Below is the uncorrected machine-read text of this chapter, intended to provide our own search engines and external engines with highly rich, chapter-representative searchable text of each book. Because it is UNCORRECTED material, please consider the following text as a useful but insufficient proxy for the authoritative book pages.
2024 N A T I O N A L C O O P E R A T I V E H I G H W A Y R E S E A R C H P R O G R A M NCHRP RESEARCH REPORT 1094 Operational Performance and Safety Effects of Arterial Weaving Sections Lily Ele eriadou Gustavo Zschaber Ehsan Amini Bob Aghdashi Orestis Karamouzis Alain Carrer University of Florida Transportation Institute Gainesville, FL Christopher Kinzel Irfan Ahmed HDR Engineering, Inc. Kansas City, MO Darren Torbic Boniphace (Boni) Kutela Texas A&M Transportation Institute College Station, TX Alexandra Kondyli University of Kansas Lawrence, KS Subscriber Categories Design ⢠Operations and Traf c Management ⢠Safety and Human Factors Research sponsored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Of cials in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration
NATIONAL COOPERATIVE HIGHWAY RESEARCH PROGRAM Systematic, well-designed, and implementable research is the most effective way to solve many problems facing state departments of transportation (DOTs) administrators and engineers. Often, highway problems are of local or regional interest and can best be studied by state DOTs individually or in cooperation with their state universities and others. However, the accelerating growth of highway transporta- tion results in increasingly complex problems of wide interest to high- way authorities. These problems are best studied through a coordinated program of cooperative research. Recognizing this need, the leadership of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) in 1962 ini- tiated an objective national highway research program using modern scientific techniquesâthe National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP). NCHRP is supported on a continuing basis by funds from participating member states of AASHTO and receives the full cooperation and support of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), United States Department of Transportation, under Agree- ment No. 693JJ31950003. The Transportation Research Board (TRB) of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine was requested by AASHTO to administer the research program because of TRBâs recognized objectivity and understanding of modern research practices. TRB is uniquely suited for this purpose for many reasons: TRB maintains an extensive com- mittee structure from which authorities on any highway transportation subject may be drawn; TRB possesses avenues of communications and cooperation with federal, state, and local governmental agencies, univer- sities, and industry; TRBâs relationship to the National Academies is an insurance of objectivity; and TRB maintains a full-time staff of special- ists in highway transportation matters to bring the findings of research directly to those in a position to use them. The program is developed on the basis of research needs iden- tified by chief administrators and other staff of the highway and transportation departments, by committees of AASHTO, and by the FHWA. Topics of the highest merit are selected by the AASHTO Special Committee on Research and Innovation (R&I), and each year R&Iâs recommendations are proposed to the AASHTO Board of Direc- tors and the National Academies. Research projects to address these topics are defined by NCHRP, and qualified research agencies are selected from submitted proposals. Administration and surveillance of research contracts are the responsibilities of the National Academies and TRB. The needs for highway research are many, and NCHRP can make significant contributions to solving highway transportation problems of mutual concern to many responsible groups. The program, however, is intended to complement, rather than to substitute for or duplicate, other highway research programs. Published research reports of the NATIONAL COOPERATIVE HIGHWAY RESEARCH PROGRAM are available from Transportation Research Board Business Office 500 Fifth Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 and can be ordered through the Internet by going to https://www.mytrb.org/MyTRB/Store/default.aspx Printed in the United States of America NCHRP RESEARCH REPORT 1094 Project 15-66 ISSN 2572-3766 (Print) ISSN 2572-3774 (Online) ISBN 978-0-309-70968-2 Library of Congress Control Number 2024935155 © 2024 by the National Academy of Sciences. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and the graphical logo are trade- marks of the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. COPYRIGHT INFORMATION Authors herein are responsible for the authenticity of their materials and for obtaining written permissions from publishers or persons who own the copyright to any previously published or copyrighted material used herein. Cooperative Research Programs (CRP) grants permission to reproduce material in this publication for classroom and not-for-profit purposes. Permission is given with the understanding that none of the material will be used to imply TRB, AASHTO, APTA, FAA, FHWA, FTA, GHSA, or NHTSA endorsement of a particular product, method, or practice. It is expected that those reproducing the material in this document for educational and not-for-profit uses will give appropriate acknowledgment of the source of any reprinted or reproduced material. For other uses of the material, request permission from CRP. NOTICE The research report was reviewed by the technical panel and accepted for publication according to procedures established and overseen by the Transportation Research Board and approved by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The opinions and conclusions expressed or implied in this report are those of the researchers who performed the research and are not necessarily those of the Transportation Research Board; the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; the FHWA; or the program sponsors. The Transportation Research Board does not develop, issue, or publish standards or spec- ifications. The Transportation Research Board manages applied research projects which provide the scientific foundation that may be used by Transportation Research Board sponsors, industry associations, or other organizations as the basis for revised practices, procedures, or specifications. The Transportation Research Board; the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; and the sponsors of the National Cooperative Highway Research Program do not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade or manufacturersâ names or logos appear herein solely because they are considered essential to the object of the report.
