Design Standards

Baltimore City Code art. 26, subtit. 40, pt. IV

in effect

Baltimore City Code, Article 26, § 40-26 Definitions.

§ 40-26. Definitions. (a) In general. In this Part IV, the following terms have the meanings indicated. (b) Transit street. “Transit street” means any street on which a public transit vehicle provides fixed-route service. (c) Truck route. “Truck route” means any street so designated on the Transportation Department’s map of “Official Truck Routes”. (Ord. 18-197.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 26, § 40-27 Design vehicles.

§ 40-27. Design vehicles. (a) “Design vehicle” defined. In this section, “design vehicle” means a selected vehicle, with specific weight, dimensions, and operating characteristics, used to establish street design controls. (b) In general. The design vehicle used by the Transportation Department for all streets, except for transit streets and truck routes, must be the design vehicle recommended for neighborhood streets by the most recent edition of the National Association of City Transportation Officials, “Urban Street Design Guide”. (c) Transit streets. The design vehicle used by the Transportation Department for transit streets must be the design vehicle recommended for designated transit streets by the most recent edition of the National Association of City Transportation Officials, “Transit Street Design Guide”. (d) Truck routes. The design vehicle used by the Transportation Department for truck routes must be the design vehicle recommended for designated truck routes by the most recent edition of the National Association of City Transportation Officials, “Urban Street Design Guide”. (Ord. 18-197.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 26, § 40-28 Design speed.

§ 40-28. Design speed. (a) Definitions. (1) In general. In this section, the following terms have the meanings indicated. (2) Design speed. “Design speed” means the speed used to determine geometric features of a street during the design phase. (3) Target speed. “Target speed” means the desired driver speed recommended by street typology. (b) Standard. The design speed must be equal to the target speed and posted speed limit on any local, collector, and non-interstate arterial. (Ord. 19-332; Ord. 18-197.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 26, § 40-29 Lane widths.

§ 40-29. Lane widths. (a) “Shared street” defined. In this section, “shared street” means a street developed for mixed use by low volumes of slow-moving vehicular traffic mixed with high levels of walking. (b) In general. Except as provided in this section or otherwise required by law, the lanes of any street may not be more than 10 feet wide, but 9 feet is the preferred width. (c) Exceptions. (1) Local streets. On a street designated on the Baltimore City Roadway Functional Classification Map as “local”, lanes may not be more than 9 feet wide. (2) Transit streets and truck routes. On a transit street or truck route, 1 lane in each direction may be up to 11 feet wide. (3) Shared streets. On a street designated as a “shared street”, lane width restrictions do not apply. (Ord. 18-197 Ord. 19-332.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 26, § 40-30 DoT to use latest and best standards.

§ 40-30. DoT to use latest and best standards. In constructing and operating its Complete Streets Transportation System, the Transportation Department must use the latest and best standards, including: (1) National Association of City Transportation Officials: (i) “Global Street Design Guide”. (ii) “Urban Street Design Guide”. (iii) “Transit Street Design Guide”. (iv) “Urban Bikeway Design Guide”. (v) “Urban Street Stormwater Guide”. (2) American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials: (i) “Guide for Planning Design and Operation of Pedestrian Facilities”. (ii) “Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities”. (3) Federal Highway Administration: (i) “Separated Bike Lane Planning and Design Guide”. (ii) “Report on Incorporating On-Road Bicycle Networks into Resurfacing Projects”. (4) Institute of Transportation Engineers, “Manual for Context Sensitive Solutions in Designing Major Urban Thoroughfares for Walkable Communities”. (5) National Cooperative Highway Research Program, Report 616, “Multi-Modal Level of Service Analysis for Urban Streets”. (Ord. 18-197.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 26, § 40-31 Compliance with State and Federal funding requirements.

§ 40-31. Compliance with State and Federal funding requirements. The technical design standards required for state or federally funded projects will supersede local requirements in this subtitle and the Complete Streets Manual if there is an actual conflict between the local and state or federal standards and if funding will be impacted by adherence to the local standard. (Ord. 19-332; Ord. 18-197.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 26, §§ 40-32 to 40-35 {Reserved}

Source: City of Baltimore Department of Legislative Reference, City of Baltimore Law Library (codes.baltimorecity.gov; Open Law Library bulk XML)URL: https://codes.baltimorecity.gov/us/md/cities/baltimore/code/26/40/IVFetched: 10/25/2026