Transportation Engineering Commons^™

Quality Based Prequalification Of Contractors, Donn E. Hancher, Sean E. Lambert, William F. Maloney

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report summarizes the efforts to provide the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet with a system for evaluating the quality of the performance of contractors on highway construction projects and using that evaluation in the Cabinet’s annual prequalification process for contractors. Contacts with several other state departments of transportation were made to identify best practices and concerns. An advisory committee of experienced KyTC engineers plus Kentucky contractor representatives met extensively to develop the final performance evaluation documents to be used in the process.

A performance evaluation process was developed to evaluate a contractor’s work on projects and the results from all of …

2001 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 2001 safety belt and child safety seat usage rates in Kentucky. The 2001 survey continues to document the results after enactment of a statewide mandatory safety belt law in 1994. It also documented the long term results of the Click It or Ticket enforcement campaign which was conducted around Memorial Day. Data were collected at 200 randomly selected sites spread across Kentucky. Data from the individual sites were combined into a statewide percentage considering function classification, geographic region, and vehicle miles traveled.

The data show that the usage rate increase found in …

Evaluation Of Kentucky’S Click It Or Ticket Campaign, Kenneth R. Agent, Eric R. Green

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of this report was to document the results of the Click It or Ticket 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 2001 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 the results. The evaluation involved …

Kentucky Highway User Survey 2000, Ronald E. Langley

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The purpose of this study was to continue the efforts begun in 1997 to monitor Kentucky public opinion regarding the quality of the highway system and also includes a portion to measure satisfaction with the current drivers’ license and registration renewal processes. Kentucky’s 2000 public opinion is compared to data collected since 1997 to gauge Kentucky’s progress over the past years, and is compared to the NQI 2000 Survey done on the national level to show how Kentuckians’ opinions compare to those nationwide.

State Road Fund Revenue Collection Processes: Differences And Opportunities Of Improved Efficiency, Robert J. Eger Iii, Merl M. Hackbart

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Research regarding the administration and collection of road fund revenues has focused on gaining an understanding of the motivations for tax evasion, methods of evasion, and estimates of the magnitude of evasion for individual states. To our knowledge, little attention has been focused on the impact road fund collection, assessment, audit, and enforcement processes have on tax evasion. The purpose of this study is to review the current road fund assessment, collection, audit, and enforcement processes and procedures and to develop recommendations to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the process.

Development And Proposed Implementation Of A Field Permeability Test For Asphalt Concrete, David L. Allen, David B. Schultz Jr., L. John Fleckenstein

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Pavement drainage contributes greatly to long-term pavement performance. Pavements undergo surface, as well as subsurface, drainage during prolonged rain events. It is this subsurface drainage that is of concern in this study. In the advanced asphalt pavements of today, where a drainage layer may be incorporated to facilitate the movement of water out of the above overlying pavement layers, water can be a problem in areas with variable permeability. High permeability may also cause other problems related to drainage such as frost heave, stripping, asphalt emulsification, and water coming out of the pavement surface from deeper layers in the pavement …

Resilient Modulus Of Kentucky Soils, Tommy C. Hopkins, Tony L. Beckham, Charlie Sun, Bixian Ni

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

In recent years, the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) has recommended the use of resilient modulus for characterizing highway materials for pavement design. This recommendation evolved as of a result of a trend in pavement design of using mechanistic models, which are based on the theory of elasticity (layered elastic analysis) or linear and non-linear, finite elements (and finite difference methods), or a combination of both of those theoretical approaches. Although much progress has been made in recent years in developing mathematical, mechanistic pavement design models, results obtained from those models are only as good as the …

Highway Rock Slope Management Program, Tommy C. Hopkins, Tony L. Beckham, Liecheng Sun, Bixian Ni, Barry Butcher

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Development of a comprehensive geotechnical database for risk management of highway rock slope problems is described. Computer software selected to program the client/server application in windows’ environment, components and structure of the geotechnical database, and some of the primary factors considered in constructing the database are discussed. In the establishment of a large database that will be used widely, it is extremely important to select development software that will allow simultaneous use of the database by numerous users. Major integrated components of the database include rock slope, landslide, and soil and rock engineering data. This report mainly focuses on the …

Management And Effective Use Of Changeable Message Signs (Final Report), Jennifer R. Walton, Monica L. Barrett, Joseph D. Crabtree

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Changeable message signs (CMS) are used to communicate accurate, timely, and pertinent information to travelers on Kentucky’s roadways. This information helps travelers avoid hazards or delays and respond properly to changing roadway conditions. In an ideal environment, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) would be able to allocate CMS to various areas of the state based upon changing needs. The location of each sign would be monitored, and the message could be controlled and checked remotely.

