FROM THE PLANNER'S VIEWPOINT

LEGISLATION MUST BE PASSED BY THE MARYLAND STATE LEGISLATURE TO GIVE TO THE MARYLAND STATE ROADS COMMISSION THE AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH ROADSIDE PROTECTIVE AREAS OR STRIPS OF REASONABLE WIDTH IN WHICH THE LOCATION OF ACCESS POINTS, STRUCTURES, BILLBOARDS AND OTHER USES CAN BE REGULATED AND CONTROLLED. THE PURPOSE OF SUCH LEGISLATION WOULD BE TO: (1) MAINTAIN THE MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY OF HIGHWAYS AS TRAFFIC-CARRYING FACILITIES BY RETAINING CAPACITY, (2) REDUCE THE NUMBER OF HAZARDS, PLUS LESSEN THE NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS, MANY OF WHICH OCCUR AT ENTRANCES AND EXITS TO ROADSIDE ESTABLISHMENTS OR BECAUSE OF ROADSIDE DISTRACTIONS, (3) SAFEGUARD THE LARGE INVESTMENT IN HIGHWAYS BY MAINTAINING MARGINAL AREAS FREE FROM ENCROACHMENT, AND (4) PROMOTE ORDERLY DEVELOPMENT IN AREAS ADJACENT TO THE HIGHWAY, THUS PROTECTING REAL AND INTANGIBLE VALUES IN THESE FRINGE SECTIONS. THE LEGISLATURE HAS NOT PASSED THESE BILLS, BECAUSE OF PUBLIC APATHY TO ROADSIDE PROTECTION. HOWEVER, SERVERAL STATES HAVE PASSED SUCH ROADSIDE PROTECTIVE LEGISLATION. SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS ARE RECOMMENDED TO RESERVE AREAS FOR WIDENING OR IMPROVING ALIGNMENT OF HIGHWAYS. THE REVERSE FRONTAGE ARRANGEMENT IS DISCUSSED AS A SCREENING DEVICE. COMPREHENSIVE ZONING, EMBODYING THE ROADSIDE PROTECTIVE FEATURES, AND THE REGULATION OF LAND THROUGH SUBDIVISION CONTROL CAN BE EFFECTIVELY EMPLOYED IN URBAN AND SUBURBAN AREAS.

• Record URL:
  https://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/sr/sr17/sr17-005.pdf
• Supplemental Notes:
  • pp 23-27. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • Tuemmler, Fred W
• Conference:
  • 32nd Annual Meeting of the Highway Research Board
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 1953-1-13 to 1953-1-16
• Publication Date: 1954

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Monograph Title: ROADSIDES, THEIR USE AND PROTECTION
• Serial:
  • Highway Research Board Special Report
  • Issue Number: 17
  • Publisher: Highway Research Board

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Access control (Transportation); Highway capacity; Legislation; Prevention; Protection; Roadside; Roadside improvement; Safety; Zoning
• Uncontrolled Terms: Access control
• Old TRIS Terms: Enabling legislation
• Subject Areas: Design; Environment; Highways; Law; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00204796
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Aug 3 1970 12:00AM