The State of Multimodal Standards
In 2013, Vlad Gavrilovic and Jessica Dimmick authored the Virginia Multimodal System Design Guidelines – a comprehensive resource that established a common language and best practices for planning and designing multimodal streets and places. The Guidelines bridged Virginia’s statewide multimodal policy priorities with local implementation efforts through a systematic approach tailored to the Virginia context. In July 2013, the Virginia Chapter of the American Planning Association recognized the Guidelines with an award for outstanding multimodal design work.
In 2020, EPR updated the Multimodal System Design Guidelines to reflect recent advances in multimodal planning and design including new approaches for transit, bicycle, and pedestrian facilities. The update incorporates the latest guidance from NACTO, AASHTO, ITE, and FHWA for on- and off-road bicycle treatments, dedicated transit facilities on different types of urban streets, curbside management, and evolving into an autonomous future. Vlad and Jessica led a working group of statewide public agencies and research organizations to incorporate the latest trends in shared mobility and funding and project prioritization changes into the guidelines. Vlad and Jessica have facilitated conference sessions to teach planners across the Commonwealth how to apply the guidelines in local planning efforts.
The Guidelines were also adopted by VDOT in their Road Design Manual as allowable alternate street standards for urban mixed use contexts.
