Transportation Intelligence

Volume 5 Number 2

April 2007

Structures

Administration

Safety

Urban

Concrete

Environment

Traffic Operations

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Safety
The Transportation Planner's Safety Desk Reference
This report is a reference document on safety for use by transportation planners. It serves as a companion to the National Cooperative Highway Research Program’s (NCHRP) Report 500 Guidance for Implementation of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Strategic Highway Safety Plan. The report describes an overview of transportation safety, the potential roles that transportation planners can play to advance it, a framework for incorporating safety into the transportation planning process, available sources that may be accessed to fund safety programs, and a menu of possible safety strategies. (US Federal Highway Administration Report FHWA-HEP-07-005, January 2007, 89p.)

Traffic Operations
Signal Timing on a Shoestring
The conventional approach to signal timing optimization and field deployment requires current traffic flow data, experience with optimization models, familiarity with the signal controller hardware, and knowledge of field operations including signal timing fine-tuning. Developing new signal timing parameters for efficient traffic flow is a time-consuming and expensive undertaking. This report examines various cost-effective techniques that can be used to generate good signal timing plans that can be employed when there are insufficient financial resources to generate the plans using conventional techniques. (US Federal Highway Administration Report FHWA-HOP-07-006, March 2005, 54 p.)

Structures

Evaluation of Aluminum Highway Sign Trusses and Standards for Wind and Truck Gust Loadings
In the year 2000, IDOT changed their standard designs for aluminum highway sign structures. Four new aluminum truss bridges and one cantilever truss were instrumented in the field with anemometers, strain gages and accelerometers to measure their responses to winds and truck gusts. Using the measured responses and analytical studies it was determined that all of the new sign structures satisfied current AASHTO specifications. It was discovered, however, that the AASHTO recommended drag coefficients are significantly smaller than the values recently determined from wind tunnel tests and verified in the field. It was also determined that the currently used wind response equation for estimating fatigue stress ranges is too small by a factor of three or more. (Illinois Department of Transportation Physical Research Report 153, December 2006, 343 p.)

Load Rating of Composite Steel Curved I-Girder Bridges Through Load Testing with Heavy Trucks
Current techniques for rating of horizontally curved composite steel I-girder bridges often use approximate methods of analysis based on assessment of individual straight girders with altered properties to account for member curvature. This project investigates the behavior and rating of these bridges through load testing with heavy trucks. (Minnesota Department of Transportation Report MN/RC-2006-40, October 2006, 546 p.)

Effects of Inlet Geometry on Hydraulic Performance of Box Culverts
This report describes a laboratory study of culvert hydraulics done at the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC) hydraulics lab in partnership with the South Dakota DOT (SDDOT). The study focused on rectangular-shaped culverts with a number of inlet geometry conditions representing inlets that are currently available for highway culverts. Design coefficients are recommended for several inlet configurations that are not specifically covered in the Federal Highway Administration Hydraulic Design Series No. 5 (HDS-5). (US Federal Highway Administration Report FHWA-HRT-06-138, December 2006, 161 p.)

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Administration

Risk Assessment and Allocation for Highway Construction Management
The purpose of this International Technology Scanning Program study was to identify practices that might be evaluated and applied in the United States to improve construction management. One significant scan finding was that the countries visited had an advanced awareness of risk assessment and allocation techniques that are just now evolving in U.S. highway agencies. This instructional report was developed as part of the scan team's implementation plan to raise awareness of risk management techniques and begin the process of incorporating risk management elements into the institutional structures of highway agencies. The report is designed to be used in conjunction with workshops on implementing risk management. (US Federal Highway Administration Report FHWA-PL-06-032, October 2006, 72 p.)

Final Report for NCHRP Report 574: Guidance for Cost Estimation and Management for Highway Projects during Planning, Programming, and Preconstruction
This project has the following research objective: Develop a Guidebook on highway cost estimation management and project cost estimation practice aimed at achieving greater consistency and accuracy between long-range transportation planning, priority programming, and preconstruction estimates. (TRB's National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Web-Only Document 98, 2006, 163 p.)

Best Practices in Transportation Asset Management
The purpose of this scan was to identify best case examples of the application of asset management principles and practice in U.S. transportation agencies. The scan was sponsored by American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP). The scan participants included FHWA officials, representatives from state transportation agencies in Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, and Vermont, a university professor in transportation engineering and planning, and a consultant support staff. (TRB National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) U.S. Domestic Scan Program report NCHRP 20-68, February 2007, 182 p.)

Synthesis of Best Practices in Right-of-Way Valuations and Negotiations
Right-of-way (R/W) acquisition is an integral component of the overall planning and implementation of highway and transportation projects. This research project aims to identify and summarize best practices, as well as process differences, legal aspects, and influence factors related to right-of-way valuations and negotiations. (University of Texas Center for Transportation Resaerch Report 0-5379-P1, August 2006, 87 p.)