Currently these capabilities do not exist. KYTC has four different types of portable CMS in use throughout the state. Each type has different internal and …

Evaluation Of Reference Markers (Final Report), Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of this research evaluation was to evaluate the reference markers which were installed on sections of interstates and freeways in the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky area, the Lexington-Fayette Urban County area, the Louisville-southern Indiana area, and the Indianapolis area. The evaluation was conducted to determine if the use of reference markers at spacings of 0.1 or 0.2-mile intervals could improve the effectiveness of the emergency response and incident management processes. Also evaluated were color of the markers and the placement location within the right-of-way. Both "white on blue" and "white on green" markers were installed various projects, with some installed …

The Impact Of A New Bypass Route On The Local Economy And Quality Of Life, Eric C. Thompson, Joseph Miller, Jonathon Roenker

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Highway improvements such as bypass construction typically are motivated by a desire to improve the flow and safety of travel. But, given the importance of travel, transportation improvement projects often can affect the local economy and quality of life. This study assesses these potential impacts. The study was conducted by the University of Kentucky Center for Business and Economic Research, as part of a subcontract with the Kentucky Transportation Center. The study is one component of a larger Kentucky Transportation Center study entitled Planning Decisions Related to Bypass Construction, Life-Cycle Costs of Access Control, and Safety Impacts of Rural Road …

Evaluation Of Trimarc Procurement Procedures (Final Report), Monica L. Barrett, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

An Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS), referred to as TRIMARC (Traffic Response and Incident Management Assisting the River Cities), was installed in the Louisville, Kentucky and southern Indiana area beginning in the summer of 1998. A system integrator approach was used for the installation, operation, and maintenance of this system. The system integrator approach involved using Special Experimental Project No. 14 (SEP-14) procedures to procure the services of an equipment installation contractor.

The SEP-14 process is an innovative means of procuring projects that may be uncharacteristic to the traditional projects normally encountered by highway departments. SEP-14 provides an opportunity to …

Evaluation Of Tennessee Reference Markers, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Reference markers were installed on sections of interstates and freeways in Tennessee in 1999 and 2000. An evaluation was conducted to determine if the use of reference markers at spacings of 0.2-mile intervals could improve the effectiveness of emergency response and incident management processes. The evaluation included an.general observational survey, meetings with emergency response personnel, and an opinion survey of the application, placement, color, and overall benefits of the reference markers. The condition of the markers was found to be very good and there appeared to be only minor problems within the relatively short period of time since installation.

Interview …

Ky-Ctds Kentucky Contract Time Determination System (Kyspr 99-195-Lf), Donn E. Hancher, Raymond F. Werkmeister

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This paper reports on the results of research that was funded by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KyTC) to develop a new method for determining construction contract time for its highway construction contracts. The current and other DOT systems were analyzed to determine how a new system could provide better estimated duration. It was pre-determined that a PC computer based system was best suited. The development of the system input was developed from KyTC engineers with construction experience. The study advisory committee worked with Kentucky Transportation Center research engineers to develop the basis for the new contract time determination system, called …

Countermeasures For Fatal Crashes On Two-Lane Rural Roads, Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman, Nikiforos Stamatiadis

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

In the first phase of this study, characteristics of crashes on two-lane rural roads were summarized and compared to all crashes. Also, one-mile sections having high crash rates were identified. In this phase of the study, a detailed analysis was conducted for a random sample of 150 fatal crashes which occurred on a two-lane rural road. Recommendations were made for countermeasures to reduce the number and severity of crashes on this type of roadway. The potential effectiveness of these countermeasures in preventing the crashes or reducing their severity was evaluated.

