Transportation Engineering Commons^™

Long-Term Maintenance Needs Planning, Doug Kreis, Lenahan O'Connell, Brian Howell

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This research contributes to Kentucky’s knowledge base of long-term maintenance needs in two parts. Part 1 presents an estimate of the average revenue needed to maintain four categories of highway in the first fifteen years after each is built or resurfaced. Total maintenance costs per mile for four types of facilities in five AADT volume categories were estimated. The results suggest that Kentucky is not resurfacing all its roads in a timely manner. Part II presents background information on preventive maintenance programs in the states. A review of the states found two recurring themes. The first was the widespread adoption …

Statewide Planning Scenario Synthesis: Transportation Congestion Measurement And Management, Doug Kreis, Brian Howell, Lenahan O'Connell

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This study is a review of current practices in 13 states to: (1) measure traffic congestion and its costs; and (2) manage congestion with programs and techniques that do not involve the building of new highway capacity. In regard to the measures of congestion, the findings suggest two broad conclusions: (a) the most popular measures are not LOS or volume to capacity ratios; but rather the direct measures of either average time to traverse the distance between two points, or the average speed of vehicles. These are sometimes used to construct estimates of delay during peak traffic periods. (b) Five …

Effect Of Warning Devices On Curve Operating Speeds, Adam Vest, Nikiforos Stamatiadis, Adam Clayton, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of this study is to evaluate the use of several warning signs and warning methods to identify those that have the greatest impact on reducing vehicle speeds when traversing a horizontal curve. Three sites were selected from a list of proposed sites for the testing of the various warning methods. Each warning treatment was installed and a five-day waiting period was allowed before operating speeds for the treatments were measured. The results of the various warning methods were mixed, however, some warning treatments were able to reduce operating speeds on a consistent basis. The most effective of these …

Analysis Of Traffic Crash Data In Kentucky (2000 – 2004), Eric R. Green, Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman, Monica L. Barrett

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report documents an analysis of traffic crash data in Kentucky for the years of 2000 through 2004. 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 …

2005 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 2005 safety belt and child safety seat usage rates in Kentucky. The 2005 survey continues to document the results after enactment of a statewide mandatory safety belt law in 1994 and safety belt enforcement campaign. Data were collected 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 2005 (66.7 percent) was slightly higher than that in 2004 (66.0 percent). This compares to 65.5 percent …

Meeting Kentucky’S Transportation Needs And Priorities: Citizens’ Perceptions And Recommendations, Donald L. Hartman, Merl Hackbart, Juita-Elena (Wie) Yusuf, Candice Y. Wallace

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This study was designed to (1) consider the role of public input in the transportation planning process; (2) obtain citizen perceptions of system needs and develop priorities in the state of Kentucky; and (3) use that experience (and the experiences of other states) to provide recommendations for ways to enhance the role of public input in Kentucky’s transportation planning. Telephone survey of Kentucky adults and focus groups of community leaders were utilized to gauge the public’s attitudes and perceptions regarding Kentucky’s transportation needs, issues and priorities, and system satisfaction. The findings from the survey and the focus groups were compared …

The Impact Of State Road Fund Debt Limits: An Empirical Analysis, Michael Moody, Merl Hackbart

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

States have been gradually increasing their reliance on debt financing to meet their transportation funding needs. Increased reliance on debt financing has been driven by the slow growth of highway and Road Fund revenue sources, resistance to tax expenditures, and restrictions placed on the use of General Fund revenue, in many states, for transportation projects. In light of states’ increasing reliance on debt financing for transportation, state officials and policy makers have shown greater interest debt management practices. One dominant practice across the states is the use of debt limitations. Debt limit policies vary widely from state to state. There …

Innovative Rapid Construction/Reconstruction Methods, Paul M. Goodrum, Yinggang Wang, Chris N. Jones, Philippe C. Fenouil, Donn E. Hancher

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Innovative construction and reconstruction methods provide the opportunity to significantly reduce the time of roadway projects while maintaining the necessary quality of workmanship. The need for these “rapid” methods stems from the increase in traffic on Kentucky roadways coupled with the rise in conventional road and bridge construction methods. Conventional construction methods cannot maintain the demand for progress necessitated by the future needs of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, especially the current philosophy of “Get In, Get Out, and Stay Out.” This research documents a series of case studies that examined past projects which used innovative rapid construction methods. This document …

