The MassDOT Highway Division issued a new Engineering Directive dated 2/4/14. This directive is currently available on the MassDOT website:
This directive contains important information regarding new design criteria for pedestrian and bicycle accommodation to support the Healthy Transportation Policy Directive, P-13-0001.
E-14-001 supersedes E-09-005. It is effective immediately for all projects not yet advertised for construction. Projects that have received 25% Project Approval as of 2/4/14 are exempt from meeting the new pedestrian and bicycle accommodation requirements of the directive. However, Project Managers and Designers are still encouraged to apply all elements of the directive, where practical, to all projects regardless of design status.
Please note also that this directive is issued as an Interim Engineering Directive. This means that we will closely monitor how it is working during the coming months and will rescind, amend or permanently adopt provisions as appropriate.
Issuance of this directive has also required some changes to our Design Exception procedures for project elements that do not meet minimum design criteria. New Design Exception Report guidance and a new Design Criteria Workbook are available on our website for immediate use on all projects.
Baystate Roads Blog 