Traffic Studies For Implementing Short-Term and Long-Range Roadway Improvements

Traffic Studies for Implementing
Short-Term and Long-Range

Roadway Improvements
James W. Ellison, P.E.

Consulting Traffic Engineer
Federal Way, WA
Traffic Studies
James W. Ellison, P.E., has 39 years of

professional traffic engineering experience in
county, city and private sectors. He is an
independent consulting traffic engineer in
Federal Way, WA.
Jim serves on the National Committee on

Uniform Traffic Control Devices, and is a
resource for the FHWA’s Peer-to-Peer
program forf questions
ti regarding
di ththe M
Manuall
on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
(MUTCD). He has served on national panels
that have provided technical oversight for a
wide variety of research topics involving
traffic safety, sign and pavement marking
retroreflectivity, and highway data systems..
1
Traffic Studies
 Today’s Presentation
• Covering traffic studies for implementing
short-term & long-range roadway
improvements
• Not development traffic impact studies

• Not long-range transportation/land use
traffic studies
• Not just collection of traffic data (e.g.,
traffic volumes, speed data, ball bank)
Traffic Studies
 Today’s Presentation
• Traffic design reports
• Traffic operational reviews
• Traffic safety studies
• Combination of above
2
Traffic Studies
 Traffic Study – MUTCD Definition

An engineering study is...
“...the comprehensive analysis and evaluation
of available pertinent information,
...and the application of appropriate principles,

provisions, and practices as contained in this
Manual and other sources,
...for the purpose of deciding upon the

applicability, design, operation, or installation
of a traffic control device.”
Traffic Studies
 Traffic Study – MUTCD Definition

An engineering study...
“...shall be performed by an engineer,
or by an individual working under the
supervision of an engineer,
...through the application of procedures and

criteria established by the engineer.
...An engineering study shall be documented.”
3
Traffic Studies
 Engineering Judgment – MUTCD

Engineering judgment is...
“...the evaluation of available pertinent information,
and the application of appropriate principles, provisions,

and practices as contained in this Manual and other
sou ces,
sources,
for the purpose of deciding upon the applicability, design,

operation, or installation of a traffic control device.”
“Documentation is not required.” (emphasis added)
Traffic Studies
 Supporting reasons for

writing it down”
“writing down (i.e.,
(i e documenting)
 Agency policy or procedure
 As a third party report (e.g., consultant or
one agency working for another)
 When MUTCD requires or recommends an
engineering study
4
Traffic Studies

“writing
writing it down”
down (i.e.,
(i e documenting)
 Facilitates transfer of information and
decisions
 Obtaining approval or acceptance from
responsible official
 Remembering why/when/where/what
 “Why did you use that device there and not
over here?”
Traffic Studies

writing it down”
“writing down (i.e.,
(i e documenting)
 Risk management & tort liability exposure
 Defending your actions & decisions
 Demonstrating thoughtful, rational approach
(engineering judgment)
 Being proactive a plus
 What you write may be used against you
5
Traffic Studies
 When Are Traffic Studies

Required or Recommended?
 Required:
 As a Standard statement (“shall”) in
the MUTCD – bold font
 Recommended:
 As a Guidance statement (“should”) in
the MUTCD – italics font
Traffic Studies

 Required (“shall”) examples:
 Establishing a speed limit (other than
statutory)
 Determining posted advisory
speed for a horizontal curve
 Justifying installation of a traffic
signal at a particular location
6
Traffic Studies

 Recommended (“should”) examples:
 Placing a Yield or Stop sign on a
higher volume intersection approach
 Installing a multi-way stop
 Using marked crosswalks at
uncontrolled locations
Traffic Studies

 Selection and use of traffic control
signals (including removing a signal)
 Need for a pedestrian hybrid beacon
7
Traffic Studies

 Determining whether a reversible lane
operation can be controlled by static
signs or whether lane use control
signals are necessary
 Using a Stop sign at a passive
highway-rail grade crossing
Traffic Studies

 Determining appropriate traffic control
system to be used at a grade crossing
 Using a Do Not Stop on Tracks sign
 Installing marked school
crosswalk at an uncontrolled
location
8
Traffic Studies

 Reference to the need for an engineering
study also appears within a few MUTCD
Option (“may”) statements
 Context: An agency may use a
particular device IF based on an
engineering study
Traffic Studies
 When Are Traffic Studies Required or

Recommended?
 Within Option (“may”) statements - examples:
 Using overhead sign installations
 Using a separate right turn signal face with
flashing right turn arrow (when every vehicle
must come to a full stop)
9
Traffic Studies
 When Are Traffic Studies Required or

