Engineering Commons^™

Case Study Of 4(F) Litigation/Rulings, Lenahan O'Connell, Theodore Hopwood Ii

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This study addresses issues related to compliance with Section 4(f). It produced two deliverables: 1) a guidance manual to assist Cabinet personnel in the assessment and handling of projects that encounter 4(f) properties; and 2) a review of court cases to establish the standards used by the courts when evaluating a Section 4(f) situation. The latter is an appendix to the guidance manual. By referring to the manual Cabinet employees will be to: 1) Conduct an assessment of proposed alternatives to evaluate prudence and feasibility of a proposed project alternative; 2) Prepare 4(f) documentation to justify the taking of protected …

Evaluation Of The Accuracy Of Gps As A Method Of Locating Traffic Collisions, Eric R. Green, Kenneth R. Agent

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objectives of this study were to determine the accuracy of GPS units as a traffic crash location tool, evaluate the accuracy of the location data obtained using the GPS units, and determine the largest sources of any errors found.

The analysis showed that the currently used GPS unit is capable of obtaining accurate latitude and longitude data at a crash site that would allow the site to be properly located. However, substantial differences were found between the location of some crashes as identified with the GPS and milepoint (CRMP) data. Of a sample of 100 random crashes, 55 percent …

Cross Drain Inspection I-65, Mile-Points 0.00-24.8 And 40.5-91.3, Brad W. Rister, Jonathan Fisher

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The following report contains detailed inspections of cross drains and headwalls located on I-65 in Kentucky from mile point 0.0-24.8 and 40.5-91.3. A condition assessment was performed for each located drainage structure and the discovered distresses were then recorded by location and severity. Of the 830 cross drains inspected, 313 may need some form of remedial action. Of these 313 pipes, 134 may need to be repaired or replaced and 179 may need to be cleaned.

Evaluation Of Traffic Information And Prediction System (Tips) As Work Zone Traffic Control, Jerry G. Pigman, Kenneth R. Agent

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

As part of a pavement rehabilitation project on I-64, the Traffic Information and Prediction System (TIPS) was installed as a means of providing real-time data for motorists in advance and through the work zone. This system collects real-time data using roadside non-contact (microwave) sensors, processes the data in a personal computer, calculates travel time between different points on the roadway, and displays the travel time information on several portable changeable message signs positioned at pre-determined locations along the roadway. The system displays information in the form of travel time and distance through the work zone. The objective of this report …

2003 Motor Carrier Survey, Ronald E. Langley, Ted Grossardt

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The goal of this study was to conduct a survey to evaluate usage and satisfaction with the KYTC’s new program allowing motor carriers to credential vehicles and pay taxes via the Internet. Specifically, the study was to examine how many Kentucky motor carriers took advantage of this capability, why they did or did not, what improvements could be made to the system, and what incentives could be offered or obstacles removed to entice more motor carriers to use it.

Effect Of Pavement Resurfacing On Traffic Safety, Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman, Eric R. Green

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objectives of this study were to analyze the before and after crash history and speeds on routes which have been resurfaced , inspect resurfacing projects, make recommendations to improve the resurfacing process, and determine improvements which could be made in conjunction with the resurfacing project to improve the overall safety of the roadway.

An analysis of the before and after crash data did not show a reduction in total crashes after resurfacing. There was a reduction in crashes which occurred on a wet pavement. A comparison of speeds before and after resurfacing did not find a major change in …

Access Management For Kentucky, Nikiforos Stamatiadis, Barry House, Jeremy Brickey, Donald L. Hartman, Mei Chen, Jerry G. Pigman, Kavita Boddu, Emily Elwood

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Access Management Manual published by the Transportation Research Board in 2003 defines access management as the ?systematic control of the location, spacing, design, and operation of driveways, median openings, interchanges, and street connections to a roadway1.? The purpose of access management is to provide vehicular access to land development in a manner that preserves the safety and efficiency of the transportation system. Access management principles stress mobility for higher-class roadways and safety for lower-class roadways. An effective access management program can reduce crashes as much as 50 percent, increase roadway capacity by 23 to 45 percent, and reduce travel …

Analysis Of Inconsistencies Related To Design Speed, Operating Speed, And Speed Limits, Nikiforos Stamatiadis, Huafeng Gong

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of this research was to examine the relationship among design speeds, operating speeds and speed limits and address safety and operational concerns regarding the presence of disparities among these speed metrics. Roadway sections were selected throughout Kentucky based on the relationship between design speed and posted speed limit (greater or lower) and on the number of lanes (2 or 4). Speed data and roadway geometry data were collected along these sites to allow for the development of the appropriate models. The general conclusion for 2-lane highways is that the operating speed is different than the design speed indicating …

