The Potential Benefits of Exclusive Lanes for Trucks and Cars on Interstate Highways in Virginia

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ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 166 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (647 download)

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Book Synopsis The Potential Benefits of Exclusive Lanes for Trucks and Cars on Interstate Highways in Virginia by : Joseph Edgar Vidunas

Download or read book The Potential Benefits of Exclusive Lanes for Trucks and Cars on Interstate Highways in Virginia written by Joseph Edgar Vidunas and published by . This book was released on 1996 with total page 166 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Exclusive Lanes for Trucks and Passenger Vehicles on Interstate Highways in Virginia

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ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 106 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (91 download)

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Book Synopsis Exclusive Lanes for Trucks and Passenger Vehicles on Interstate Highways in Virginia by : Lester A. Hoel

Download or read book Exclusive Lanes for Trucks and Passenger Vehicles on Interstate Highways in Virginia written by Lester A. Hoel and published by . This book was released on 1997 with total page 106 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Increases in heavy truck traffic on Virginia's highways in recent years have raised concerns about both safety and capacity, particularly on the interstate system. Transportation agencies have developed a number of strategies for dealing with the impacts on safety and capacity of a truck population that has been increasing in volume and in the percentage of large tractor-trailers. One strategy that has been suggested is separate lanes for trucks and passenger vehicles. A reliable methodology to determine when separate lanes for trucks and passenger vehicles are economically feasible would enable transportation officials to make informed decisions concerning when this approach should be considered and used. This study evaluated a computer program, Exclusive Vehicles Facilities (EVFS), developed by the Federal Highway Administration for determining the economic feasibility of separating trucks and other vehicles on freeway segments. A 50.7-km (31.5-mi) segment of 1-81 in Virginia was selected to demonstrate the application of the program. A number of factors contribute to the feasibility of exclusive lanes. Although no single factor predominates, traffic volume, vehicle mix percentage, accident rates, and maintenance and construction costs are given more weight than other factors in the program. Among the program's strengths are its ability to analyze a number of alternatives for a variety of different conditions, its ease of use, and the fact that it can be inexpensively applied. Its weaknesses include its inability to differentiate between the lane(s) (i.e., inside, middle, outside) to which restrictions are applied and its unsuitability for analyzing exclusive lane alternatives in which a barrier is used to separate vehicle types. With respect to 1-81, several exclusive lane strategies produced a benefit-cost ratio greater than 1.0 and a net present worth in the millions of dollars. Should 1-81 or another high-volume interstate corridor with a large truck percentage be considered for improvement, VDOT should apply EVFS to assist in evaluating the feasibility of exclusive lane alternatives. Since EVFS is designed to perform economic analyses, operational and geometric implications of any exclusive lane strategy should also be considered.

Evaluation of Truck Lane Restrictions in Virginia

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ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 39 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (467 download)

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Book Synopsis Evaluation of Truck Lane Restrictions in Virginia by : Michael D. Fontaine

Download or read book Evaluation of Truck Lane Restrictions in Virginia written by Michael D. Fontaine and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 39 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Virginia, like many other states, has used truck lane restrictions on parts of its interstate system in an attempt to improve mobility and safety. The Code of Virginia currently specifies two types of lane restrictions. First, trucks may not travel in the left-most lane of interstates with three or more lanes by direction (1) when the speed limit is 65 mph or higher, (2) along all of I-81, and (3) along interstates in the Virginia Department of Transportation's (VDOT) Northern Virginia District. Second, trucks may not travel in the left lane of two-lane directional interstate segments when their speed is below the posted speed limit; this restriction was enacted in 2007 and was intended to reduce cases of trucks impeding traffic flow on steep grades in the western part of the state. This report describes Phase II of a 2007 study that found that the safety impact of the first type of restriction appeared to be affected by traffic volume. Safety was enhanced on low- volume roads (i.e., annual average daily traffic [AADT] less than 10,000 vehicles per day per lane [vpdpl]) but degraded on high-volume roads (i.e., AADT above 10,000 vpdpl). Given that most of the high-volume interstates investigated were in Northern Virginia, there was a need to re-examine the safety analysis to ensure that the findings were not a product of the growing congestion in the region but rather were attributable to the effects of the truck lane restrictions. The purpose of this study was to provide a detailed assessment of the safety and mobility impacts of Virginia's truck lane restrictions, expanding on the Phase I study. First, crashes on high-volume interstates with three or more lanes by direction noted in the Phase I study were re-examined. Individual crash reports were reviewed, and any crashes that were not influenced by the restriction were removed from subsequent analysis. An empirical Bayes analysis was then used to re-assess safety using the screened crashes. Second, the operational and safety impacts of the restriction on two-lane segments of interstate were examined. Third, the effect of an enforcement campaign on compliance with the restriction for two-lane segments was determined. The crash analysis for the high-volume, three-lane segments confirmed that crashes were higher than expected after the restriction was put in place and thus were not merely the products of growing congestion. The safety and operational impacts of the restriction for two-lane interstates revealed no significant benefits, likely because the level of non-compliance with the restriction was high. With regard to the effect of the concentrated enforcement campaign, compliance improved, but the improvement was relatively modest. The study recommends that VDOT (1) pursue a legislative modification to remove truck lane restrictions on high-volume interstates with three or more lanes in each direction; (2) determine if signing could be modified to improve compliance; (3) partner with the Virginia State Police and the Virginia Trucking Association to increase compliance on the two-lane directional segments of interstate; and (4) direct a study to re-evaluate the effectiveness of the two-lane restrictions once at least 3 years of "after" crash data are available. Removal of the truck restrictions on the specified high-volume interstates should create crash reduction benefits. If crash costs are converted into dollars, an estimated $266,996 of crashes would be eliminated statewide annually through removal of these restrictions. Those costs accrue to drivers. Additional direct savings to VDOT would occur through the reduction of signing.