Recommended?
 Within Option (“may”) statements - examples:
 Installing in-roadway lights (engineering
study or engineering judgment)
Source: Huang, Hughes, Zegeer (UNCHSRC) & Florida DOT
Traffic Studies
 Traffic Studies for Design Reports

 Traffic analysis used as a basis for
determining design parameters for highway
construction projects
 Integrated into project design report, along
with other aspects
p such as storm drainage,
g ,
structures, pavement design, environmental,
right-of-way needs.
10
Traffic Studies
 Traffic Studies for Design Reports –

Key Components
 Traffic projections for design year, including
proportion of heavy truck traffic
 Capacity analysis for design year
 Analysis of alternatives
 Safety analysis
Traffic Studies

Key Outputs & Recommendations
 Number & type of lanes
 Channelization
 Intersection traffic
control
 Access control
11
Traffic Studies

 Design speed & Speed Limit
 Design vehicle (e.g., WB-50)
 Lane & shoulder widths
 Intersection curb radii
Traffic Studies

 Sight distance needs
 Pedestrian facilities
 Bicycle facilities
 Shared lane
 Widened lane
 Bike lane
12
Traffic Studies

 Interface with transit
 On-street parking
 Special features
 Truck climbing lanes
 Pavement widening
for curves
Traffic Studies

 Identifying possible variations or design
exceptions
 Identifying areas for
further analysis
(iterative approach)
13
Traffic Studies
 Traffic Studies for Operations &

Safety
 Typically for existing locations & existing
conditions
 Might be prompted by:
 Citi
Citizen complaint
l i t
 Community concern
 Monitoring of traffic volumes
 Monitoring of crash data
Traffic Studies
 Traffic Studies for Operations &

Safety – Examples
 Converting a two-way stop to an all-way stop
 Revising a speed limit
 Signal warrant analysis
 Sight distance concerns
 Request for a marked crosswalk
 Neighborhood speeding/traffic calming
14
Traffic Studies
 Field Data Useful for Traffic Studies

 Traffic volumes
 ADT or AADT (hourly summary)
 Turning movements (peak hours)
 Vehicle classification (i.e., heavy trucks)
Traffic Studies

 Vehicle speeds
 85th percentile
 Mode & Mean speeds
 10 mph pace
Source: MassSAFE Univ of Mass
15
Traffic Studies

 Sight distance
 Intersection (“entering”)
 Intersections (“exiting,” i.e. turning left
from through road onto side street)
 Stopping sight distance
 Passing sight distance
Traffic Studies

 Access and Access Management
 Medians or traffic curbing
 Turn restrictions
 Driveway locations & types
16
Traffic Studies

 Visibility of signs and signal indications
 Existing signs & their placement
 Ball bank studies for advisory curve speeds
Source: Rick Butner, Pierce County, WA
Traffic Studies

 Lane & shoulder widths and types
 Channelization
 Pedestrian & bicycle facilities
17
Traffic Studies

 Drainage facilities
 Guardrail/barrier
 Ilumination
Traffic Studies

 Possible vegetation effects
 Photos (labeled for location, direction, date)
 Other observations
18
Traffic Studies

 Where drivers are stopping (intersection)
 Vehicle queuing
Traffic Studies

 Bicycle traffic (number, actions, location)
 Pedestrians (number, actions, location,
elderly, students, disabled?)
19
Traffic Studies

 Other observations (continued)
 Tree & utility pole hits
 Obstructions placed along road by others
Traffic Studies

 Other observations (continued)
 Skid marks, glass, debris
 Gravel shoulder rutting or loose
gravel on travelway
20
Traffic Studies
 Office Data Useful for Traffic Studies

 Roadway functional classification
 Existing right-of-way
 Construction plans
or ortho photos
 Legal speed limit
 Intersection traffic control
Traffic Studies
 Office Data Useful for Traffic Studies

 Any programmed improvements planned
 Transportation plan, including non-motorized
elements
 Traffic sign or pavement marking inventories,
if available
il bl
 Other roadway feature inventory data, if
available
21
Traffic Studies
 Traffic Analysis Techniques

 Capacity analysis
 Highway Capacity Manual
 Traffic simulation programs
 Traffic modeling
Traffic Studies

 Left Turn Lane analysis
 M.D. Harmelink nomographs (Highway
Research Record #211)
 AASHTO Green Book

 “Left Turn Lane
Installation Guide”
Kay Fitzpatrick & Tim Wolff, TTI
22
Traffic Studies