Crashes were selected from the years of 1996 through 1998. …

Innovative Financing Options For Kentucky’S Transportation Infrastructure, Merl M. Hackbart

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

A strong linkage exists between economic growth and the availability of an adequate and efficient transportation system. Due to its location, geography and economy, this linkage — particularly in regard to highway transportation — is critical to continued economic progress in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. However, Kentucky’s ability to provide the infrastructure investments needed to be competitive in the new “global economy” is constrained by the structure of its funding mechanism, the Road Fund. During the last two decades, Road Fund revenue growth has dramatically lagged the growth of motor vehicle travel. As a consequence, Kentucky faces highway investment needs …

Report On County Road Finance And Fhwa Biennial Form 1998-1999, Doug Kreis

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report shows the revenues and expenditures associated with county and city resources for fiscal year 1998-1999 within the state of Kentucky. Federal Highway Form 536, which is included as the primary product of this project, shows where all revenues were generated as well as all allocations of the local highway funds. Also included within this report is a detailed report on county road finance, which is widely used within government throughout Kentucky to determine where allocated funding has been spent.

Value Of Research: Spr Projects From 1995 To 1999, Donald L. Hartman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report provides summary documentation of the 45 “SPR” research projects funded at the Kentucky Transportation Center (University of Kentucky) from 1995 through 1999. Eleven of these projects were selected for highlighting with up-to-date information regarding results and benefits. They represent a diverse range of research and demonstrate considerable breadth in the implementation of results. Abstracts for all the projects are include in the appendix. A brief discussion of the need/purpose of research, the research process, and the program areas of research at the Kentucky Transportation Center is included.

Safety Impacts Of Rural Road Construction, Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Crash data in Kentucky show that the fatal crash rate on two-lane rural roads is substantially higher than on any other type of road. Improvements have been proposed at some locations on this type of road which involve either upgrading the existing two-lane road or adding lanes resulting in a four-lane road. As part of the public information process, highway officials have been asked to document the previous results of this type of construction. The objectives of this study were to: 1) identify sections of two-lane rural roadways where either the two-lane road had been realigned and reconstructed or additional …

I-275 Warrantied Pavement, Boone/Kenton Counties Kentucky, R. Clark Graves, David L. Allen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Interstate 275 in Boone and Kenton Counties (MP 1.05 - 7.15) has been in service for more than 20 years. This rehabilitation project consists of the eastbound lanes from MP 1.04 - 4.07 and both east and westbound from MP 4.07 - 7.15. The westbound lanes from MP 1.04 - 4.07 were rehabilitated in 1991.

Kentucky Traffic Collision Facts 2001 Report, Kentucky Transportation Center, Kentucky State Police

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

KENTUCKY’S TRAFFIC COLLISION FACTS report for 2001 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 Kentucky's Graduated Driver Licensing System, Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman, Lorena C. Steenbergen, Susan H. Pollack, Pamela S. Kidd, Caroline Mccoy

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Kentucky's current GDL program, which applies to drivers up to age 18, was enacted in 1996. The program includes a six-month instruction permit for drivers under age 18 (minimum age 16), a restriction on driving between midnight and 6am and a requirement for adult-supervised driving for permit drivers. In addition, there is a six-point limit on traffic violations with a penalty of license suspension for drivers under age 18, a requirement for a four-hour driving safety education class (or driver education course) and a 0.02 ml/dl limit on blood alcohol concentration (continues up to age 21 ).

Objectives: The …

Analysis Of Traffic Accident Data In Kentucky (1995-1999), Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report includes an analysis of traffic accident data in Kentucky for the years of 1995 through 1999. A primary objective of this study was to determine average accident statistics for Kentucky highways. Average and critical numbers and rates of accidents 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 accidents.

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

2000 Safety Belt Usage Survey In Kentucky, Kenneth R. Agent

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of this study was to establish 2000 safety belt and child safety seat usage rates in Kentucky. The 2000 survey continues to document the results after enactment of a statewide mandatory safety belt law in 1994. Data were collected at 200 randomly selected sites spread across Kentucky. Data from the individual sites were combined into a statewide percentage considering function classification, geographic region, and vehicle miles traveled.

