Activity 4.4.1:  Ours is a society that is heavily dependent on a road system. A large branch of civil engineers spend their time on road planning and development. Everything from sight lines to grades must be planned. Horizontal and vertical alignment has more effect on establishing the general characteristics of a highway than any other design consideration.

Decisions on alignment will have a significant impact on both construction and vehicle operating costs. These decisions also impact the design speed intention. On a freeway, curves must be gradual, while on a feeder road they are kept tight to slow traffic. You must decide how the road will be used and design accordingly. It is rare that you can create a perfectly straight road. While terrain, climate, weather, and other natural obstacles force changes to the transit line, the expense of vertical alignment has the largest impact.

Activity 4.4.2:  Parking areas, to a certain extent, create the first impression for first-time visitors. Parking lots should be creatively designed to appear as part of the surrounding landscape and to contribute to a positive image. Landscaping can be used around parking lots to integrate them into the surrounding area, and can be used within the lots to break up the visual impact of extensive pavement and cars. For example, deciduous trees provide solar protection for vehicles in the summer and allow solar heating in winter. Conifers can be used to screen parking lots from cold winter winds. Provision for pedestrians must be made so they may safely gain entrance to the parking lot and connecting structure.

Parking lots are created for the convenience and safety for the people who are using them. People must also feel safe when walking to and from their cars. Accessibility or barrier-free design is now required. Since lots are impervious surfaces, designs must take storm water runoff into account.