Baseline Modeling Of The Maysville Cable-Stayed Bridge Over The Ohio River, Issam E. Harik, Jindong Hu, Suzanne Weaver Smith, Wei-Xin Ren, Tong Zhao, Jennie E. Campbell, Clark Graves

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report presents the baseline modeling of the Maysville cable-stayed bridge which connects Maysville, Kentucky and Aberdeen, Ohio over the Ohio River. The objective of this study is to establish the bridge baseline model via the dynamics-based technique and finite element method. The scope of research includes finite element modeling and modal analysis, field free vibration testing, finite element model calibration using field test results, and cable dynamic testing and modeling. It is demonstrated that a cable-stayed bridge is a highly pre-stressed structure. The stress stiffening of cable elements plays an important role in both static and dynamic analysis. The …

Evaluation Of Kentucky’S “Buckle Up Kentucky: It’S The Law & It’S Enforced” 2005 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” 2005 campaign in Kentucky. The campaign involved a combination of earned media, paid media, and enforcement. The earned media started two weeks prior to Memorial Day 2005and continued through the enforcement period. Two separate paid media campaigns were conducted.One dealt specifically with pickups while the other was a general campaign for all drivers. The pickup campaign started four weeks prior to Memorial Day and lasted two weeks. The general campaign was for the two weeks prior to Memorial Day. …

Outsourcing Of Kytc Project Delivery Functions, Donn E. Hancher, April Brenneman, Robin Meagher, Paul M. Goodrum

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The rise in daily travelers on highways due to population growth, and higher quality and service expectations of the public, are putting increased demands on DOTs today. These demands, combined with decreasing staff sizes and changing resources, are causing DOTs to investigate alternative methods for accomplishing their essential functions. A major option is to contract out more of their work to external parties, commonly called “outsourcing .” The purpose of this project was to evaluate the potential effectiveness, benefits, concerns and implementation requirements of outsourcing by the Kentucky Department of Highways.

This report looks at current outsourcing practices in other …

Pavement/Sub-Grade Condition Assessment I-65 Approximate Milepost 97.5 To 102.5 (Transition From Asphalt To Concrete) To (Ky 313 Overpass), Brad Rister, Clark Graves

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report summarizes the condition assessment of the pavement structure on I-65 between 97.5 to 102.5. Three types of equipment were used to evaluate the present condition of the pavement: falling weight deflectormeter, ground penetrating radar, and coring machine, Results indicated that durability of the existing concrete surface appears to be the most detrimental problem encountered in this survey. Load-transfer across transverse joint appear to be in acceptable ranges. Limited areas were identified to have less than four inches of D.G.A. beneath the concrete pavement. These areas have also been experiencing the most differential settlement. In addition several areas are …

Enhancing Kentucky’S Transportation Funding Capacity: A Review Of Six Innovative Financing Options, Merl Hackbart, Juita-Elena (Wie) Yusuf, Michael J. Moody, Candice Y. Wallace

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Kentucky faces several challenges in meeting the funding needs for its transportation infrastructure. The state currently relies on a revenue stream based on road user taxes and fees. However, the structure of these taxes and fees are such that revenues have not kept up with the growth in the number of licensed drivers and motor vehicle travel. In addition, inflationary pressures, coupled with the Road Fund’s low growth rate, have diminished the purchasing power of Road Fund revenues. It is increasingly clear than Kentucky will not be fiscally capable of meeting its transportation investment needs if steps are not taken …

Evaluation Of Methods To Limit The Time Taken To Investigate Crash Sites, Jennifer R. Walton, Monica L. Barrett, Kenneth R. Agent

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Highway crashes have significant direct and indirect costs associated with them. Substantial sources of indirect costs are the congestion and delays that result from lane blockages or road closures while the crash is being investigated and the site cleared. In many cases, vehicles could be moved and roadways reopened very quickly, but this does not occur because of the need (or perceived need) to conduct a detailed investigation of the crash scene. The objective of this study was to identify opportunities to reduce the time required to investigate and clear crash scenes. This project includes a review of state and …

Bearing Capacity Analysis And Design Of Highway Base Materials Reinforced With Geofabrics, Tommy C. Hopkins, Liecheng Sun, Mikhail E. Slepak

