Construction Design Guidelines and Standards

Road Design Guidelines

Last update: December 7 | Version December 2020

Road Design Guidelines (92 MB zip file)
Download the file from the FTP site using the following login:

• Username: RoadDesign
• Password: Guidelines

How to use the zip file

1. 1. Download and save the zip file to your network server or your desktop
   2. Extract the zip file to an appropriate directory on your file server or a suitable desktop location
   3. Open the MS Word document named RDGLs December 2020.docx

Specifications and Bid Form Templates

Download specifications and bid form templates (Microsoft Word) for use in road construction contracts.

Electrical Items Bid Form – July 2021
Electrical Specifications – June 2022
General Contract Items Bid Form – December 2020
General Contract Specifications – October 2021
Pavement Marking Items Bid Form – October 2020
Pavement Marking Specifications – February 2021
Roadworks Items Bid Form – May 2022
Roadworks Specifications – May 2022 version 2
Streetscape Specifications – December 2020
Structural Items Bid Form – October 2020
Structural Specifications – October 2020

Utility Co-ordination

Utility Co-ordination Manual - Capital Planning and Delivery - Roads

Development Charge Credits

2022 DC Credit List

To provide feedback on the Road Construction documents, please e-mail @email

Consultant Requirements Manual — Environmental Projects

The Consultant Requirements Manual includes information to enable project teams to successfully deliver capital environmental projects throughout the environmental assessment, preliminary design, detailed design, construction, commissioning and close-out phases.  All Requests for Proposals issued by the Environmental Services Capital Planning and Delivery Branch will require consultants to fulfill project delivery requirements in accordance with the Consultant Requirements Manual. 

Design Guidelines, Specifications and Standard Drawings — Environmental Projects

A design guideline is a recommended approach used for defining processes and design requirements.

Specifications are written descriptions of materials, services, and construction processes that dictate the performance and characteristics of the materials to be used, as well as the methodologies and quality of the work installations.

The standard detail engineering drawings that accompany specifications are a graphical depiction of the work to be done. They depict shape, dimensions, location, measurement of material and the relationship between building components.

PCS Requirements Manual – Environmental Projects

The PCS Requirements Manual details the requirements for Consultants and System Integrators to successfully deliver PCS engineering, programming and integration services for capital environmental projects.

Login Information

All documentation relating to the Consultant Requirements Manual (including any associated forms and templates), PCS Requirements Manual, as well as design guidelines, specifications, and standard drawings is available for download via FTP.

Log on using the following credentials:

1. Username: STANDARDS
2. Password:  STANDARDS

The Conditions of Use must be read and accepted before accessing the FTP.

• I accept the Conditions of Use - Open FTP

For assistance, or to provide feedback contact @email.

Maps and Data for Capital Projects

• YorkMaps
  • Browse and search interactive and ready-to-print maps and dashboards
• Open Data
  • Explore and download publicly available data sets through Open Data
• Consultants under contract to the Region can download project-related geographic data from a self-service catalogue
  • Consultants must be registered for an account by the contracting York Region Project Manager, before using the system
• Consultants under contract to the Region can also request for LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) data
  • Consultants must contact the York Region Project Manager responsible for the affected project(s)

Road design that supports evolving land uses and urban form is an integral component of building resilient, livable and healthy communities that can effectively accommodate growth, an aging population, a diversifying mix of uses and safe transportation options for all users to create a stronger ‘sense of place’. 

Evolving best practices call for cross-disciplinary collaboration and approaches to street design that integrate boulevard and roadway design while recognizing the unique attributes of the area and land uses, as well as lifecycle costs.

York Region has developed its Designing Great Streets (DGS) guidelines to update its road design process by better integrating road design and land use context, and responding to the challenges of a rapidly growing Region.  Through its decision making process, DGS shifts the focus from planning for vehicle capacity to planning for streets that provide greater mobility for all users and greater integration with the community.