Kentucky Traffic Collision Facts 2004 Report, Kentucky Transportation Center, Kentucky State Police

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

KENTUCKY’S TRAFFIC COLLISION FACTS report for 2004 is based on collision reports submitted to the Kentucky State Police Records Branch. As required by Kentucky Revised Statutes 189.635, “every law enforcement agency whose officers investigate a vehicle accident of which a report must be made...shall file a report of the accident...within ten days after investigation of the accident upon forms supplied by the bureau.” The stated purpose of this requirement is to utilize data on traffic collisions for such purposes as will improve the traffic safety program in the Commonwealth. Data contained in this report are based solely on the observations …

Evaluation Of The Et2000 Guardrail End Treatment, Kenneth R. Agent

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of this study was to report the results of the monitoring of the performance of the ET2000 guardrail end treatment in traffic crashes. This end treatment has an energy absorbing design in which a vehicle will push a guardrail extruder back as posts designed to breakaway are broken. The W-beam guardrail is flattened as it goes through the extruder and exits a slot away from traffic.

Data for a total of 135 collisions involving the ET 2000 were identified. A crash report was obtained in the majority of crashes and the damaged guardrail was inspected in almost all …

The Fuel Tax Compliance Unit: An Evaluation And Analysis Of Results, Suzanne Perkins Sapp

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The construction and maintenance of our nation's system of roads and highways is a major financial challenge. A majority of the responsibility for financing public roads and highways lies with state governments. Almost all states have special funds called Road Funds into which user fees and taxes associated with highway use are deposited. Unfortunately, Road Fund revenue growth has been slow due to the relative inelasticity of its revenue sources. At the same time, states face resistance to tax increases designed to enhance Road Fund revenues. One method of increasing such revenues, without increasing taxes, is to reduce evasion. Increased …

Fiscal Year 2003 Fhwa-536 Report For The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Steven Douglas Kreis

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) requires state transportation agencies to submit a biennial report on local highway finances. The purpose of these reports is to provide FHWA with the data it needs to capture the financing of highway activities at the local level. Based on this information, it can identify trends in revenue, expenditures, investments, and program development, and in turn make decisions about future investments. The report, FHWA-536, asks agencies to report on four areas of local highway finance: 1) disposition of highway-user revenues; 2) revenues used for roads and streets identified by source and funding type; 3) road …

Pavement Evaluation, I-265 Jefferson County Mp 15.0-19.0, Brad Rister, R. Clark Graves, David L. Allen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Transportation Center conducted a field survey of the pavement conditions located on I-265 in Jefferson County from MP 15.17 to 18.34, in both the eastbound and westbound directions. The existing pavement structure consists of 10″ of PCC pavement and 6″ of DGA. The field survey involved testing the 3.17 mile segment with a Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD), Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), and taking core samples of the pavement structure.

Evaluation Of Us 119 Pine Mountain Safety Improvements (Interim Report), Jerry G. Pigman, Kenneth R. Agent

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The safety improvement project for a section of US 119 across Pine Mountain in Letcher County was initiated as an interim effort to address safety issues related to roadway geometrics and specific problems related to truck traffic. The project involves sections of the road being improved over a 7.2-mile length at a cost of approximately $36 million.

The Transportation Center at the University of Kentucky was requested to perform an evaluation of the safety improvement project on US 119 to determine whether the types of improvements undertaken have affected the overall safety of the roadway. Specific objectives were as follows; …

Evaluation And Analysis Of Highway Pavement Drainage, Kamyar C. Mahboub, Yinhui Liu, David L. Allen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report presents an analysis of pavement drainage using various finite element models. The analysis included a range of pavement materials and drainage parameters. The computational tool in study was the SEEP/W option in the GEOSLOPE computer program. A steady-state saturated flow analysis was employed to generate flow paths and flux quantities through the cross-sectional area of the pavement. Finite element models in this study covered various drainage practices and quantified their relative drainage advantages. Finally, recommendations were provided for optimum drainage practices as well as future research topics in this area.