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The primary objective of this study was to develop and implement mathematical bearing capacity models originally proposed by Hopkins (1988, 1991) and Slepak and Hopkins (1993; 1995). These advanced models, which are based on limit equilibrium and are operated together, can be used to analyze the bearing capacity, or stability, of early construction of loads on a single layer of material, two-layered problems involving a layer of base aggregate and subgrade, and a foundation involving multiple layers of different materials, such as a flexible asphalt pavement. A Prandlt-type shear surface is used in the model analyses of layered foundations. In …

Context Sensitive Design – Thinking Beyond The Pavement: Documentation Of Workshop Development And Training, Jerry G. Pigman, Donald L. Hartman, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Kenneth R. Agent, Lenahan O'Connell, Nikiforos Stamatiadis, Patrick Tyndall

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report documents the development and presentation of the workshop titled “Thinking Beyond the Pavement – A Workshop on Context Sensitive Design”. Work began on the workshop development in 1998 after the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet was selected as one of the pilot states to implement a training program for context sensitive design. The Kentucky Transportation Center at the University of Kentucky was selected to develop and deliver the training to state personnel and consultants who were commonly involved with project development. The training course was comprised of the following four modules:

• Facilitated Communication and Public Involvement,
• Environmental Issues,
• Liability Issues, …

Evaluation Of Auto Incident Recording System (Airs), Eric R. Green, Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Auto Incident Recording System (AIRS) is a sound-actuated video recording system. It automatically records potential incidents when activated by sound (horns, clashing metal, squealing tires, etc.). The purpose is to detect patterns of crashes at intersections for use in implementing relevant improvements. Videos of incidents and near-incidents were obtained after AIRS was placed in service at an intersection in Louisville, Kentucky on July 22, 2001. Crash reports were obtained from January 1998 through September, 2004 to; a) compare to the available data from AIRS videos, and b) compare the crashes before and after various improvements were made. A traffic …

Speed Estimation For Air Quality Analysis, Mei Chen, Huafeng Gong

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Average speed is an essential input to the air quality analysis model MOBILE6 for emission factor calculation. Traditionally, speed is obtained from travel demand models. However, such models are not usually calibrated to speeds. Furthermore, for rural areas where such models are not available, there has not been a reliable method for estimating speed.

In this study, a procedure was developed based on the Highway Economic Requirement System (HERS) speed model to estimate average speed using as input various data such as roadway characteristics and traffic conditions. This procedure was coded in MS Excel macro and can be attached to …

Kentucky’S Highway Incident Management Strategic Plan, Monica L. Barrett, Joseph D. Crabtree, Jerry G. Pigman, Jennifer R. Walton

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Kentucky ’s Highway Incident Management Strategic Plan consists of a mission statement, 4 goals, 16 objectives, and 49 action strategies. The action strategies are arranged by priority and recommended time frame for implementation. When implemented, the action strategies will help Kentucky achieve its primary goals for incident management: 1) improved safety of responders, highway workers, and motorists; 2) reduced traffic delay; 3) improved motorist awareness; and 4) improved responder and highway worker preparedness.

Development Of Kentucky’S Highway Incident Management Strategic Plan, Monica L. Barrett, Joseph D. Crabtree, Jerry G. Pigman, Jennifer R. Walton

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Even though Kentucky has undertaken many initiatives to improve specific aspects of incident management, there has never been a plan that establishes an overall framework for a systematic, statewide, multi-agency effort to improve the management of highway incidents. The objective of this project was to develop a strategic plan that provides a vision and strategy for significantly improving all aspects of incident management. This report identifies the current and best practices for highway incident management in the United States and in Kentucky and establishes a vision for the future of highway incident management in Kentucky. The Plan developed through the …

Examination Of Economical Methods For Repairing Highway Landslides, Liecheng Sun, Tommy C. Hopkins, Tony L. Beckham, Bixian Ni

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet spends millions of dollars each year in the repairs of highway landslides. In previous research, an inventory of highway landslides showed that about 1440 landslides of various sizes exist on major roadways maintained by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Moreover, emergency repairs can exceed one million dollars for large embankment failures. In many instances, drilled-in, or driven, railroad steel rails were frequently used as a stop-gap measure to halt landslide movements or those efforts were tried as a permanent solution. The use of rails to serve as a restraining structure was usually not successful when the height …

Safety And Capacity Evaluation For Interstates In Kentucky, Adam J. Kirk, Jerry G. Pigman, Kenneth R. Agent, Barry House

