Roads and streets make up the majority of the public space in NSW. They are frequently used by many different people for all kinds of activities and journeys. As such, roads and streets provide movement functions but must also respond to the needs of different users and to different place contexts.
There are some clear movement and place differences between streets and roads. At a fundamental level, the priority for streets is they are places for the community to spend time, while the priority for roads is they are avenues for the community to save time and to move goods. These aspirations are always framed collectively rather than individually. Spending time is more enjoyable when we share this time with others, while saving time is more beneficial when we move efficiently together.
The diversity of our towns and cities can mean that differences between roads and streets may not always be distinct. A street or road may not fall neatly in to one or the other category. This is because the road and street network operates as an interconnected and dynamic system.
If we can provide all our communities with safe, inviting and healthy roads and streets, then we can achieve significant health, social, environmental and economic benefits. The DORAS manual includes design directions for:
- Understanding road and street users
- Implementing the Safe System approach
- Applying appropriate design speeds
- Providing for walking and cycling
- Providing for all ages and abilities
- Providing for bus services
- Providing for freight and servicing
- Maximising tree canopy
- Designing streets near schools
- Reducing embodied and operational emissions
- Achieving whole of asset life outcomes
- Providing for utilities
- Designing new roads and streets
- Designing existing roads and streets
View the full Design of Roads and Streets manual
on the Transport Standards Portal.