Tier 1: Calm Grid & OrientationCentral Valley · Friant Rd & Audubon Dr, Fresno to Champlain Dr & Perrin Ave, Fresno

North Fresno Friant to Champlain Grid Corridor

At a glance: Graded 26 out of 100 (Tier 1: Calm Grid & Orientation) across 5.2 miles in Central Valley. Divided six-lane Central Valley boulevard network with flat San Joaquin river-terrace relief and wide signalized intersections.

Complexity Index
26 / 100
Tier 1: Calm Grid & Orientation
Corridor distance
5.2 mi
Friant Rd & Audubon Dr to Champlain Dr & Perrin Ave
Peak vertical slope
0.9%
328 to 368 ft elevation
Cumulative climb
44 ft
Crux: Friant Rd & Shepherd Ave wide arterial crossing

Why this corridor sits in Tier 1

North Fresno’s mile-grid arterials near Woodward Park pair level San Joaquin Valley sightlines with high-capacity signalized junctions. While curvature and grade scores stay low, wide crossing distances and 45 to 50 mph arterial speeds raise the importance of yellow-phase judgment and protected left-turn clearance.

Key roadway traits

  • Flat San Joaquin terrain
  • Divided raised medians
  • Long signal sightlines
Crux sightline checkpoint: Friant Rd & Shepherd Ave wide arterial crossing (36.8665, -119.7824, heading 72 deg). Open Google Street View panorama ↗

Four-factor geometric & crash decomposition

0 to 100 scale
Curve & turn deflection17 / 100
21 deg/mi gentle sweep from Friant Rd onto Shepherd and Champlain
Vertical slope & hill grade9 / 100
0.9% maximum grade outside river bluff approaches
Speed envelope & merge pacing39 / 100
45 to 50 mph suburban arterial speed envelope
Historical crash record concentration38 / 100
Broadside and rear-end clusters at mile-grid super-intersections

Corridor alignment & sightline inspection

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Corridor pathFatal crashInjury crashPDO crash

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Methodology & interpretation limits

Complexity Index combines horizontal curvature, sustained elevation grade, speed-transition demand, and 12-month historical reported crash concentration per corridor mile. Counts describe observational public records unadjusted for daily traffic volume and do not represent driving safety advice. Missing-coordinate collision records in surrounding cities are reported separately in live buffered queries and are never plotted at synthetic coordinates.

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Cite or reuse this profile

This is independent analysis of public records. Keep the reporting window, source, and methodology attached when reusing a figure.

Evidence for Zero. "North Fresno Friant to Champlain Grid Corridor (Tier 1: Calm Grid & Orientation)." Updated November 11, 2026. https://crashes.meruai.co/courses/fresno-woodward-grid-corridor. Analysis of California Crash Reporting System public records.
Read the methodology