 Safety analysis
 Collision diagrams
 Highway Safety Manual
 NCHRP 500
Traffic Studies

 Intersection Sight Distance
 AASHTO Green Book (design reference)
 Selecting Case (e.g., left turn from minor
street approach; straight across
movementt from
f minor
i street
t t
approach)
 Vehicle stopping location
23
Traffic Studies

 Warrant analysis
 Traffic signal warrants
 Pedestrian hybrid beacon
 Center line & edge lines
Traffic Studies

 Guardrail or other barrier
 AASHTO Roadside Design Guide
24
Traffic Studies
 Developing Recommendations
 Short-term & low cost improvements
 Use of agency forces for implementation
 Long-range improvements
 Proposed construction projects
 Higher cost, special expertise or
equipment, need for outside contractor
Traffic Studies
 Signing - examples
 Advance warning signs
 Larger signs
 Chevrons at curves
 Sheeting upgrade
25
Traffic Studies
 Signing - optional/supplementary
 Cross Traffic Does Not Stop
 Combination horizontal
alignment/advisory speed
sign
Traffic Studies
 Delineation – examples
 Reflectorized guideposts
 Wider edge lines
 Reflectorized raised
pavement markers
26
Traffic Studies
 Markings – examples
 Re-channelizing/re-striping
 Stop lines & Yield lines
 Transverse rumble strips
Traffic Studies
 Signal revisions – examples
 Signal timing
 Left turn phasing
 Flashing yellow arrow displays
27
Traffic Studies
 Vegetation control/removal
 Shoulder/surface maintenance
 Parking restrictions
 Turn restrictions
Traffic Studies
 Developing
Recommendations
“Pedestrian Facilities
Users Guide”
Highway Safety Research Center

University of North Carolina
28
Traffic Studies
 Signalization
 Roundabouts
 Warning beacons
Source: Clemmons, NC roundabout

http://www.k-state.edu/roundabouts/ada/photos/portorchard.htm
Traffic Studies
 Left turn lanes
 Sidewalks
 Street lighting
29
Traffic Studies
 Shoulder widening/paving
 Embankment flattening
 Guardrail/barriers
Source: FHWA
Traffic Studies
 Intersection/roadway realignment
 Locations where additional ROW is needed
Source: Connecticut DOT & East Haven Patch
30
Traffic Studies
 Developing a Standard Report Format

 Can be relatively informal (e.g., memorandum)
 Should be scaleable (scope dependent upon
issue at hand)
 Provides uniformity within an agency
Traffic Studies

– Recommended Components
 Directed to responsible official (e.g., City Engineer,
City Traffic Engineer, Public Works Director)
 Brief description of the purpose of the study,

including
g whyy studyy was initiated
31
Traffic Studies

 Description of existing conditions
 Roadway functional classification
 Traffic volumes & traffic flow characteristics
 Speed limits, vehicle speeds
 Traffic control, signing, markings
 Sight distance & visibility of signs
Traffic Studies

 Roadway geometrics
 Roadway cross-section
 Surface type
 General location & vicinity characteristics
 Roadside environment
32
Traffic Studies

 Crash history
 Capacity/Level of Service
 Other observations or factors
Traffic Studies

 Description of any planned or programmed
projects: Does the location show up in:
 Comprehensive Transportation Plan (e.g., 20 yr)
 Transportation Improvement Program (e.g.
( 6 yr))
 Non-motorized Plan
 Agency priority array
33
Traffic Studies

 Findings
 Recommended action/s
 Supporting information (e.g., sketches,
drawings, photos)
Traffic Studies
 Role of Traffic Studies in Risk

Management & Tort Liability Exposure
 Provides documentation: Actions taken, when
they were taken, conditions at the location
 Demonstrates application of engineering
judgment
 Describes the action/s taken & the basis for
those actions
34
Traffic Studies

 May demonstrate a pro-active approach
 Helpful to recall elements that were considered
& action/s that were taken when a claim or
lawsuit is filed years later
Traffic Studies

 Be prepared to defend the study in court
(depositions, court testimony)
 Try to limit potential agency witnesses to
responsible official/s (e
(e.g.,
g City Engineer
Engineer, City
Traffic Engineer)
35
Traffic Studies

 23 U.S.C. § 409 - Protection of crash data from
discoverability and admissibility in legal actions
against an agency which is compiling that data
 An agency may be able to block a plaintiff’s
plaintiff s
use of crash data against it during a lawsuit
Pierce County v. Guillen, 537 U.S. 129 (2003)
Traffic Studies
 Wording in Traffic Study Reports