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This analysis and evaluation was directed toward assessing safety and capacity issues on interstates in Kentucky and, particularly, the manner in which commercial vehicle traffic affects these issues. Analyses was undertaken to show past trends and project future traffic. Previous research was relied upon to show the level of safety on each of the interstates relative to statewide averages. Analyses were performed to evaluate the impact on safety when comparing segments by number of lanes available for through traffic (4, 6, and 8-lane highway sections). Delay on the interstates was calculated based on closure times due to crashes and estimates …

Reduction Of Stresses On Buried Rigid Highway Structures Using The Imperfect Ditch Method And Expanded Polystyrene (Geofoam), Liecheng Sun, Tommy C. Hopkins, Tony L. Beckham

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The study of earth pressure distribution on buried structures has a great practical importance in constructing highway embankments above pipes and culverts. Based on Spangler’s research, the supporting strength of a conduit depends primarily on three factors: 1. the inherent strength of the conduit; 2. the distribution of the vertical load and bottom reaction; and, 3. the magnitude and distribution of lateral earth pressures which act against the sides of the structure. Considering high fills above them and high earth pressures they may experience, rigid culverts are usually used underneath highway embankments. To reduce high vertical earth pressures acting on …

Swelling Pavement: Ky 499 Estill County, Tony L. Beckham, Tommy C. Hopkins

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

A field and laboratory investigation was performed to determine why excessive swelling was occurring on a pavement section of KY Route 499 that was about four years old. Swelling occurred on a section of roadway that had been constructed with a hydrated lime-stabilized subgrade. As shown by laboratory swell tests, swelling of the pavement was due to the absorption of water and expansion of the compacted clay shale subgrade. Results of laboratory swell tests showed that the hydrated lime stabilization of the shale actually reduced swelling. Chemical reactions between calcium, present in the hydrated lime, and sulfates, which were present …

Review Of Traffic Provisions Of Krs/Kar And Kentucky Drivers Manual, Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

No abstract provided.

Kentucky Geotechnical Database, Tommy C. Hopkins, Tony L. Beckham, Liecheng Sun, Bill Pfalzer

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Development of a comprehensive dynamic, geotechnical database is described. Computer software selected to program the client/server application in windows’ environment, components and structure of the geotechnical database, and primary factors considered in constructing the database are discussed. Oracle ®8i, PowerBuilder ®8, and Map Object ® software were used to construct the database, build graphical user interfaces (GUI), and embed roadway maps, respectively. Any number of users may use the database simultaneously. Twelve highway district offices and several central offices of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet are connected to the database. Data may be entered and retrieved dynamically in the client/server structure. …

Environmental Commitment Follow-Up, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Sudhir Palle

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Three recently completed road construction projects were investigated to determine Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) effectiveness in implementing project commitments (including environmental commitments). Documentation was obtained from KYTC districts in which the projects were constructed and KYTC officials involved with the projects from planning through construction were interviewed. The projects were inspected to audit completion of project commitments. Key stakeholders (officials of local governments, resource agencies, MPOs, interest groups, and adjacent landowners) were interviewed about the projects. They were asked to grade KYTC for implementation of project commitments using a standard report card format. The findings for these investigations are presented. …

Kentucky Traffic Collision Facts 2005 Report, Kentucky Transportation Center, Kentucky State Police

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

KENTUCKY’S TRAFFIC COLLISION FACTS report for 2005 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 Us 119 Pine Mountain Safety Improvements: Ihsdm Analysis Of Post Construction, Will Conkin, Nikiforos Stamatiadis

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The spot improvements on US 119 in Letcher County between Whitesburg and Partridge were an attempt to improve safety throughout the corridor. To achieve this goal, the roadway alignment and cross section were changed at various locations. In addition, problems related to truck traffic were considered in redefining the roadway geometries. The total length of the spot improvement locations was approximately 6.9 miles.

Accelerated Maintenance Painting – Jefferson County Federal Aid Research Task No. 135, Sudhir Palle, Theodore Hopwood Ii

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) conducted an experimental project to investigate the use of accelerated maintenance painting on several overpass and elevated steel structures (74,000 ft2) in Louisville. Accelerated maintenance painting procedures specified for this project entailed limited access for the painting contractor coupled with incentives/disincentives to complete each phase of the work involving traffic closures on the underlying roadways. The approach was coupled with the use of abrasive blasting for surface preparation and the application of a rapid-cure 2-coat paint system to facilitate the work.

The project was let for $402,800. The contractor proceeded to paint 4 spans designated …