A Simulation Analysis of Traffic Flow Elements for Restricted Truck Lanes on Interstate Highways in Virginia

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ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 38 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (555 download)

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Book Synopsis A Simulation Analysis of Traffic Flow Elements for Restricted Truck Lanes on Interstate Highways in Virginia by : Lester A. Hoel

Download or read book A Simulation Analysis of Traffic Flow Elements for Restricted Truck Lanes on Interstate Highways in Virginia written by Lester A. Hoel and published by . This book was released on 1999 with total page 38 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In recent years, increases in truck traffic on Virginia's highways have raised issues concerning safety and capacity on interstates such as I-81 and I-95. Lane restrictions represent a strategy that is intended to reduce conflicts between trucks and cars and facilitate traffic flow. Field experiments to determine the effects on existing traffic under lane restrictions for an interstate freeway segment are usually not feasible, and an alternative approach was selected. In this study, the simulation model FRESIM was used to estimate various traffic flow elements. The purpose of this study was to analyze changes in traffic flow elements (density, lane changes per vehicle, and speed differential) under conditions of restricted and unrestricted truck lane configurations. Prior to application of the simulation model to actual sites in Virginia, a scenario analysis was completed. The scenario analysis tested the variability of each traffic flow element considering the following variables: traffic volume, percentage of trucks, percentage of total volume by lane, presence or absence of lane restrictions, and grade. A statistical paired-sample t test was used to determine significant differences in the values of the three traffic flow elements when lane restrictions were applied. An analysis was also completed for three case studies in Virginia, located on I-81 near Buchanan, Christiansburg, and Wytheville. Two types of restrictions were tested: restricting trucks from the left lane and restricting trucks from the right lane. From the results obtained in this study several conclusions were drawn: (1) restricting trucks from the left lane with steep grades causes an increase in speed differential and may decrease density and the number of lane changes, (2) restricting trucks from the right lane causes an increase in the number of lane changes, and (3) site characteristics dictate the effects of truck lane restrictions. Based on the results of this study, it is recommended that (1) trucks be restricted from the left lane when grades are 4 percent or greater and (2) trucks not be restricted from the right lane. The study results did not support removal of truck lane restrictions in Virginia.

Benefits of Interstate Highways

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ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 36 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (31 download)

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Book Synopsis Benefits of Interstate Highways by : United States. Congress. House. Committee on Public Works

Download or read book Benefits of Interstate Highways written by United States. Congress. House. Committee on Public Works and published by . This book was released on 1970 with total page 36 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Benefits of Interstate Highways

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ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 44 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 ( download)

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Book Synopsis Benefits of Interstate Highways by : United States. Federal Highway Administration

Download or read book Benefits of Interstate Highways written by United States. Federal Highway Administration and published by . This book was released on 1970 with total page 44 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Transportation Research Record

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ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 616 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (555 download)

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Book Synopsis Transportation Research Record by :

Download or read book Transportation Research Record written by and published by . This book was released on 1997 with total page 616 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Exclusive Lanes for Trucks and Cars on Interstate Highways

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ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 15 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (358 download)

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Book Synopsis Exclusive Lanes for Trucks and Cars on Interstate Highways by : Joseph E. Vidunas

Download or read book Exclusive Lanes for Trucks and Cars on Interstate Highways written by Joseph E. Vidunas and published by . This book was released on 1996 with total page 15 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Evaluation of Truck Lane Restrictions in Virginia

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ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 41 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (8 download)

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Book Synopsis Evaluation of Truck Lane Restrictions in Virginia by : Michael D. Fontaine

