This class is offered in partnership with the California Department of Transportation, Division of Local Assistance. Registration fees are subsidized with funding from the Cooperative Training Assistance Program. Reduced rates are available to employees of California's city, county, regional, and other public agencies only.

Description

This dynamic three-day, in-person course provides a deep dive into the principles and best practices of roadway geometric design in California. Built for professionals looking to strengthen or refresh their roadway design knowledge and expertise, the course begins with the latest transportation planning perspectives and emerging multimodal design philosophies that prioritize safety, mobility, and accessibility for all road users. Students will work directly with the industry's most essential design resources, including the Caltrans Highway Design Manual (HDM), the AASHTO Greenbook, PROWAG, the 2026 California MUTCD, and other key state, federal, and local guidelines. Through real-world examples, students will learn how to apply geometric design principles to evaluate constraints, solve design challenges, and develop context-sensitive solutions for various design projects.
This fast-paced, interactive course blends expert instruction, case studies, group problem solving, and hands-on exercises modeled on real projects. Students are expected to have prior knowledge of or experience with geometric design of roadways, and familiarity with HDM, AASHTO, and CA MUTCD.

Click here for a detailed course outline

Key Topics Include

• Geometric Design Basics & Planning Context
• Modern Design Philosophy for All Users
• Design Standards & Guidance (HDM, AASHTO, NACTO, PROWAG, CAMUTCD)
• Traffic Operations: LOS, Capacity, and VMT
• Roadway Segment Design (Cross Sections, Profiles, Drainage, Superelevation)
• Horizontal & Vertical Curve Design
• Sight Distance Fundamentals (Stopping, Passing, Intersection, Ped/Bike)
• Intersection Design (Radii, Turn Pockets, Curb Ramps, Signals, Roundabouts)
• Bikeway Design (Class I-IV Facilities)
• Pedestrian Facilities Design & Accessibility (ADA/PROWAG)
• Temporary Traffic Control & Work Zone Design
• Freeway Design Elements (Interchanges, Merge/Diverge, Mainline)

What You Will Learn

Students will gain a strong understanding of the principles and best practices of geometric design across multiple roadway functional classes, along with the external factors that influence design decisions.

Who Should Attend

This course is intended for transportation engineers and technicians who have some basic prior knowledge of or experience with geometric design of roadways, as well as for those more experienced who seek a refresher course.

Requirements

A laptop computer is not required but is encouraged for group exercises and individual break-out sessions. Participants should bring a pencil, pen, notebook, and engineer's scale for in-class exercises, and are encouraged to print out the course materials (electronic PDF to be provided) prior to the class.

For More Information

About our courses and credits, see our FAQ
About payments, refunds, confirmations, and accessibility, see How to Enroll
Or email us with your questions at registrar@techtransfer.berkeley.edu

Cancellation Policy

To cancel your registration and receive a refund less a $75 processing fee, you must notify TechTransfer at least five (5) working days before the course is scheduled to begin. Notifications must be made in writing and sent by email to registrar@techtransfer.berkeley.edu. We reserve the right to charge the full course fee if proper notification is not sent to TechTransfer. We don't offer refunds for classes with registration fees of $75 or less.

In lieu of canceling your registration, you have three additional options: you may (1) transfer your registration to another class, (2) receive a tuition credit for the total amount, useable toward a future class, or (3) send a substitute in your place. Please contact us at least 5 full working days before the class is scheduled to begin so we may process your request.

If you’ve registered for a self-paced class, you cannot receive a refund once you start the class.

We recommend you discuss any possible problems or online security issues with your IT person before you register for any online classes. If you are worried about connectivity issues, please contact the online training coordinator the week before the class to schedule a time to test your system. If you do not test your system and you have technical issues during a live online class, we will not provide a refund.

The Hyatt House San Jose Airport has a limited sleeping room block on a first come, first serve basis. To make a reservation, please visit this link. The special pricing for this room block expires on September 7, 2026.

Parking at the Hyatt House San Jose Airport is $10++ per day for class attendees.