes, such as
ramps (405) and curb ramps (406), are permitted to be more steeply sloped.
403 Walking Surfaces
403.1 General. Walking surfaces that are a part of an accessible route shall comply with
403.
403.2 Floor or Ground Surface. Floor or ground surfaces shall comply with 302.
403.3 Slope. The running slope of walking surfaces shall not be steeper than 1:20. The
cross slope of walking surfaces shall not be steeper than 1:48.
403.4 Changes in Level. Changes in level shall comply with 303.
403.5 Clearances. Walking surfaces shall provide clearances complying with 403.5.
EXCEPTION: Within employee work areas, clearances on common use circulation paths
shall be permitted to be decreased by work area equipment provided that the decrease is
essential to the function of the work being performed.
403.5.1 Clear Width. Except as provided in 403.5.2 and 403.5.3, the clear width of
walking surfaces shall be 36 inches (915 mm) minimum.
EXCEPTION: The clear width shall be permitted to be reduced to 32 inches (815 mm)
minimum for a length of 24 inches (610 mm) maximum provided that reduced width
segments are separated by segments that are 48 inches (1220 mm) long minimum and 36
inches (915 mm) wide minimum.
Figure 403.5.1 Clear Width of an Accessible Route
403.5.2 Clear Width at Turn. Where the accessible route makes a 180 degree turn around
an element which is less than 48 inches (1220 mm) wide, clear width shall be 42 inches
(1065 mm) minimum approaching the turn, 48 inches (1220 mm) minimum at the turn
and 42 inches (1065 mm) minimum leaving the turn.
EXCEPTION: Where the clear width at the turn is 60 inches (1525 mm) minimum
compliance with 403.5.2 shall not be required.
Figure 403.5.2 Clear Width at Turn
403.5.3 Passing Spaces. An accessible route with a clear width less than 60 inches (1525
mm) shall provide passing spaces at intervals of 200 feet (61 m) maximum. Passing
spaces shall be either: a space 60 inches (1525 mm) minimum by 60 inches (1525 mm)
minimum; or, an intersection of two walking surfaces providing a T-shaped space
complying with 304.3.2 where the base and arms of the T-shaped space extend 48 inches
(1220 mm) minimum beyond the intersection.
D. Conclusion
From all the research and data I read through via construction guidelines, zoning and
developing standards, planning manuals and city/county ordinances, I found that all
practices and standards typically come from one or two sources. The main sources that
cities are concerned with making the best plans from are their own city engineer and
AASHTO, which both draw from the ADA guidelines and other research and
development within the DOT. It seems that there are well thought out and practiced codes
in place that can be reliably replicated if needed.
E. Resources
Chattanooga ordinances:
http://www.chcrpa.org/TPO_reorganized/Plans_and_Programs/MultiIntermodal_Land_Use_and_TransPlanning/BicyclePedestrian_Planning/Chatt_Urban_Area_SidewalkStreetscape/sidewalk_guide_draft8_13.pdf
http://www.chattanooga.gov/city-council-files/CityCode/32%20%20Streets%20and%20Sidewalks.pdf
http://www.chattanooga.gov/public-worksfiles/02607_new_and_replacement_paving_and_sidewalks.pdf
http://www.chattanooga.gov/public-works/gis-mapping/city-engineer/constructionstandard-specifications
TDOT
https://www.tn.gov/assets/entities/tdot/attachments/TDOT_2015_Spec_Book_FINAL_pd
f.pdf
http://www.tn.gov/assets/entities/tdot/attachments/TDOT_Multimodal_Access_Policy_Si
gned.pdf
https://www.tn.gov/assets/entities/tdot/attachments/LGG_Manual.pdf
ADA
https://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/buildings-andsites/about-the-ada-standards/background/ada-aba-accessibility-guidelines-2004/chapter4-accessible-routes
Ashville Survey
file:///C:/Users/plockhart/Downloads/Data_All_160218.pdf
Shelby Co. ordinances
https://www.municode.com/library/tn/shelby_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=
PTIICOOR_CH38STSIOTRI-W_ARTIISTSI
Davidson Co. ordinances
http://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-02/documents/nashvillereport.pdf
https://www.municode.com/library/tn/metro_government_of_nashville_and_davidson_county/co
des/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CD_TIT13STSIPUPL_DIVIGERE_CH13.08STALSI
Nashville Fee-in-lieu:
https://www.municode.com/library/tn/metro_government_of_nashville_and_davidson_co
unty/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CD_TIT13STSIPUPL_DIVIGERE_CH13.02GEPR_13
.02.010FEEUCOOTASESPA
AASHTO
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bicycle_pedestrian/publications/sidewalks/chap4a.
cfm
NHTSA
http://www.nhtsa.gov/staticfiles/nti/buses/pdf/SelectingSchoolBusStopLocations.pdf
March 8th info:
https://www.planning.org/pas/at60/report95.htm
http://www.cyburbia.org/forums/showthread.php?t=46592
http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/green-living/make-my-neighborhood-more-walkable/