User:Jared.Campbell/UpdateTownshipRoadways

Prior to updating roadways, it is highly recommended to read these articles:

1. https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/TIGER_fixup
2. https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Highways
3. https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Sidewalks
4. https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Tag:service%3Ddriveway
5. https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Key:surface
6. https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Key:access
7. https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Names#Abbreviation_.28don.27t_do_it.29

Seriously: this should not be taken lightly and you should be well versed in the various highway types and tags needed.

Align Roadways

Ensure that you are using the best imagery source for roadways. Bing is good, but there is likely newer imagery with higher resolution available from local sources. For example, in Ohio the state has an imagery program that provides 1 foot, 6 inch, and 3 inch resolution imagery. This is MUCH better than the Bing imagery. https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Ohio#Resources

1. Using imagery, realign road to the center of the roadway.
   • Note: The center line (if it exists) is generally a good reference point.
2. Ensure that the road is properly typed.
   • General rule of thumb:
     • State roads: primary
     • County roads: secondary
     • Township roads: tertiary
3. Basic tags that should be added/updated:
   • access=yes
   • highway=*
   • lanes=*
   • lanes:backward=*
   • lanes:forward=*
   • name=*
   • source=*

     WARNING: Do NOT skip this tag

   • surface=*

     Note: At a minimum use either surface=paved or surface=unpaved

   • tiger:reviewed=yes
   • WARNING: Do NOT skip this tag. There's nothing worse than having reviewed TIGER data, but not telling everyone else that its been reviewed. Don't be that person.
4. When the road reaches the township boundary, add a point at the boundary and split the road.

   WARNING: Do NOT merge the road points with the boundary unless you KNOW for a fact that the road defines the boundary (it usually doesn't).

   Note: For most cases, township roads were built AFTER township boundaries and tend to drift whereas the township boundary is an exact line between the boundary's corners. Thus, the road and boundary do NOT relate to each other and should NOT be merged.

Add Sidewalks

Generally speaking, sidewalks are non-existent in rural townships, BUT they no occasionally exist in small township towns.

1. Draw the sidewalk line from one intersection to another (do not cross streets, yet)

   Note: Generally sidewalks are straight lines, so initially only two points are needed

2. Add the following tags:
   • footway=sidewalk
   • highway=footway
   • source=*

     WARNING: Do NOT skip this tag

   • surface=*

     Note: At a minimum use either surface=paved or surface=unpaved

3. Repeat for all place where there are sidewalks, before adding crossings
4. Draw the crossing line from the end points of two sidewalk across a road

   Note: For now, ignore the road (i.e. don't add a point where the crossing crosses the road)

5. Add the following tags:
   • crossing=*

     Note: For marked crossings without crossing lights use crossing=uncontrolled

     Note: For unmarked crossings with sloped curves use crossing=unmarked

   • footway=crossing
   • highway=footway
   • source=*

     WARNING: Do NOT skip this tag

   • surface=*

     Note: At a minimum use either surface=paved or surface=unpaved

6. After the crossing is drawn, create a point where the crossing intersects the road

   Note: In most OSM editors a point can be created on one of the ways and then merged onto the second way

7. Add the following tags to the point:
   • crossing=*

     Note: Same value as the crossing way

   • highway=crossing
   • source=*

     Note: Same value as the crossing way

Add Driveways

Driveways in rural areas can sometimes be fairly long and sometimes blend with farm tracks or private roads into woods. A good rule of thumb for driveways is a private road that ends at a building (e.g. garage or barn).

WARNING: It is MUCH, MUCH easier to draw driveways AFTER road alignment has been complete AND sidewalks have been drawn.

1. Draw the driveway from the road to the terminus building

   Note: Some driveways loop back to the road or are a turning circle; draw accordingly

   Note: For now, ignore any sidewalks (i.e. don't add a point where the driveway crosses the sidewalk)

2. Add the following tags:
   • access=private

     Note: Driveways are private property are should be marked as such. Not doing so does NOT do the home owner any routing favors, especially when long driveways enter and exit onto different roadways (common in rural areas).

   • highway=service
   • service=driveway
   • source=*

     WARNING: Do NOT skip this tag

   • surface=*

     Note: At a minimum use either surface=paved or surface=unpaved

3. After the driveway is drawn, create a point where the driveway intersects the sidewalk

   Note: In most OSM editors a point can be created on one of the ways and then merged onto the second way