The Federal Highway Administration has released "Road Diet: An Informational Guide" on safety, operational, and quality-of-life considerations connected with road diets.  A free webinar introducing the guide and the basics of road diets will take place on Thursday, January 8 from noon to 1:30 p.m.  Participants will learn about the various safety and operational benefits of road diets and the decision making process to determine if they may be helpful in a specific location.  Advance registration is required.

A classic road diet converts an existing four-lane undivided roadway segment to a three-lane segment consisting of two through-lanes and a center two-way left-turn lane.  A road diet improves safety by including a protected left-turn lane for mid-block left-turning motorists, reducing crossing distance for pedestrians, and reducing travel speeds that decrease crash severity. Additionally, the road diet provides an opportunity to allocate excess roadway width to other purposes, including bicycle lanes, on-street parking, or transit stops.