Future Financing Options to Meet Highway and Transit Needs
This report assesses the viability of a range of conventional and innovative options for financing investments and operations of highway and transit systems. Such options can help reduce the gap between the funds being generated by currently used financing methods and government agencies’ estimated needs for funds. The report will be useful to senior federal, state, and local government officials and other policy makers. (TRB National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Web-Only Document 102, December 2006, 197 p.)

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Safety

Low-Cost Treatments for Horizontal Curve Safety
This publication was prepared to provide practical information on low-cost treatments that can be applied at horizontal curves to address identified or potential safety problems. The publication concisely describes the treatment; shows examples; suggests when the treatment might be applicable; provides design features; and where available, provides information on the potential safety effectiveness and costs. (US Federal Highway Administration reportFHWA-SA-07-002, December 2006, 66 p.)

Before-After Comparison of Edge Line Effects on Rural Two- Lane Highways
Pavement markings have definite functions in a proper traffic control system. They are applied for the purposes of regulating and guiding the movement of traffic, and promoting safety without diverting the driver’s attention from the roadway. It was observed that pavement markings located to the right of the car are detected more easily and at distances farther away when compared with the corresponding markings placed to the left of the car. The crash statistic analysis found that edge-line treatments on rural two-lane roadways may reduce accident frequency up to 26 percent and the highest safety impacts occur on curved segments of roadways with lane widths of 9 to 10 feet. (Center for Transportation Research at the University of Texas at Austin Report 0-5090-2, November 2006, 105 p.)

Factors Leading to Older Drivers' Intersection Crashes
Older drivers are overinvolved in intersection crashes compared with younger drivers, but the reasons are not clearly understood. The purpose of the present study was to identify the factors that lead to older drivers’ intersection crashes. Police crash reports, telephone interviews with at-fault drivers, and photographs of intersections were used to determine the kinds of driver actions and errors that led to the intersection crashes. (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Research Report, November 2006, 14 p.)

Good Practices: Incorporating Safety into Resurfacing and Restoration Projects
Integrating safety improvements into resurfacing and restoration projects is a subject of long-standing interest by Federal, State, and local transportation agencies. A scan tour was conducted to identify and subsequently observe good practices in this area. The scan team visited Colorado, Iowa, New York, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Washington State. Despite wide variations in agency operating environments, the report identifies a set of common issues host agencies confronted in developing integrated resurfacing-safety improvement programs, and also observed a set of common success factors. (US Federal Highway Administration Report FHWA-SA-07-001, December 2006, 76 p.)

Evaluation of the default 50 km/h speed limit in Victoria
Victoria (Australia) introduced a state-wide default 50 km/h speed limit in built-up areas (except where otherwise signed), on January 22, 2001. The purpose of this legislation was to reduce the incidence and severity of crashes involving unprotected road users. The effectiveness of the initiative has been evaluated under a quasi-experimental design framework of various intervals with the last covering a period of almost three years. Results of the final evaluation are presented in this report. (Monash University Accident Research Centre Report 261, November 2006, 44 p.)

Human Error and Road Transport: Phase One – A framework for an error tolerant road transport system
Within complex, sociotechnical systems, human error has consistently been implicated as the major causal factor in a high proportion of accidents and incidents. This first phase of a research program to promote error tolerant intersections in Victoria and an error tolerant road transport system in Australia involved a literature review of the human error-related research conducted to date in domains other than road transport, human error-related research conducted to date within the road transport domain, and a review of contemporary error management approaches. (Monash University Accident Research Center Report 256, December 2005, 165 p.)

Human Error and Road Transport: Phase Two – A framework for an error tolerant road transport system
This second phase of a research program to promote error tolerant intersections in Victoria and an error tolerant road transport system in Australia proposed a conceptual framework for an error tolerant Australian road transport system. (Monash University Accident Research Center Report 257, January 2006, 77 p.)

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Urban

Methods of Rider Communication
This synthesis examines methods of communicating with transit customers in a variety of situations. The report explores the state of the practice in transit agency communications with customers, investigates how transit agencies determine the effectiveness of their communications activities, and reviews lessons learned in developing communications programs and communicating by electronic means. (TRB’s Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 68, 2006, 100 p.)

Roadway Facility Bicycle LOS: Linking the Segment and Intersection Models
This report documents a Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) sponsored study to create a model that predicts how bicyclists perceive the arterial roadway environment. The data consist of participants' perceptions of how well roadways met their needs as they rode selected arterial roadways and/or viewed simulations of those and other roadways. The objective of this most recent research was to create a user calibrated method which could be used to rate a wide range of arterial roadway conditions for how well they serve the bicycle mode. (Florida Department of Transportation Report BD545-23, September 2006, 61 p.).

