Geometric Design Strategic Research Program Transportation Research Board
Geometric Design Strategic Research Program Transportation Research Board AFB 10 Geometric Design Committee Brian L. Ray, PE Committee Chair July 27, 2010
What have we heard so far? 4 Freight design criteria 4 Complete Streets 4 2015 Green Book Topics 4 Highway Safety Manual 4 Flexibility in preliminary Engineering 4 Right sized projects 4 Urban street design standards 4 Practical Design 4 Others?
What will be the basis of our design decisions? RESEARCH!
Presentation Outline 4 Overview of the TRB Geometric Design Committee 4 Geometric Design Strategic Research 4 Opportunities for Collaboration
Committee Scope Expanding the body of knowledge regarding highway and street geometric design elements that affect safe and efficient operations for all users. Developing research needs statements and communicating findings that advance geometric design criteria, guidance, methods, and performance-based design objectives. Facilitating domestic and international dialogues and idea exchanges while supporting emerging and developing professionals
Committee Structure 4 Research Subcommittee purpose – Coordinate and manage the strategic research program – Produce the research needs statements using the input from others
Committee Structure 4 Technical Subcommittee purpose – Conduct activities that lead our exploration of technical issues and priorities. – Subgroups: • • Streets and Intersections; Highways; Freeways and Interchanges; and Methodology
Committee Structure 4 Business Subcommittee purpose – Execute reoccurring and ad-hoc committee business – Conduct outreach to external sources in support of committee business, – Coordinate special assignments and forums as they arise
AASHTO Members 4 Jim 4 Bart Brewer/Kansas Thrasher/Virginia
Presentation Outline 4 Overview of the TRB Geometric Design Committee 4 Geometric Design Strategic Research 4 Opportunities for Collaboration
Current Research Needs Documentation 4 Transportation E-Circular (E-C 110) 4 22 research needs statements http: //onlinepubs. trb. org/onlinepubs/circulars/ec 110. pdf
Research Needs Development Process Brainstorm Research Needs Santa Fe, NM 2002 4 Form Steering Committee Plan Geometric Design Research Needs Workshop 2002 - 2004 Prepare 7 White Papers 2003 - 2004 Form Methodology, Highways, Freeway/Interchanges, & Streets/Intersections Technical Groups to update plan January 2009 TRB Mid-year Meeting Update Research Plan Woods Hole, MA Prepare 22 Research Needs Statements Prepare Updated Research Needs Document 18 topics + syntheses TRB E-circular E-110 January 2007 Strategic Research Needs Workshop Williamsburg, VA 2004 “Re-thinking” Design Process Design Controls/Criteria User/Vehicle Controls Rural Highways Freeways/Interchanges Urban Streets Intersections TRB Committees on Geometric Design (AFB 10) & Operational Effects of Geometrics (AHB 65) & AASHTO Technical Committee on Geometric Design July 2009 2010 -2011
“Original” Research Needs No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Problem Statement Title Median Design and Barrier Issues in Urban and Rural Environments Performance-based Geometric Design Analysis Multimodal Highway Design for “Complete Streets” Investigation of Alternative Geometric Highway Design Processes Horizontal Curve Design Philosophy Right-turn Interactions and Channelized Right-turns Ramp and Interchange Spacing Transition Zone Design Ramp Design as a System Safety and Operational Tradeoffs of and Shoulder Widths Safety, Operations, and Usability Tradeoffs of Road User Groups Safety and Operational Impacts of Four-and Six- Lane Cross 12 sections with Raised versus Two-way Left-turn Lanes Superelevation Criteria for Steep Grades on Horizontal Curves 13 Geometric Design Guidelines for Major Intersection Alternatives 14 to Accommodate Multimodal Users Design, Safety, and Operational Considerations of Pedestrian 15 Treatments at Intersections One- and Two-lane Loop Ramp Design 16 Effectiveness of Mid-block Crossing Treatments 17 Intersection Design to Accommodate Pedestrian Crosswalk Cross 18 Slopes Guidelines for Provision of Sidewalks 19 Safety Effects of Intersection Skew Angle 20 Accommodating Bicyclists on Rural Highways 21 Safety and Operational Effects of Angle versus Parallel Parking 22 Other Funded Projects Placement of Traffic Barriers on Roadside and Median Slopes 8 9 10 11 Funded (Y/N) Project No. Considered for Begin Date Funding (Y/N) Y NCHRP 22 -21 Y Y NCHRP 15 -34 Y End Date Amount Jan. 2006 Jan. 2009 $800, 000 Y July 2006 Dec. 2009 $600, 000 NCHRP 3 -89 Y April 2008 October 2009 $500, 000 Y NCHRP 3 -88 Y June 2008 December 2010 $500, 000 Y NCHRP 15 -40 Y FY 2010 TBD $300, 000 Y NCHRP 15 -39 Y FY 2010 TBD $500, 000 FY 2010 TBD $300, 000 N Y (FY 2010) Y NCHRP 15 -42 Y Y NCHRP 22 -22 Y Pending $500, 000
