Transportation Intelligence

Volume 2 Number 5

October 2004

Transit

Administration

Pavements

Road Design and Safety

Traffic Control and Safety

New Web Sites

TAC Training Calendar Fall 2004

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Traffic Control
ITE Traffic Signal Operation Self-Assessment
The Traffic Signal Operation Self Assessment is intended for any agency with responsibility for the operation and maintenance of traffic signals and can be completed in about one hour with input from key staff responsible for traffic signal operations. No data collection is required. It gives agencies a tool to help them understand opportunities for improving their own policies and practices. (Institute of Transportation Engineers, 2004, 14 p.)

Safety
Saving Lives on Alberta's Roads: Report and Recommendations for a Traffic Collision Fatality and Injury Reduction Strategy
At the request of the Alberta Transportation Minister, a review of Alberta's Traffic Safety Initiative was launched in February 2004. The objective was to recommend the best way to coordinate strategies, set goals, and allocate resources to address road safety issues. (Alberta Transportation, June 2004, 38 p.)

Administration
2004 Urban Mobility Report
The 2004 Urban Mobility Report, published by the Texas Transportation Institute, shows traffic congestion growing across the nation in cities of all sizes, consuming more hours of the day, and affecting more travelers and shipments of goods than ever before. We can only expect more of the same, say the study’s authors. (Texas Transportation Institute, September 2004, 27 p.)

Transit

Overview of Transit Signal Priority
This paper, originally published in 2002 and revised in 2004, provides an introductory guide to implementing Transit Signal Priority (TSP). It has been written by engineers and technicians who have actually implemented TSP and includes the lessons learned from field experience. (ITS America, June 2004, 35 p.)

Toolkit for Rural Community Coordinated Transportation Services
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Report 101: Toolkit for Rural Community Coordinated Transportation Services examines strategies and practices used to coordinate rural transportation services, and identifies model processes used for local coordination efforts in rural communities. A stand-alone executive summary of the report provides information, instructions, and lessons learned from rural communities that have implemented coordinated transportation services. (Transportation Research Board TCRP Report 101, August 2004, 434 p.)

Evaluation of Transit Route Development: A Case Study of Downeast Transportation Inc.'s Buckport, Maine, Bus Route
This paper examines the factors that have led to the success of the Buckport Public Transit route, which has outlasted other rural public transit efforts. (Maine Dept. of Transportation Technical Report 04-05, August 2004, 47 p.)

Operational Experiences with Flexible Transit Services
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 53: Operational Experiences with Flexible Transit Services examines transit agency experiences with "flexible transit services," including all types of hybrid services that are not pure demand-responsive (including dial-a-ride and Americans with Disabilities Act paratransit) or fixed-route services, but that fall somewhere in between those traditional service models. (Transportation Research Board TCRP Synthesis 53, August 2004, 71 p.)

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Administration

Public Benefits of Highway System Preservation and Maintenance
TRB's National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Synthesis 330: Public Benefits of Highway System Preservation and Maintenance examines the current practices for identifying, measuring, and articulating the public benefits of highway system maintenance and operation, and of communicating those benefits that are understandable and meaningful to stakeholders-road users, elected officials, and others who have an interest in the system's performance. (Transportation Research Board NCHRP Synthesis 330, August 2004, 57 p.)

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes
This paper reports on a two-year study evaluating HOV lane performance. The analysis assesses the freeway operations before the HOV lanes opened with continued assessment throughout the first year of operation. It looks at automatic data from traffic monitoring stations and manual data from roadside and travel time surveys. (US University Transportation Centers Program, May 2004, 41 p.)

Corridor Management Pilot Projects
This pilot study (in the form of two corridor management case studies) was intended to provide an analytical process that can be replicated along other Iowa commuting corridors using commonly available transportation and land use data resources. It was also intended to develop a general set of guidelines for the Iowa Department of Transportation to use in the development of its own comprehensive corridor management program. (Iowa Department of Transportation, July 2004, 126 p.)

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Pavements

Determination of the Optimum Base Characteristics for Pavements
This report includes conclusions and recommendations related to four main study objectives: (1) Determine the optimal range for in-place stability and in-place permeability based on Iowa aggregate sources; (2) Evaluate the feasibility of an air permeameter for determining the permeability of open and well-graded drainage layers in-situ; (3) Develop reliable end-result quality control/quality assurance specifications for stability and permeability; (4) Refine aggregate placement and construction methods to optimize uniformity. (Iowa Department of Transportation Report TR-482, May 2004, 250 p.)

Incremental Costs and Performance Benefits of Concrete Pavements
This report presents a methodology for quickly assessing the relative costs and benefits of incorporating various design features in PCC pavements. That methodology has been incorporated into an analytical software tool that can be used by pavement design engineers who are interested in investigating the cost versus performance trade-offs associated with the selection of different design features during the PCC pavement design process. (FHWA Report FHWA-HRT-04-044, April 2004, 212 p.)

Recessed Striping in Concrete Pavement
In a 1999-2000 project, a screed bar was modified to form grooves to accommodate recessed marking tape stripes in concrete pavement as the concrete was placed. This study evaluated the condition of the pavement marking tape after several winters to determine the condition of the marking materials. (Colorado Department of Transportation Report CDOT-DTD-R-2004-13, August 2004, 14 p.)

