What Are Internal Streets?
Internal streets are one of the most important parts of any neighborhood plan. Streets are not only for cars, but they also:
- Help people walk safely to their homes.
- Give access to utilities and services like water, electricity, and sewage.
- Allow fire trucks, garbage trucks, and delivery vehicles to reach houses.
When streets are well designed, they make life safe and comfortable. But if the street is too narrow, it can cause traffic problems, and if it is too wide, it costs more and uses land that could be used for houses.
Local Residential Streets
- These are small streets inside neighborhoods.
- They are mainly for access to houses, not for heavy traffic.
- Curved streets, cul-de-sacs, and loops help slow down cars and make the area safer.
- A street width of about 26–27 feet is usually good for family neighborhoods.
Collector Streets
- Collector streets connect local streets to main streets.
- They allow cars to move between homes and larger roads.
- A width of about 36–37 feet is enough for two traffic lanes and two parking lanes.
Streets in Multi-Family Areas
- In areas with apartments or many houses, streets should be at least 31–32 feet wide.
- If the street is only 26 feet wide, it’s hard to have both parking on both sides and smooth traffic flow.
Main or Arterial Streets
- These are the big roads with heavy traffic and higher speeds.
- Usually controlled by traffic lights.
- They may have many lanes and sometimes a middle island.
- A right-of-way of 100 feet is common for main streets.
Circular and Cul-de-Sac Streets
- These streets end in a circle or dead-end.
- They are useful for safety and make it easy for fire trucks, delivery vehicles, and police cars to turn around.
- They are also a good solution for areas with irregular shapes.
Conclusion
Internal streets are not just for cars. They are an important part of city planning, making sure neighborhoods are safe, organized, and comfortable for everyone.
