CEMP-ET
TI 804-11
30 November 1998
CHAPTER 2
DESIGN FOR NON-ORGANIZATIONAL OR PRIVATELY OWNED VEHICLE
SITE CIRCULATION AND PARKING
2-1. GENERAL. This chapter provides the criteria, guidelines, and standards for determining
the design vehicle, turning radii, circulation functional relationships, and parking layout. The
chapter covers access and service drives; parking areas; and special vehicle-use areas including
gateways, drop-offs, dumpsters, deliveries, and drive-in facilities. This chapter also addresses
methods for mitigating the visual impact of parking and other vehicle use areas.
2-2. DESIGN VEHICLES. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation
Officials (AASHTO) places vehicles into two general classes: passenger cars and trucks. The
passenger car class includes passenger cars, and light delivery trucks such as vans and pick-
ups. The truck class includes single-unit trucks, recreation vehicles, buses, trucks semi-tractor
trailer combinations, and trucks or truck tractors with semi-trailers in combination with full trailers
(AASHTO, 1984). The design vehicles for this section include both the passenger car and the
truck classification.
a. Vehicle Dimensions and Turning Radii. Design circulation and parking to provide the
maneuverability and traffic safety required by the vehicles that utilize the facility. Table 2-1 lists
dimensions for some of the more common vehicles. Table 2-2 lists minimum turning radii for the
same vehicles. AASHTO provides an expanded list with additional dimensions and information.
b. Design Vehicle Template. The AASHTO passenger car is equivalent to a non-
organizational or privately owned vehicle. Figure 2-1 illustrates a template showing the turning
paths and radii of a passenger car. Templates showing the turning movements for other design
vehicles are provided by AASHTO.
Table 2-1. Dimensions for Design Vehicles
Vehicle Dimension
Bumper Overhang
Design Vehicle (Symbol)
Width
Length
Front
Rear
m (ft)
m (ft)
m (ft)
m (ft)
Passenger Car (P)
2.1 (7.0)
5.8 (19.0)
0.9 (3.0)
1.5 (5.0)
Single Unit Truck (SU)
2.6 (8.5)
9.2 (30.0)
1.2 (4.0)
1.8 (6.0)
Intermediate Semi-trailer (WB-40)
2.6 (8.5)
15.3 (50.0)
1.2 (4.0)
1.8 (6.0)
Large Semi-trailer (WB-50)
2.6 (8.5)
16.8 (55.0)
0.9 (3.0)
0.6 (2.0)
Single Unit Bus (BUS)
2.6 (8.5)
12.2 (40.0)
2.1 (7.0)
2.4 (8.0)
Motor Home (MH)
2.4 (8.0)
9.2 (30.0)
1.2 (4.0)
1.8 (6.0)
Table 2-2. Minimum Turning Radii for Design Vehicles
Design Vehicle
Minimum Design
Minimum Inside
Turning Radius
Radius
m (ft)
m (ft)
2
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