Download or read book Evaluation of Truck Lane Restrictions in Virginia written by Michael D. Fontaine and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 41 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A number of states have implemented truck lane restrictions in an attempt to improve safety and mobility on freeways. These restrictions typically prohibit trucks from traveling in the median lane, potentially increasing passing opportunities and reducing negative interactions between slow-moving trucks and other vehicles. Virginia currently has two forms of truck restrictions in place. The first type of restriction prohibits trucks from the median lane of interstates that have three or more lanes by direction, provided certain criteria on speed limit and location are satisfied. The second type of restriction prohibits trucks from traveling more than 15 mph below the posted speed limit in the left lane of two-lane directional interstate segments. This report documents the results of a safety and operational evaluation of Virginia's truck lane restrictions. Crash data were examined at a total of 43 sites with restrictions and 16 similar sites without restrictions. Likewise, operational data were collected at 7 sites with restrictions and 6 similar sites without restrictions. The results of the analysis showed that the restrictions on two-lane sites appeared to be having a positive impact on operations and safety. At these sites, crashes were reduced by 23 percent, and speeds were estimated to have increased by 5.5 mph. At the three-lane sites, no statistically significant increase in speed was observed. A breakpoint in crash performance appeared to occur at approximately 10,000 vehicles per day per lane. Roads below this threshold experienced significantly fewer crashes than anticipated, whereas roads above this level had significantly more crashes than expected.

An Investigation of Issues Related to Raising the Rural Interstate Speed Limit in Virginia

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ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 158 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (1 download)

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Book Synopsis An Investigation of Issues Related to Raising the Rural Interstate Speed Limit in Virginia by : Jack D. Jernigan

Download or read book An Investigation of Issues Related to Raising the Rural Interstate Speed Limit in Virginia written by Jack D. Jernigan and published by . This book was released on 1988 with total page 158 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In April of 1987, Congress passed the Surface Transportation and Uniform Relocation Assistance Act of 1987, which allows the states to raise, without penalty, the speed limit on interstate highways outside of urbanized areas with a population of 50,000 or more. This study estimated that an increase in the rural interstate speed limit in Virginia would have both positive and negative outcomes.-The average speed traveled on the rural interstate highway system has already increased by 3.6 mph in Virginia; this is comparable to that experienced in states that have raised the speed limit. However, if the speed limit on the rural interstate highway system is raised from 55 mph to 65 mph, it is estimated that in the short run the average speed traveled on the rural interstate will increase by an additional 3 mph, from 60 mph to 63 mph. Increased speeds would be expected to result in increased stopping distances and an annual increase of between 6 and 18 fatalities and between 171 and 405 injuries. Further, injuries would likely be more severe as a result of the higher speeds traveled. If the average speed continues to increase in the long run, or if higher speeds spill over onto the urban interstate highway system or rural collector roads, then additional injuries and fatalities would be expected on those systems as well. On the other hand, the primary quantifiable benefit of the higher limit would be a savings of 1.3 million hours in business and commercial travel time. This study has also found that almost 60% of the Virginians surveyed would prefer a 65 mph speed limit to a 55 mph limit on the rural interstate highway system. Finally, because of the current speeds, the geometric design, and the accident history of the rural interstates in general, it would be possible to raise the speed limit without violating traffic engineering tenets for setting speed limits. However, if the speed limit is raised, establishing a truck speed limit differential below the limit established for passenger cars would promote increased speed variance between cars and trucks, thereby creating a more dangerous environment than if the speed limit were raised to the same level for both cars and trucks.

A Study of Traffic Operations on Restricted Truck Lanes on Interstate Highways in Virginia

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ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 216 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (448 download)

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Book Synopsis A Study of Traffic Operations on Restricted Truck Lanes on Interstate Highways in Virginia by : Jennifer L. Peek

Download or read book A Study of Traffic Operations on Restricted Truck Lanes on Interstate Highways in Virginia written by Jennifer L. Peek and published by . This book was released on 1998 with total page 216 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Partnerships for Effective Technology Transfer

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ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 1052 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (1 download)

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Book Synopsis Partnerships for Effective Technology Transfer by :

Download or read book Partnerships for Effective Technology Transfer written by and published by . This book was released on 1997 with total page 1052 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

A Status Report on the Effects of the 65 Mph Speed Limit on Virginia's Rural Interstate Highway System

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ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 52 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (555 download)

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Book Synopsis A Status Report on the Effects of the 65 Mph Speed Limit on Virginia's Rural Interstate Highway System by : Jack D. Jernigan