e National Academy of Sciences was established in 1863 by an Act of Congress, signed by President Lincoln, as a private, non- governmental institution to advise the nation on issues related to science and technology. Members are elected by their peers for outstanding contributions to research. Dr. Marcia McNutt is president. e National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964 under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences to bring the practices of engineering to advising the nation. Members are elected by their peers for extraordinary contributions to engineering. Dr. John L. Anderson is president. e National Academy of Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine) was established in 1970 under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences to advise the nation on medical and health issues. Members are elected by their peers for distinguished contributions to medicine and health. Dr. Victor J. Dzau is president. e three Academies work together as the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation and conduct other activities to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions. e National Academies also encourage education and research, recognize outstanding contributions to knowledge, and increase public understanding in matters of science, engineering, and medicine. Learn more about the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine at www.nationalacademies.org. e Transportation Research Board is one of seven major program divisions of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. e mission of the Transportation Research Board is to mobilize expertise, experience, and knowledge to anticipate and solve complex transportation-related challenges. e Boardâs varied activities annually engage about 8,500 engineers, scientists, and other transportation researchers and practitioners from the public and private sectors and academia, all of whom contribute their expertise in the public interest. e program is supported by state transportation departments, federal agencies including the component administrations of the U.S. Department of Transportation, and other organizations and individuals interested in the development of transportation. Learn more about the Transportation Research Board at www.TRB.org.
C O O P E R A T I V E R E S E A R C H P R O G R A M S CRP STAFF FOR NCHRP RESEARCH REPORT 1094 Waseem Dekelbab, Deputy Director, Cooperative Research Programs, and Manager, National Cooperative Highway Research Program David M. Jared, Senior Program Officer Mazen Alsharif, Senior Program Assistant Natalie Barnes, Director of Publications Heather DiAngelis, Associate Director of Publications Kristin C. Sawyer, Editor NCHRP PROJECT 15-66 PANEL Field of DesignâArea of General Design Dirk B. Gross, Delaware, OH (Chair) Tom Creasey, Alliance Transportation Group, Lexington, KY Janice R. Daniel, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ Ganesh J. Karkee, California Department of Transportation, Oakland, CA Barbara Katherine Ostrom, WSP-USA, Vienna, VA Howard R. Ressel, Popli Design Group, Rochester, NY Andrew J. Warren, Arkansas Department of Transportation, Conway, AR David Anthony Petrucci, Jr., FHWA Liaison Richard A. Cunard, TRB Liaison
NCHRP Research Report 1094: Operational Performance and Safety Effects of Arterial Weaving Sections presents a deterministic methodology for evaluating the operational performance of weaving sections on arterials. This methodology is based on field data supplemented by microsimulation and driving simulation data and extends the urban streets analysis of the seventh edition of the Highway Capacity Manual (HCM7). Accom- panying the methodology are a computational engine for implementation and instruc- tional materials for dissemination. Two case studies are also provided to illustrate the methodology; these studies should be of interest to state departments of transportation and other agencies seeking to reduce weaving-related crashes and conflicts on arterial roadways. Arterial roadways are crucial links in the national transportation system. Providing local and regional mobility and access, they are critical to economic vitality and quality of life in the United States. As drivers place increasing demands on transportation infrastruc- ture and freeway congestion continues to increase, arterials have become an alternative route for many drivers, resulting in the lower performance of these roadways. In many areas, weaving maneuvers negatively affect arterial operations and safety. Furthermore, weaving maneuvers can affect the operations and safety of many alternative intersection configurations, including median U-turns and restricted crossing U-turns. Understand- ing the operational and safety performance of arterials and the effect of weaving thereon is important for transportation agencies tasked with maintaining these roadways. The HCM7 provides a methodological approach for estimating the performance of weaving sections on freeway segments. This methodology, however, is not applicable to arterial weaving due to differences between freeways and arterials in traffic control, traffic flow characteristics, and driver behavior. Under NCHRP Project 15-66, âOperational Performance and Safety Effects of Arterial Weaving Sections,â the University of Florida was asked to (1) develop a deterministic meth- odology for evaluating the operational performance of weaving sections on arterials and (2) identify the safety effects of varying geometric, volume, and traffic control conditions in weaving sections on arterials. The methodology and analysis are based on field data sup- plemented by microsimulation data and driving simulation data. The operational analysis methodology extends the HCM7âs urban streets analysis and is based on the calculation of potential conflict opportunities and the turbulence index of the arterial weave. The proj- ect included development of a computational engine that implements the new procedure, along with instructional materials for disseminating the methodology and two case studies. The safety analysis was based on crash data and conflict data obtained in the field and in the F O R E W O R D By David M. Jared Staff Officer Transportation Research Board
driving simulator. The analysis concluded that as the weave length increases, the chance of weaving-related crashes and conflicts decreases. As a supplement to the report, Appendices A through I, none of which are printed within this publication, are available on the National Academies Press website (nap. nationalacademies.org) by searching for NCHRP Research Report 1094: Operational Performance and Safety Effects of Arterial Weaving Sections.
1 Summary 4 Chapter 1 Background 7 Chapter 2 Research Approach 7 Literature Review 8 Performance Measures for Evaluating Arterial Weaving Segments 8 Data Collection 35 Data Analysis 49 Operational Analysis Methodology 62 Chapter 3 Findings and Applications 65 Chapter 4 Conclusions and Suggested Research 67 References 68 Appendices A through I 69 Bibliography C O N T E N T S