Pedestrian & bicycle facilities

There are no standard plans & drawings for this design topic.

There are no specifications for this design topic.

The FHWA Design Standards, FAST Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Provisions memo and the Washington City and County Design Standards Committees in accordance with RCW 35.78.030 provides that the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) or equivalent guides developed in cooperation with State and local officials, be used for the design and construction of pedestrian and bicycle facilities.

• AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities
• AASHTO Guide for the Planning, Design, and Operation of Pedestrian Facilities

Research on topics related to bicycling and walking is changing rapidly and new guidelines are developed regularly. One resource to translate these important research findings into practice is the Engineer Bicycle Facilities: National Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center Design and Engineering Guidance.  Other resources, recommendations, guides, plans and tools include:

Pedestrian and bicyclist safety

WSDOT Active Transportation Programs Design Guide

Washington State Injury Minimization and Speed Management Policy Elements and Implementation Recommendations (PDF 300KB)

NACTO City Limits Guide – Setting Safe Speed Limits on City Streets

Action Plan for Implementing Pedestrian Crossing Countermeasures at Uncontrolled Locations (PDF 2MB)

Pedestrian and Bicycle Crash Analysis Tool (PBCAT)

FHWA Bicycle and Pedestrian Program

Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) guidance

See the Information and Technical Assistance on the Americans with Disabilities Act page for ADA Standards.

Read and review the existing guidelines and practices for Designing Sidewalks and Trails for Access.

• U.S. Access Board ADA and Accessibility Guidelines for the Public Rights-of-Way
• FHWA Design Sidewalks and Trails for Access Part 1
• FHWA Design Sidewalks and Trails for Access Part 2
• Rails-with-Trails: Lessons Learned

General information

Read a briefing on when city streets are part of state highway systems (PDF 591KB)

See the Guidelines for Bicycle Parking Design, an expertise for active transportation.

Barb Chamberlain

Active Transportation Division Director
Barb.Chamberlain@wsdot.wa.gov

Briana Weisgerber, P.E.

Active Transportation Programs Engineer
Briana.Weisgerber@wsdot.wa.gov  

Brian Wood

State Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator
Brian.Wood@wsdot.wa.gov