Visual Detection of Detectable Warning Materials by Pedestrians with Visual Impairments
Detectable warnings are walking surfaces that are primarily intended to provide a tactile cue to pedestrians who are visually impaired. They are installed at locations such as the edge of a train platform or at the transition between the sidewalk and the street to warn pedestrians of the potential hazard that lies ahead. The objectives of this study were (1) to determine which detectable warning colors and patterns are visually detectable and conspicuous to pedestrians with visual impairments and (2) to provide recommendations related to color, pattern, and luminance contrast of detectable warnings for placement on sidewalks. (Report to US Federal Highway Adminstration, May 24, 2006, 115 p.)

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Concrete

Evaluation of corrosion-inhibiting systems for concrete bridges
Corrosion inhibitors are one means among many to protect concrete reinforcement from corrosion. There are many corrosion-inhibiting systems commercially available, including inorganic and organic concrete admixtures, rebar coatings, and coatings applied to the concrete surface. The main objective of the investigation was to identify the most effective corrosion-inhibiting systems under severe environmental conditions that are typical of cold regions of Canada. (National Research Council of Canada Institute for Research in Construction Report NRCC-49255, March 2007, 8 p.)

Integrated Materials and Construction Practices for Concrete Pavement: A State-of-the-Practice Manual
The information in this manual will help project and field engineers, mix designers, technicians, materials experts, construction supervisors, and foremen integrate their processes in ways that will optimize concrete's performance in concrete paving projects. (National Concrete Pavement Technology Center - Center for Transportation Research and Education - Iowa State University, December 2006, 350 p.)

Impact of Curling, Warping, and Other Early-Age Behavior on Concrete Pavement Smoothness: Early, Frequent, and Detailed (EFD) Study - Phase II
This report summarizes the activities in Phase II of “Assessing the Impact to Concrete Pavement Smoothness from Curling, Warping, and other Early-Age Behavior: Early, Frequent, and Detailed (Project 16).” The purpose of this project is to obtain detailed information about factors affecting pavement smoothness during the critical time immediately following construction by conducting a controlled field evaluation of three concrete pavement construction projects. In Phase II, both field and laboratory testing of the materials and construction process were conducted for two newly constructed Jointed Plain Concrete Pavement (JPCP) test sections. (Colorado Department of Transportation Research Report CDOT-DTD-R-2006-8, August 2006, 37 p.)

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Environment

Evaluation of Best Management Practices for Highway Runoff Control
This report presents guidance for the selection of best management practices (BMPs) for highway runoff control. These practices provide means of avoiding or mitigating the negative impacts of various pollutants that can be carried by rainfall into the groundwater and receiving waters. (TRB's National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 565, 2006, 143 p. + CDROM)

Water Quality Performance of Dry Detention Ponds with Under-Drains
This research is a field evaluation of the water quality performance of dry water quality ponds with underdrains. The evaluation is performed in terms of pollutant retention by measuring concentrations in the inflow and outflow from the pond. Three dry detention ponds were investigated for their ability to remove total phosphorus, dissolved phosphorus, total suspended solids and volatile suspended solids. (Minnesota Department of Transportation report MN/RC-2006-43, December 2006, 89 p.)

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Traffic Operations

Tourist Signing Policy - 2006 Eligibility Criteria
This document is intended as a companion document to the Tourist Signing Policy - Private Tourist Equipments, which was published jointly by the Ministère du Tourisme and the Ministère des Transports du Québec (MTQ). It provides a list of the types of tourist amenities that are eligible for signing, and the eligibility criteria that tourist establishments must meet in order to qualify for a highway signing contract. This document describes the criteria that are in effect as of April 1, 2006. (Ministère du Tourisme et Ministère des Transports du Québec rapport, 2006, 36 p.)

Stopping Behavior at Real-World Stop-Controlled Intersections With and Without In-Lane Rumble Strips (22 MB PDF)
This was the third in a series of studies investigating various aspects of rumble strips. In this study, to determine the effect of rumble strips on the real-world stopping behavior of drivers, we used a radar gun to collect speed data from over 400 vehicles on the approaches to ten intersections selected from a sample of 274 approaches. (Minnesota Local Road Research Board Report, November 2006, 364 p.)

Reducing Red Light Running Through Longer Yellow Signal Timing and Red Light Camera Enforcement: Results of a Field Investigation
Many drivers routinely run red lights, placing themselves and other road users at risk for crashes and serious injuries. Two principal methods used to reduce red light running involve lengthening the duration of yellow change intervals and automated red light enforcement. The present study evaluated the incremental effects on red light running of first lengthening yellow signal timing, followed by the introduction of red light cameras. (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Research Paper, January 2007, 12 p.)

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