The context-sensitive approach of DGS will support improved project outcomes by promoting:

• Flexibility to design for community context through the EA process
• Consistency with facility applications in similar contexts
• Best practices and sound, professional judgement
• A ‘made-in-York-Region’ approach that considers full lifecycle costs

DGS guidelines include six road typologies that reflect the Region’s aspirations for the Regional road network:

• City Centre Street
• Avenue
• Main Street
• Connector
• Rural Road
• Rural Hamlet Road

DGS guidelines are consistent with direction and policies outlined in York Region’s 2016 Transportation Master Plan, and are expected to be used by multidisciplinary design teams to produce resilient road design options that suit the specific, current settings and proposed future land uses.

Cover Page
Acknowledgements
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Guidelines Overview
1.2 How to Use These Guidelines
1.3 Urban Design Vision and Guiding Principles
1.4 Best Practices Summary
2.0 Context
2.1 Context
2.2 Legislative and Technical Framework
3.0 Road Typologies
3.1 A New Approach to Road Characterization
3.2 Objectives
3.3 City Centre Street Typology
3.3 Avenue Typology
3.3 Main Street Typology
3.3 Connector Typology
3.3 Rural Road Typology
3.3 Rural Hamlet Road Typology
3.3 Toolbox: Boulevard and Roadway Elements
4.0 Design Guidelines
4.1 Street Design Guidelines
4.2 Boulevard Guidelines
4.3 Roadway Guidelines
4.4 Intersection Design
4.5 Transitions
4.6 General Guidelines
5.0 Implementation
5.1 Implementation Overview
5.2 Municipal Class Environmental Assessment
5.3 Maintenance and Operations
6.0 Decision Making Process
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Decision Making Process Worksheets
Appendices
Appendix A Typology Matrix and Toolbox
Appendix B Glossary of Terms

Accessible formats of these documents are available upon request. These documents are accessible if viewing by Internet Explorer without downloading. If using another browser, download the document to your device to enable the accessibility features.

The York Region Pedestrian and Cycling Planning and Design Guidelines provides a concise and easy to use manual for planning and design of active transportation facilities. The guidelines are an update to the 2008 Planning and Design Guidelines developed as a part of the Pedestrian and Cycling Master Plan; however it includes updates on cycling facility types, emerging design treatments for intersections and better integration with other York Region planning and design initiatives. In particular, these guidelines directly support the work of York Region’s Designing Great Streets context sensitive design manual and policy directions stemming from the recently updated Transportation Master Plan.

Developing high quality active transportation facilities in York Region presents a unique set of challenges including:

• Variety of street typologies that often require transition zones as well as demand to accommodate goods movements as part of the regional mandate
• Must be balanced with the desire for pedestrian oriented design specifically through elements such as turning radii, lane widths, etc.
• Balancing urban design elements including a  desire for sustainable streets and streetscaping requirements with space for pedestrians and cyclists in regional/urban centres

Pedestrian and Cycling Planning and Design Guidelines

Cover Page 
Table of Contents 
1.0 Introduction and Context 
1.1 Overview
1.2 Using the Guidelines
2.0 Facility Selection Tool
2.1 Overview
2.2 Using the Tool 
3.0 General Design Considerations
3.1 User Characteristics
3.2 Design Criteria Conditions
4.0 Pedestrian and Cycling Facilities
4.1 Overview
4.2 Pedestrian Facilities
4.3 Cycling Facilities
4.4 Multi-Use Paths
4.5 Clearances
4.6 Surface Course
4.7 Grades
4.8 Cross Slopes
4.9 Designing Great Streets
4.10 Retrofitting Regional Roads
5.0 Intersection Treatments 
5.1 Principles of Intersection Design
5.2 Urban Intersections
5.3 Rural Intersections
5.4 Freeway Crossings
5.5 Railway Crossings
5.6 Midblock Crossings
5.7 Grade Separated Crossings
5.8 Roundabouts
6.0 Curbside Activity
6.1 Transit Stops
6.2 Driveways
7.0 Pavement Markings and Signage
7.1 Signage
7.2 Pavement Markings
8.0 Signal Operations
8.1 Overview
8.2 Signal Phasing for Separated Cycling Facilities
8.3 Signal Timing
8.4 Detection of Cyclists
9.0 Network Amenities
9.1 Street Furniture and Streetscaping
9.2 Railings Barriers and Fences
9.3 Traffic Calming
9.4 Bicycle Parking
10.0 Maintenance and Operations
10.1 Maintenance of Pedestrian and Cycling Facilities
10.2 Pedestrians and Cyclists in Construction Zones
Appendix A Additional References And Resources

School Sites Design Guidelines

• Guidelines
• Appendix

Accessible formats of these documents are available upon request. These documents are accessible if viewing by Internet Explorer without downloading. If using another browser, download the document to your device to enable the accessibility features.