The data show that the usage rate increase found in 1999, after a few years where the rate had remained at a stable level, continued in 2000 to a smaller degree. …

Safety Improvements For Two-Lane Rural Roads, Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman, Nikiforos Stamatiadis, Juan Villalba

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Two-lane rural roads in Kentucky have the highest fatal crash rate of any type of highway in Kentucky. This report is the first phase of a study with the objectives of: 1) identifying safety problems related to crashes on two-lane rural roads, 2) identifying high-crash locations, ad 3) recommending possible improvements. The procedure used in this phase of the study involved an analysis of crash data to identify characteristics of crashes on two-lane rural roads, use of the crash data to identify one-mile sections having critical crash rates, and a review of countermeasures to start development of recommendations to reduce …

A-A Highway Safety Study, Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

As directed by Legislative action, a traffic safety study for the A-A Highway was to be conducted in fiscal year 1999-2000. An excerpt from the 1998-2000 budget and the Budget Memorandum included the following language related to the scope and direction of the study:

“The Department of Highways shall conduct an intensive traffic accident study on the A-A highway in fiscal year 1999-2000. It shall include an analysis of visibility, signage,lighting, turn lanes, and road striping at each public and private access. The accidents shall be identified by location and by fatalities, major injury, non injury, and minor injury. Causes …

Gfrp Reinforced Concrete Bridge Decks (Kyspr 96-169), David Deitz, Issam E. Harik, Hans Gesund

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report investigates the application of glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) rebars in concrete bridge decks as a potential replacement or supplement to conventional steel rebars. Tests were conducted to determine the material properties of the GFRP reinforcement, and experiments were performed to study aspects of GFRP rebar placement in actual bridge decks. These included observation of GFRP rebar handling characteristics and worker response during construction. Load tests of full-scale reinforced concrete specimens were conducted to evaluate the characteristics of three reinforcing schemes: (1) an epoxy coated steel (ECS) reinforcing scheme; (2) a GFRP reinforcing scheme, and (3) a Hybrid …

Ranking And Assessment Of Seismic Stability Of Highway Embankments In Kentucky (Kyspr 96-173), Kevin G. Sutterer, Issam E. Harik, David L. Allen, Ron Street

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report presents the findings of three independent studies under the same grant. These were (a) assess and rank highway embankments along priority routes in western Kentucky according to seismic stability, (b) assess the seismic stability of the approach embankment for the U.S. 51 Ohio River crossing near Wickliffe, Kentucky, and (c) evaluate the seismic stability of the U.S. 41 Ohio River twin spans north of Henderson, Kentucky. Seismic stability of bridge foundations was not a part of this study.

The highway ranking assessed over 400 embankments and delineated each as having high, moderate, or little risk of significant failure …

Nighttime Construction Issues, Donn E. Hancher, Timothy R. B. Taylor

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report addresses several issues to consider when considering performing highway construction work in Kentucky at night. Surveys of other state departments of transportation and Kentucky highway contractors were made to identify best practices and concerns. An advisory committee of experienced KyTC engineers plus contractor representatives met extensively to identify successful approaches for handling key issues which arise on night-time construction projects.

Seventeen specific recommendations have been proposed to enhance the Cabinet's use of night-time construction for its projects. These cover several issues related to night-time work, including contract requirements, traffic control, law enforcement, personnel issues, lighting and public awareness. …

Results Of Panel Bending Tests And Screw Pullout Tests For Storage Buildings For Stor Mor, Incorporated, David L. Allen, Daniel L. Eaton

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Kentucky Transportation Center (KTC) was requested by the Stor-Mor Corporation (SMC) to test a number of building panels that SMC uses to build small storage buildings and small recreational structures. SMC delivered to the KTC laboratories a number of the panels to be tested in bending and other modes as deemed appropriate by KTC. The panels are of sandwich construction consisting of two, thin sheet metal plates and a styrofoam interlayer. Each panel was approximately 64 inches in length and 22 inches in width. The thickness was approximately 1.63 inches.

This report details the testing of the panels and …