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Road Design and Safety

Impact de l'asphaltage des accotements sur la sécurité routière - cas de la route 148 (Impact on safety of asphalt paving of road shoulders – The case of highway 148 in Quebec)
The goal of this study was not only to estimate the impact of asphalt paving of shoulders on safety of highway 148, but also to develop the security intervention assessment process that will systematically be put to use in the years to come. (Rapport à Transports Québec, avril 2004, 19 pp.)

Community Cycling Manual - A Planning and Design Guide
Developed in partnership with the Canadian Institute of Planners and Go for Green, this is a planning guide for community bicycling facilities, emphasizing the integration of planning, engineering, education and enforcement. Major sections include Strategic Planning, Facilities Design and Maintenance as well as a bibliography and glossary. (Canadian Institute of Planners & Go For Green report, June 2004, 222 p.)

Fewer Crashes and Fewer Casualties by Safer Roads
Human errors play a vital role in road crashes. This report deals with the prevention of human errors by proper road planning, road design and improving existing roads. (SWOV Report D-2003-11, 2004, 19 p.)

Deer-Vehicle Crash Countermeasures Toolbox: A Decision and Choice Resource
In July 2001 the Deer-Vehicle Crash Information Clearinghouse (DVCIC) was created by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. During the last two years an extensive review of deer-vehicle crash (DVC) countermeasure documentation has been completed. This toolbox contains what is believed to be the most detailed summary and evaluation of DVC countermeasure information. Three levels of discussion are provided that focus on the current state-of-the knowledge related to 16 potential DVC countermeasures. (Wisconsin Department of Transportation Report DVCIC-02, June 2004, 263 p.)

Single-Point Interchanges - A Safety Auditor's Perspective
The single-point interchange typically is implemented where limited land is available for an interchange. To meet space constraints, single-point interchange design may incorporate multiple elements based on minimum design standards or guidelines. Combinations of these minimum standards for design elements may increase the risk of collision. (ITE Journal, June 2004, pp. 22-27) (Request this item from TIS)

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Traffic Control and Safety

Effectiveness of All-Red Clearance Interval on Intersection Crashes
Crashes at signalized intersections account for approximately 20% of all crashes both nationally and within the State of Minnesota. This research evaluates the safety effect of all-red clearance intervals at low speed urban 4 way intersections in the City of Minneapolis. (Minnesota Department of Transportation Report MN/RC-2004-26, May 2004, 166 p.)

Traffic Signal Safety: Analysis of Red-Light Running in Maine
The aim of this report is to suggest how to make signalized intersections safer, in particular in respect to crashes caused by red-light violations. The report includes a review of literature, analysis of crashes, and interviews with Maine drivers. (Maine Department of Transportation Technical Report, May 2004, 98 p.)

A detailed evaluation of the impact of speed cameras on safety
This paper presents a detailed evaluation of 62 fixed cameras on 30mph roads in the UK. The changes in accident frequency attributable to the effect of cameras on both speed and route choice are separately estimated, as are the changes due to general trends in accidents and regression-to-mean: changes that would have occurred with or without a camera. (Traffic Engineering and Control, September 2004, pp. 280-287) (Request this item from TIS)

Effectiveness and Safety of Traffic and Non-Traffic Related Messages Presented on Changeable Message Signs (CMS)
The objectives of this study were to determine whether Changeable Message Sign (CMS) messages really work, whether or not they cause traffic slowdowns, and whether or not they have an impact on traffic flow. (Minnesota Department of Transportation Report MN/RC-2004-27, 2003, 61 p.)

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New Web Sites

Canadian Transportation Research Gateway (http://www.tc.gc.ca/ctrg-prtc/)
The Canadian Transportation Research Gateway (CTRG) is a collection of Web resources on transportation research in Canada. It is intended to provide access to evaluated websites, through a single gateway, for researchers, students, government, and industry.

North American Transportation Statistics Database (http://nats.inegi.gob.mx/nats/)
Statistics On-Line Database presents information on transportation and transportation-related activities among Canada, the United States and Mexico, both within individual countries and between the countries. This database, presented in French, English, and Spanish, is accessible in table and time series formats, and covers twelve thematic areas, including transportation and the economy, transportation safety, transportation’s impact on energy and the environment, passenger and freight activity, and transportation and trade.

Wildlife-Vehicle Accident Prevention Program (http://www.wildlifeaccidents.ca/)
The Wildlife-Vehicle Accident Prevention Program (WVAPP) is an initiative to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions throughout British Columbia and eventually nationwide. It was formed in 2001 as a partnership between the British Columbia Conservation Foundation (BCCF) and the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC), in response to the increasing number and severity of wildlife-vehicle accidents in BC.

Deer-Vehicle Crash Information Clearinghouse (http://www.deercrash.com)
The webpage provides and promotes suggested and preferred standards and/or criteria for participation and contribution to the Deer-Vehicle Crash (DVC) Information Clearinghouse data or research results. The results of existing and ongoing DVC and DVC avoidance research will be documented, compared to the suggested standards/criteria, and any limitations noted.

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