Need some input on streets please

[Frank53]

I guess I could figure this out, but will appreciate help from the "been there, done that" crowd.

I am continuing to plan my layout and want to run a "main street" in the center of a 12' section. I have generally selected some buildings, which will be along the lines of butted one, two and three story retail and professional store fronts. I have a couple of options:

1) Make a one lane in each direction street separating two rows of buildings like a typical main street. There will be intersecting side streets to be able to bring other buildings down and up from the main drag.

How much width should I allow for each two way street?

How much should I add in order to have parking on each side of the street?

2) I am considering adding a trolley line going down the main drag. How much more should I add? other than enough to make it fit, of course! [:D]

I appreciate anyone being able to save me this set of mental gymnastics.

[wrmcclellan]

Some Googling shows that standard street ROW varies between 50 and 60 feet. This includes about 24 - 26 feet for two lanes. Parking varies between 9 - 12 feet per side. Sidewalks avg about 3 feet. Devil strip absorbs the rest (if anything left over).

Sidewalks in an urban area need to be 6 - 10 feet.

A trolley lane would need to be a minumum of 12 feet.

Hope this helps.
Roy

[Frank53]

thank you Roy!

[Buckeye Riveter]

A lane on an Interstate Highway is 12 foot wide. A city lane can be much smaller, say 10 feet. Add some curb and gutter, then the sidewalk with or without the tree lawn. If you have a particular town in mind, you can find an aerial photo on line to give you real accurate dimensions and configurations.

Make sure you add some potholes to the street.

[dougdagrump]

Frank, Before you get to far along in your plan how about a suggesstion. Instead of running a trolley down the middle of the street, if you have the room, seperate the traffic lanes with a greenbelt and run the trolley thru that. Kind of a flavor of the "Ol South".

[Frank53]

I like the trolley in the greenbelt idea.

I am just trying to figure out the conversion of all these feet to inches of width on my layout.

My idea for the trolley was to have it hug one side of the street. THere would be no parking on that side of the street.I am going to use a bunch of OGR buildings and use different paint schemes and customize the ornamentation and signage to what I am seeking.

I have sixty inches of width on this stretch of teh layout and am hoping to be able to have both sides of the street with at least one additional building running down each side of two or three side streets.

[jimhaleyscomet]

Assume the full size version is Y feet long

Y feet / 48 = scale length in feet
(12) x (Y feet) / 48 = scale lenght in inches

[wrmcclellan]

Also, 1/4 inch = 1 foot in O Scale.

Good luck!
Roy