CHAPTER 4

Geometric Design

Geometric design for transportation facilities includes the design of geometric cross
sections, horizontal alignment, vertical alignment, intersections, and various design details. These basic elements are common to all linear facilities, such as roadways, railways, and airport runways and taxiways. Although the details of design standards vary with the mode and the class of facility, most of the issues involved in geometric design are similar for all modes. In all cases, the goals of geometric design are to maximize the comfort, safety, and economy of facilities, while minimizing their environmental impacts. This chapter focuses on the fundamentals of geometric design, and presents standards and examples from different modes. The order of presentation of material in this chapter is to consider geometric cross sections rst, then vertical alignment, horizontal alignment, superelevation, intersections, and various design details. For purposes of exposition, the order of the topics is not very important. In a typical design project, on the other hand, there is a denite order of tasks, in which the establishment of a tentative horizontal centerline usually precedes establishment of vertical alignment. This is because the elevation of the existing ground along the centerline is an important consideration in establishing the vertical alignment. The process of designing the vertical alignment begins with plotting a prole of the existing terrain, and a tentative horizontal centerline must already be established in order to do this.

4.1 GEOMETRIC CROSS SECTION

The primary consideration in the design of geometric cross sections for highways, runways, and taxiways is drainage. Details vary depending on the type of facility and agency.1,2
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