Download or read book A Status Report on the Effects of the 65 Mph Speed Limit on Virginia's Rural Interstate Highway System written by Jack D. Jernigan and published by . This book was released on 1989 with total page 52 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In 1987, the Secretary of Transportation and Public Safety created a task force to study the potential effects of raising the speed limit on rural interstate highways in Virginia. In its 1988 session, the Virginia General Assembly passed legislation to increase the speed limit on rural interstate highways to 65 mph for passenger vehicles, but the 55 mph limit was retained for buses and large trucks. After implementation of the higher speed limit on July 1, 1988, the Secretary reconvened the task force to design a study to determine the effects of the changed speed limit. The Virginia Transportation Research Council was again asked to serve a the staff for the task force. The preliminary data provided in this report represent only 5 months of experience with the 65 mph speed limit and are presented for information only. Any conclusions drawn from these data would be inappropriate and perhaps incorrect. After the speed limit for cars was increased by 10 mph, the average and 85th percentile speeds traveled by all vehicles on the rural interstate system increased by 3 mph, to 63 mph and 68 mph, respectively. The average and 85th percentile speeds traveled by trucks and buses, for which the speed limit remained at 55 mph, decreased slightly. Between July 1 and November 30, 1988, there were 44 fatalities in 35 fatal crashes on rural interstate highways in Virginia. This was a 76 percent increase over the 25 fatalities and a 52 percent increase over the 23 fatal crashes for the same time period in 1987. In the states that increased the speed limit, there was a 41 percent increase overall in the number of fatalities, but in states that did not increase the speed limit, there was a 54 percent increase in fatalities--higher than that noted for states that increased the speed limit. Many of the crashes that accounted for the increase in the number of fatal crashes on rural interstate highways occurred on I-81, and all of the multiple-fatality crashes occurred on either I-81 or I-95. In comparison with 1987, the number of fatal crashes in 1988 included 5 more involving vehicles that ran off the road, 4 more involving tractor trailers, and 3 more involving pedestrians. In October 1988, there was an abnormally high number of fatal crashes and fatalities on Virginia's rural interstate highways, but no patterns were found to explain this 1-month abnormality. Because there are not sufficient data to determine the reasons for the increases in fatal crashes and fatalities, data will be gathered over a 5- year period to determine the effect of the changed speed limit on Virginia's rural interstate highways.

A simulation analysis of traffic flow elements for restricted truck lanes on interstate highways in Virginia

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ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 27 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (948 download)

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Book Synopsis A simulation analysis of traffic flow elements for restricted truck lanes on interstate highways in Virginia by :

Download or read book A simulation analysis of traffic flow elements for restricted truck lanes on interstate highways in Virginia written by and published by . This book was released on 1999 with total page 27 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Separation of Vehicles

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Publisher : Transportation Research Board
ISBN 13 : 0309154758
Total Pages : 108 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (91 download)

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Book Synopsis Separation of Vehicles by : Cambridge Systematics

Download or read book Separation of Vehicles written by Cambridge Systematics and published by Transportation Research Board. This book was released on 2010 with total page 108 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: NCHRP Report 649/NCFRP Report 3: Separation of Vehicles - CMV-Only Lanes presents an extensive compendium of information about CMV-only lanes and examines major issues and concepts that should be understood in developing new applications of CMV-only lane concepts as a potential method for both easing congestion and reducing the number of traffic accidents on highways. Appendices to this report, including an annotated literature review, performance evaluation criteria, benefits monetization factors and unit costs, and net present value calculations for benefit-cost analysis, are available on the TRB website. This report and the supplemental information can be used by public agencies that may be considering CMV-only lane concepts in corridor studies or other planning applications. The report provides data such agencies can use to support their own evaluations of CMV-only lane projects.

Masters Theses in the Pure and Applied Sciences Accepted by Colleges and Universities of the United States and Canada

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ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 442 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (91 download)

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Book Synopsis Masters Theses in the Pure and Applied Sciences Accepted by Colleges and Universities of the United States and Canada by :

Download or read book Masters Theses in the Pure and Applied Sciences Accepted by Colleges and Universities of the United States and Canada written by and published by . This book was released on 1996 with total page 442 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Speed Limits for Overwidth Vehicles on Virginia Highways

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ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 18 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (314 download)

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Book Synopsis Speed Limits for Overwidth Vehicles on Virginia Highways by : Christopher R. Pastel

Download or read book Speed Limits for Overwidth Vehicles on Virginia Highways written by Christopher R. Pastel and published by . This book was released on 1980 with total page 18 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This memorandum examines the data collected during the Research Council's 1976 study of the transportation of 12- and 14-foot wide manufactured housing units to determine whether the data were adequate for analyzing the effects of wide load speeds on other traffic and, if possible, to determine what these effects were. The major conclusion from the examination of the data is that the wide load vehicles traveling above 45 mph on interstate and four-lane divided highways had lower accident potentials than did those traveling at slower speeds. Accordingly, it is recommended that the speed limit on interstate and four-lane divided highways for overwidth manufactured housing units be changed to 55 mph, the speed which would put these vehicles in reasonable conformity with other traffic.