Evaluation Of Methods To Protect Water Quality In Karst Areas: Phase I, Jennifer Webster, Dhandayudhapani Ramalingam, Sudhir Palle

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The primary focus of this report is two-fold; to provide a literature review on what has been previously learned about highway runoff in relation to karsts aquifers and to characterize a karsts highway site in Kentucky that can be used to evaluate a variety of best management practices. From research findings, the main sources of pollutants in highway runoff came from vehicles, atmospheric fallout, and precipitation. The behavior of pollutants and their interaction with the environment can dictate where they will be found and how to best minimize their effects. Although it would seem that traffic volumes would greatly influence …

Analysis Of Traffic Crash Data In Kentucky (1998 – 2002), Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman, Monica L. Barrett, Eric R. Green

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report documents an analysis of traffic crash data in Kentucky for the years of 1998 through 2002. A primary objective of this study was to determine average crash statistics for Kentucky highways. Average and critical numbers and rates of crashes were calculated for various types of highways in rural and urban areas. These data can be used in Kentucky’s procedure to identify locations that have abnormal rates or numbers of crashes.

The other primary objective of this study was to provide data that can be used in the preparation of the problem identification portion of Kentucky’s Annual Highway Safety …

Evaluation Of Working Capacity For Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (Dbe) For Highway Construction In Kentucky, Fy 2004 Update, Brad W. Rister, Raymond F. Werkmeister, Paul E. Toussaint

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Kentucky Transportation Center gathered the appropriate information, performed a series of computations and analyses, prepared the attached documentation, and makes the following recommendations to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for their DBE goal for Federal Fiscal year 2004 (October 1, 2003 - September 30, 2004).

KTC recommends an overall DBE goal of 9.26%, of which 1.931% is anticipated to be satisfied by race/gender neutral prime contracts, and the resultant 7.33% should established as race/gender conscious subcontracts. The overall DBE goal figures stated here addresses an adjustment of 1.326% for the positive historical goal variance observed for the past eight years.

Evaluation Of Non-Nuclear Density Gauges, David L. Allen, David B. Schultz Jr., David Allen Willett

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

For the past several decades, density of freshly laid hot mix asphalt (HMA) mats has been measured by contractors, consultants or governmental agencies using nuclear density gauges. However, use of these devices requires the user to maintain an inordinate amount of records on the use of the equipment. These requirements include calibration and recalibration records, certification records of the operators, records on radiation badges, and periodic testing of the operator’s badges for radiation exposure. In addition, there is always the concern about possible accidents with the gauges that might expose the radiation source to the operators or other bystanders. Because …

Lessons Learned System For Kentucky Transportation Projects, Paul M. Goodrum, Mohammed F. Yasin, Donn E. Hancher

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

A system of collecting, archiving, and disseminating lessons learned is a critical component of experienced-based processes, such as the design and construction of roadway and bridges. This report examines the development of a centralized, web-based Lessons Learned System for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. The research developed a working prototype of a lessons learned system that functions off of centrally located databases making it easier to administer and update. The Lessons Learned System was designed to accept both text and attachments through file uploads while maintaining relationships between these items of information in terms of a lesson learned. The report describes …

The Use And Performance Of Geogrids In Kentucky, Aric Cowne, Richard Reitenour, David L. Allen, R. Clark Graves

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report will investigate the history and usage of geogrids, a subfamily of geosynthetics, in Kentucky. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM - 1994) has defined a geosynthetic as a planar product manufactured from a polymeric material used with soil, rock, earth, or other geotechnical-related material as an integral part of a civil engineering project, structure, or system. Geogrids, geosynthetics primarily used for reinforcement, are formed by a regular network of tensile elements with apertures of sufficient size to interlock with surrounding fill material. Geogrids are used as reinforcement by adding tensile strength to a soil matrix, thereby …

2003 Safety Belt Usage Survey In Kentucky, Kenneth R. Agent, Eric R. Green

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of this study was to establish 2003 safety belt and child safety seat usage rates in Kentucky. The 2003 su rvey continues to document the results after enactment of a statewide mandatory safety belt law in 1994 and safety belt enforcement campaign. Data were collect ed at 200 randomly selected sites spread across Kentucky. Data from the individual sites were combined into a statewide percentage considering roadway functional classification, geographic region, and vehicle miles traveled.

The data show that the usage rate in 2003 (65.5 percent) was higher than that in 2002 (62.0 percent). This compared to 61.9 …

Evaluation Of Kentucky’S “Buckle Up Kentucky: It’S The Law & It’S Enforced” Campaign, Kenneth R. Agent, Eric R. Green, Ronald E. Langley

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of this report was to document the results of the “Buckle Up Kentucky: It’s the Law & It’s Enforced” campaign in Kentucky. The campaign involved a combination of earned media, paid media, and enforcement. The earned media started about three weeks prior to Memorial Day 2003 and continued through the enforcement period. The paid media started about two weeks prior to Memorial Day. The enforcement period was a two-week period including the week before and the week of Memorial Day.