 Certain words I recommend staying away
from using
 Your words can and may be used against
you
 Some words
S d may b be couched
h d as
incriminating to you & the agency involved
 At the very least, you could have more
explaining to do when deposed
36
Traffic Studies

from using: “Safe” and “Unsafe”
SAFE UNSAFE
Traffic Studies

from using: “Safe” and “Unsafe”
SAFE UNSAFE
37
Traffic Studies

from using:
 “problem”
 “hazard”
 “dangerous”
• Alternative: “concern”
Traffic Studies

 Certain words I recommend staying away from
using:
 “non-standard” or “deficient”
 “up to standards”
 sight distance is “restricted” (“affected”)
 “improve” (“enhance”)
 Issue: Evaluating adequacy of existing conditions
to design standards for construction
38
Traffic Studies

 Certain words I recommend staying away from
using:
 “shall” consider: “should”
 “required” consider: “desired”
 “will” consider: “anticipated” “appears to be”
 Issue: Not everything is black & white; leave room
for engineering judgment discussion in court.
Traffic Studies

 Recommended approach to wording
 Use factual tone & sentence structure
 Do not editorialize
 State facts, findings, conclusions,
recommendations in a straight-forward
way without a lot of additional
explaining
39
Traffic Studies

 Wording example for a Recommended Action:
 “The intersection must be converted to all-way stop
control to improve safety, reduce conflicts, and
increase capacity.”
 “The intersection should be converted to all-wayy
stop control.”
 Issue: The benefits of the recommended action should
be easily deduced from reading the report’s preceding
description of existing conditions and findings.
Traffic Studies

 I recommend an iterative review process
during the course of the study & preparation of
the report
 Discussing direction of the study & preliminary
indications with responsible official/supervisor
 Prior verbal acceptance of recommended action/s
 Review of draft includes check for wording before
finalizing (suitable for defending in court if necessary)
40
Traffic Studies for Implementing
Short-Term & Long-Range
Roadway Improvements
Questions?
James W. Ellison, P.E.
Consulting Traffic Engineer
Jim@jameswellison.com
41

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Traffic Studies for Implementing

Short-Term and Long-Range

James W. Ellison, P.E.

James W. Ellison, P.E., has 39 years of

Jim serves on the National Committee on

• Not development traffic impact studies

 Traffic Study – MUTCD Definition

...and the application of appropriate principles,

...for the purpose of deciding upon the

 Traffic Study – MUTCD Definition

...through the application of procedures and

...An engineering study shall be documented.”

 Engineering Judgment – MUTCD

and the application of appropriate principles, provisions,

for the purpose of deciding upon the applicability, design,

“Documentation is not required.” (emphasis added)

 Supporting reasons for

 Supporting reasons for

 Supporting reasons for

 When Are Traffic Studies

 When Are Traffic Studies

 When Are Traffic Studies

 When Are Traffic Studies

 When Are Traffic Studies

 When Are Traffic Studies

 When Are Traffic Studies

 When Are Traffic Studies Required or

 When Are Traffic Studies Required or

Source: Huang, Hughes, Zegeer (UNCHSRC) & Florida DOT

 Traffic Studies for Design Reports

 Traffic Studies for Design Reports –

 Traffic Studies for Design Reports –

 Traffic Studies for Design Reports –

 Traffic Studies for Design Reports –

 Traffic Studies for Design Reports –

 Traffic Studies for Design Reports –

 Traffic Studies for Operations &

 Traffic Studies for Operations &

 Field Data Useful for Traffic Studies

 Field Data Useful for Traffic Studies

Source: MassSAFE Univ of Mass

 Field Data Useful for Traffic Studies

 Field Data Useful for Traffic Studies

 Field Data Useful for Traffic Studies

Source: Rick Butner, Pierce County, WA

 Field Data Useful for Traffic Studies

 Field Data Useful for Traffic Studies

 Field Data Useful for Traffic Studies

 Field Data Useful for Traffic Studies

 Field Data Useful for Traffic Studies

 Field Data Useful for Traffic Studies

 Field Data Useful for Traffic Studies

 Office Data Useful for Traffic Studies

 Office Data Useful for Traffic Studies

 Traffic Analysis Techniques

 Traffic Analysis Techniques

 AASHTO Green Book

 Traffic Analysis Techniques

 Traffic Analysis Techniques

 Traffic Analysis Techniques

 Traffic Analysis Techniques

Highway Safety Research Center

Source: Clemmons, NC roundabout