To provide feedback on the School Sites Design Guidelines or the Pedestrian and Cycling Planning and Design Guidelines documents, please e-mail @email

These guidelines are a toolkit for wayfinding signage and pavement markings that may be used as a reference for walking and cycling practitioners in the cities, towns, and hamlets throughout York Region. The guidelines are intended to provide a coordinated system for both pedestrian and cycling wayfinding signage, and options for supportive pavement markings and trailhead signage.

Sustainable Mobility Wayfinding Guidelines

Accessible formats of these documents are available upon request. These documents are accessible if viewing by Internet Explorer without downloading. If using another browser, download the document to your device to enable the accessibility features.

These Guidelines are intended to establish appropriate locations and functional designs of the proposed public roads, private accesses and entrances to Regional roads. The guidelines are applicable to any development application that involves vehicular access to Regional Roads. The primary purpose of these guidelines is to ensure safety and protect the Region’s investment in the transportation network. They also provide a degree of context sensitivity to minimize collisions, maintain corridor capacity, preserve community character and advance economic development goals. These guidelines are intended to assist both designers (transportation consultants and planners), and municipal staff (Regional and local) to understand and comply with the Region’s standards and requirements.

Access Guidelines for Regional Roads (November 2020)

Access Guidelines for Regional Roads (November 2020)

York Region – Transportation Mobility Plan Study Guidelines

Accessible formats of these documents are available upon request. These documents are accessible if viewing by Internet Explorer without downloading. If using another browser, download the document to your device to enable the accessibility features.

To provide feedback on the Access Guidelines for Regional Roads document, please e-mail @email

To provide a consistent approach for designing softscape elements and supporting infrastructure into road design as well as preserving existing green infrastructure in the Regional road allowance, York Region developed the Street Tree and Horticultural Design Guidelines, the Street Tree and Forest Preservation Guidelines and related resources.

These resources provide a full range of design criteria and standard practices for tree preservation and incorporating new trees and other plant materials within the Regional road allowance. These documents were created to help designers (transportation and development consultants and planners) and municipal staff (Regional and local) understand and comply with the Region’s expectations.

Resources:

Street Tree and Horticultural Design Guidelines - January 2022

• NHF-100 and NHF-200 Series Street Tree and Horticultural Standard Drawings - January 2022
• Street Tree and Horticultural External Specifications - (Coming Soon)
• Acceptable Tree Species for Regional Road Allowances - January 2022
• Acceptable Shrub and Perennial Species for Regional Road Allowances - January 2022

Street Tree and Forest Preservation Guidelines - January 2022

• NHF-400 Series Tree Protection Standard Drawings - January 2022
• Tree Removal Compensation Rates - January 2022

Irrigation Design Guidelines - (Coming Soon)

• NHF-500 Series Irrigation Standard Drawings - (Coming Soon)

To provide feedback on these resources, please contact York Region Environmental Services, Natural Heritage and Forestry at @email

These guidelines are intended to help stakeholders create a community that encourages active travel to school through site design, neighborhood design, and by providing supporting policies, programs and resources. This guide is also intended to help a wide variety of stakeholders find common ground and clarify a common language to create partnerships and advance recommendations that would otherwise be unachievable as a result of funding or resource limitations. The strategies presented in this guide are applicable to elementary and secondary schools, existing and new schools, and in urban, suburban, and rural contexts.
 
Over the last two decades, travel to school by walking or cycling has steeply declined. Meanwhile, the lack of physical activity and obesity among children has become a leading public health issue. Promoting active travel to school is seen as a way to increase physical activity for children, as well as encourage healthy life habits and decrease reliance on single occupant vehicles.

York Region School Sites Design Guidelines