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Comprehensive Plan, City of Paris, Texas Future Land Use of existing roadways. In these instances, other methods of increasing roadway capacity may be more appropriate. Other methods include constructing intersection improvements, turn bays, medians, restricting road and driveway access or providing traffic signal timing improvements. Conversely, road capacity can be decreased by adding cross roads, driveways, traffic signals, or other traffic control devices. By developing an access control policy, road capacity can be maintained to efficiently accommodate future development. Specific design characteristics associated with each functional classification depend on factors such as projected traffic volumes and local access control policies: Higher traffic volumes such as those exceeding 20,000 vehicles per day warrant construction of a four or five lane arterial road. Traffic volumes of 10,000 or 15,000 vehicles per day can be accommodated by a four-lane arterial road or by a two-lane arterial road which includes turn bays, good signal and intersection spacing, and private driveway access control. In many cases, a well-built two-lane arterial road, with turn lanes added, can function as well as a four-lane road at less cost. Acceptable traffic volumes on a major arterial roadway can range as high as 25,000-35,000 vehicles per day. However, excessive curb cuts and mid-block turning movements can reduce capacity. The center turn lane is appropriate because of frequent entrances into higher traffic generation land uses such as business parks and retail centers. A median can be constructed in locations where left-turns should be prohibited and on-street parking should not be allowed. For design speeds greater than 35 mph, or for peak hour right turn-in traffic volumes exceeding 100 vehicles, it is recommended that a right turn lane be constructed along the arterial roadway approaching the curb cut. Loop 286 Highway and other arterial roads provide regional access as well as access to abutting properties. Therefore, it is critical that a sound access control policy be followed as development occurs on property directly abutting the highway. Access control for arterial and collector streets parallel to the loop and throughout the City of Paris must be traffic controlled, as well, for efficient movement of local traffic as residential and commercial growth occurs. As future development occurs, minor roadway improvements may be necessary to prevent traffic congestion from increased traffic movements accessing arterial roads, in particular the Loop 286. Such improvements may consist of turn bays, restricting road and driveway access, or providing traffic control devices on local arterial roads and access roads. The need for these improvements must be carefully balanced against the need to allow for the efficient movement of traffic through the City. Therefore, the carrying capacity of the major roadways must be protected by limiting the number of cross roads, driveways, traffic signals, or other stop controls. Intersection Spacing Adequate distance between intersections is essential for the safe and efficient flow of traffic. Appropriately spaced intersections provide through-motorists an opportunity to respond to traffic entering the street from a side street. Table 5.4 shows the recommended minimum standards for spacing intersections, determined by through-traffic speed. S:\98288\WPOfinul repwn 2-0I.Jm 40 B WR