The evaluation of the campaign included documenting the activities associated with the program (publicity and enforcement) and evaluating …

Crash Rates At Intersections, Eric R. Green, Kenneth R. Agent

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objectives of this study were to develop a database of intersections, match traffic crashes to these intersections, calculate crash rates for various types of intersections, and identify intersections with the highest crash rates. A procedure was used to: a) identify intersections, b) assign crashes to these intersections, c) determine entering traffic volume, d) calculate a crash rate for each intersection, and e) calculate a critical rate factor (CRF) for each intersection.

About 7,000 intersections were identified with almost 19,000 crashes related to these intersections for the three-year period of 2000 through 2002. The analysis identified 428 intersections that had …

Constructibility Issues On Kytc Projects, Donn E. Hancher, Joseph J. Thozhal, Paul M. Goodrum

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Constructibility is defined by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Subcommittee on Construction as “a process that utilizes construction personnel with extensive construction knowledge early in the design stages of projects to ensure that the projects are buildable, while also being cost-effective, biddable, and maintainable” A successful constructibility review process for a transportation agency must follow an established methodology similar to value engineering. The process must be flexible and address the critical issues impacting transportation construction projects, such as ease of construction, environmental factors, construction phasing and scheduling, project safety, and accommodation of future maintenance and operations. …

Reinforcement Alternatives For Concrete Bridge Decks, Chris Hill, Choo Ching Chiaw, Issam E. Harik

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report investigates the application of various reinforcement types in concrete bridge decks as potential replacements or supplements to conventional steel reinforcement. Traditional epoxy coated reinforcement (ECS), stainless steel clad (SSC) reinforcement, MMFX microcomposite reinforcement, and carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) reinforcement were evaluated. Tests were conducted to determine the material properties of each reinforcement type. Full-scale two-span reinforced concrete deck specimens were load tested to evaluate their performance. CFRP reinforcement was deployed in a single-span bridge located on Elkin Station Road in Clark County, KY. The SSC and MMFX reinforcements were each placed in a separate span in a …

Survey Of Welding Processes, Theodore Hopwood Ii

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The current KYTC “SPECIAL PROVISION NO. 4 WELDING STEEL BRIDGES” prohibits the use of welding processes other than shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) and submerged arc welding (SAW). Nationally, bridge welding is codified under ANSI/AASHTO/AWS D1.5M/D1.5:2002 Bridge Welding Code. That document allows the use of other welding processes including flux core arc welding, gas metal arc welding, electroslag welding and electrogas welding after passing qualification tests.

Both the KYTC Special Provision and the Bridge Welding Code were reviewed. Representatives from 14 state highway agencies, fabrication shops, universities and welding equipment firms were questioned regarding the wider use of the welding …

Highway Crash Site Management, Monica L. Barrett, Jennifer R. Walton

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Traveler delay is the problem most often associated with highway crashes, but by far the most serious problem is the resulting secondary crashes that occur. Another related issue is the danger posed to response personnel serving the public at the scene of a crash. The longer a crash is in place, the longer the responders are vulnerable and exposed to injury.

The Kentucky Transportation Center, in cooperation with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, developed a checklist and interagency workshop to address ways to secure and coordinate the resources necessary to restore the roadway’s operation in a safe and timely manner. The …

Abandoned Railroad Corridors In Kentucky: An Inventory And Assessment, Lisa Rainey Brownell, Kentucky Transportation Center

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report provides an inventory of Kentucky's abandoned rail lines and a detailed assessment to highlight the lines that may be the most suitable for future trail use. A secondary purpose of the report was to inventory historic railroad structures. Over 125 different abandoned rail lines were identified, mapped using GIS technology, and assessed for their current use and condition. These abandoned rights of way exist in all regions of the state, in urban and rural areas.

Development Of Procedures For Identifying High-Crash Locations And Prioritizing Safety Improvements, Kenneth R. Agent, Lenahan O'Connell, Eric R. Green, Doug Kreis, Jerry G. Pigman, Neil Tollner, Eric C. Thompson

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objectives of this study were to review and analyze the current procedures for identifying high-crash locations and evaluating and prioritizing roadway safety improvements at high-crash locations, and to recommend improved methods. Several tasks were undertaken to accomplish these objectives, including the following:

• Review of program guidelines and procedures used by other states to prioritize improvements at high-crash locations
• Review and documentation of Kentucky’s current procedures
• Update of Kentucky’s Crash Buildup Program software to be compatible with the 2000 crash report form
• Development of new software to assist in estimating the benefits and costs of potential projects for inclusion in …