Medians can be major amenities for adjacent communities. They have many useful functions including reducing lane widths, providing a safe space for pedestrians as they make their way across the street, split up a lengthy curb-to-curb distance, and becoming a location for trees, flowers, art, and other amenities. They can also present challenges in terms of their design and landscape treatments.
FHWA classifies medians as a Proven Safety Countermeasure.
– From Medians and Pedestrian Crossing Islands in Urban and Suburban Areas (FHWA)
