The National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) of North America has released a new design guide with an aim to develop transit-friendly streets across the continent.

NACTO has published the Transit Street Design Guide to help people across the North American cities to commute freely and easily.

NACTO’s design guide provides a complete guide to implementing safe and transit-first urban street design.

"Cities of every size can use this indispensable template to create streets that support local businesses and strong neighbourhoods while moving more people more efficiently."

Los Angeles Department of Transportation general manager and NACTO president Seleta Reynolds said: "The Transit Street Design Guide offers on-the-ground knowledge and proven ideas about how transit makes great streets.

"Cities of every size can use this indispensable template to create streets that support local businesses and strong neighbourhoods while moving more people more efficiently."

The Transit Street Design Guide has been developed by 45 NACTO member cities and 18 participating transit agencies.

NACTO has worked in collaboration with the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), TransitCentre and the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) in order to develop the guide.

Salt Lake City Transportation director Robin Hutcheson said: "We’re seeing a surge in demand for public transportation and for the facilities and amenities needed to make it safe and comfortable.

"If you build it, they will come and the NACTO Transit Street Design Guide will help us build more, and better, transit streets than ever before."

According to the street guide, transit is considered to be the centrepiece of transformative street projects that include transit boulevards, shared transit streets, all-door boarding and transit-friendly signals.

It also provides guidance on boarding islands, lanes and on-street transitways, and intersections.