Funded Synthesis Statements 4 Topic 40 -07: Trade-off Considerations in Highway Geometric Design 4 Topic 40 -08: Effective Speed Reduction Techniques for Rural High to Low Speed Transitions 4 Topic 41 -01: Geometric Design Practices for Resurfacing, Restoration, and Rehabilitation
UPDATING STRATEGIC RESEARCH NEEDS July 2009 Mid-year meeting
Process 4 Form – – four technical subgroups: Methodology Highways Freeways and Interchanges Streets and Intersections 4 Review and update existing white papers 4 Review and update unfunded research needs statements 4 Identify emerging topics
PRIORITIZED RESEARCH NEEDS AFB 10/AHB 65
Methodology/Design Controls 4 Critical assessment of geometric design policies and practices 4 Safety effects of intersection sight distance 4 Updating decision sight distance criteria 4 Applying geometric design criteria in intermediate speed range 4 Forgiving roadside design (coordinate with AFB 20) 4 Bicycle safety prediction methodology
Highways 4 Safety evaluation of 13 controlling criteria* 4 Study of vehicle paths on horizontal curve transitions* 4 Speed prediction models for multilane rural/suburban highways 4 Speed prediction models for trucks 4 Relationship between safety, roadway lighting, and geometric design features *Developed and considered by AASHTO AFB 10/AHB 65
Freeways and Interchanges 4 Integrated Ramp and Ramp Terminal Design* 4 Multilane Loop Ramp Design* 4 Allocation of Freeway Lane and Shoulder Widths *Developed and considered by AASHTO AFB 10/AHB 65
Streets and Intersections 4 Auxiliary Turn Lane Design Guidance and Policy Upgrades* 4 Safety effects and implementation of intersection skew angles 4 Intersection design and evaluation guidebook 4 Comprehensive roadway design for complete streets *Developed and considered by AASHTO AFB 10/AHB 65
Synthesis Topics 4 4 4 4 Design and maintenance of traffic during construction Curve and cross-section design on temporary facilities Truck facility design (marshaling yards, truck-only ramps) Highway design to support traffic enforcement Barrier toll plaza vs. open-road tolling design Current practices for provision of sidewalks Vertical pavement profiles at intersections Crosswalk cross-slope design practices AFB 10/AHB 65
“Updated” Research Program No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Problem Statement Title Developing Design Criteria for Cost-effective Multi-lane Loop Ramp Design Safety Evaluation of 13 Controlling Criteria for Design Auxiliary Turn Lane Design Guidance and Policy Upgrades Integrated Ramp and Ramp Terminal Design Study of Vehicle Paths on Horizontal Transition Curves An Assessment of Geometric Design Policies and Processes Intersection Sight Distance and Safety Decision Sight Distance Applying Geometric Design Criteria within The Intermediate Speed Range Forgiving Roadway Design Development of a Bicycle Safety Prediction Methodology Effective Allocation of Available Freeway Travel Lane and Shoulder Widths Impacts and Implementation of Skew Angles Intersection Design and Evaluation Resource Comprehensive roadway design (complete streets) Speed Prediction Models for Multilane Rural/Suburban Highways Speed Prediction Models for Trucks Lighting-Safety-Geometric Design Feature Funded (Y/N) Project No. N Y Y N Considered for Funding (Y/N) Begin Date End Date Amount Sp 2011 TBD $600, 000 $400, 000 N (FY 2011) NCHRP 17 -53 NCHRP 3 -102 Y Y N (FY 2011)
Presentation Outline 4 Overview of the TRB Geometric Design Committee 4 Geometric Design Strategic Research 4 Opportunities for Collaboration
In general… 4 Support the effort to update Transportation Research E-circular 4 Provide input and support on existing and new research needs statements and synthesis topics 4 Share ideas on Green Book revision and other research needs
2010 and 2011… 4 Share results of Green Book needs discussion from this SCOD meeting 4 Obtain 4 Identify input from 2010 Green Book update effort 4 Plan other emerging needs for the joint Mid-year 2011 meeting with TRB and AASHTO Technical Committee on Geometric Design
Questions? Interested? Contact: Brian Ray Kittelson & Associates, Inc. bray@kittelson. com
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