Transportation Engineering Commons^™

Mgs Dynamic Deflections And Working Widths At Lower Speeds, Nicholas A. Weiland, Cody S. Stolle, John D. Reid, Ronald K. Faller, Robert W. Bielenberg, Karla A. Lechtenberg

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

The Midwest Guardrail System (MGS) has been full-scale crash tested in many configurations, including installations adjacent to slopes, with different types of wood posts, with and without blockouts, for culvert and bridge applications, and at high flare rates. Although the performance of the MGS and the dynamic deflection and working width of the barrier have been examined, little is known about the dynamic deflection and working width of the MGS when impacted at lower speeds. The MGS is a relatively low-cost barrier, and the Test Level 3 (TL-3) version could be installed for TL-2 and TL-1 applications. The barrier is …

Analysis Of Traffic Crash Data In Kentucky (2010-2014), Eric R. Green, Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman, Michael A. Fields

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report documents an analysis of traffic crash data in Kentucky for the years of 2010 through 2014. A primary objective of this study was to determine average crash statistics for Kentucky highways. Rates were calculated for various types of highways and for counties and cities. Difference criteria were used for exposure.

Development Of A Pedestrian Demand Estimation Tool, Kelly Clifton, Patrick Allen Singleton, Christopher D. Muhs, Robert J. Schneider

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Most research on walking behavior has focused on mode choice or walk-trip frequency. In contrast, this study is one of the first to analyze the destination choice behaviors of pedestrians. Using about 4,500 walk trips from a 2011 household travel survey in the Portland, OR, region, we estimated multinomial logit pedestrian destination choice models for six trip purposes. Independent variables included terms for impedance (walk-trip distance); size (employment by type, households); supportive pedestrian environments (parks, a pedestrian index of the environment variable called PIE); barriers to walking (terrain, industrial-type employment); and traveler characteristics. Unique to this study was the use …

Investigating The Correlation Between Freeway Service Levels And Freeway Service Patrol Assists, Nora Chin

Master's Theses

The Bay Area Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s (MTC) Freeway Service Patrol’s highway motorist response service is reporting a reduction in their service levels. We analyze the relationship between the reduction in the Bay Area Freeway Service Patrol’s (FSP) motorist assists and changes in vehicle miles traveled (VMT), California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported incidents, and cover research on the impact of new and old vehicle fleet turnover. VMT and CHP incidents have differential effects on FSP assists. Although incidents occurring on freeways with high traffic flows tend to cause more congestion, the trend in local VMT along Bay Area freeway corridors does …

14-12 Capacity Analysis Of Pedestrian Facilities Involving Individuals With Disabilities, Mohammad Sadra Sharifi, Keith Christensen, Anthony Chen

Transportation Research Center Reports

Walking facilities are important infrastructures that must be designed to accommodate the behavior of pedestrians in order to be effective. Heterogeneity in pedestrian composition is one important factor generally overlooked in walking facility design guidelines. Particularly, individuals with disabilities are often ignored due to lack of available data on their pedestrian behaviors. A controlled, large-scaled walking experiment involving individuals with disabilities was conducted at Utah State University to observe individual pedestrian behaviors in various walking facilities; these facilities include passageway and bottleneck formations. The purpose of this report is twofold: (1) to model time headway between different individual types using …

14-04 Conditions That Influence Drivers' Yielding Behavior At Uncontrolled Crossings And Intersections With Traffic Signal Controls, Robert Wall Emerson, Eugene Bourquin, Dona Sauerburger, Janet Barlow

Transportation Research Center Reports

There is a dearth of studies on how pedestrian who are blind might positively influence driver yielding in different travel situations. This project assessed common pedestrian behaviors (head turning, holding a cane, taking a step, holding up a hand, exaggerated cane movement, standing without a cane) on yielding rate for right turning traffic at lighted intersections as well as at entry and exit lanes at roundabouts. Data replicated previous findings on yielding rates for displaying a cane (about 60%), holding up a hand (65% to 80%), or taking one step into the roadway (80% to 100%) and also showed that …

14-11 Travel In Adverse Winter Weather Conditions By Blind Pedestrians, Dae Shik Kim, Robert Wall Emerson, Dave Guth, Richard Long

Transportation Research Center Reports

Winter weather creates many orientation and mobility (O&M) challenges for people who are visually impaired. Getting the cane tip stuck is one of the noticeable challenges when traveling in snow, particularly when the walking surface is covered in deep snow. We compared four different cane tips: 1) metal glide, 2) marshmallow roller, 3) roller ball, and 4) bundu bahser. There was a statistically significant difference in frequency of sticking among the different cane tips. Post hoc analyses revealed that the sticking frequency for the metal glide tip was significantly higher than that for the roller ball tip, for the bundu …

14-10 Innovative Park-And-Ride Management For Livable Communities, Ziqi Song, Yi He

Transportation Research Center Reports

Park-and-ride (P&R) has been recognized as an effective way to tackle the challenge of the last-mile problem in public transportation, i.e., connecting transit stations to final destinations. Although the design and operations of P&R facilities have been extensively investigated, there is a pressing need for a theoretically sound methodology for planning and managing P&R facilities. It is critically important to investigate where P&R facilities should be strategically located and how often transit service should be provided such that the net social benefit can be maximized.

This project proposes an integrated planning methodology for locating P&R facilities and designing transit services …

14-09 Alternatives For Providing A Safe Passage For Non-Motorized Traffic Across An Existing Highway Bridge, U. B. Attanayake, L. A. Lopez

Transportation Research Center Reports

Non-motorized transportation increases mobility choices, relieves congestion, promotes local economy, reduces greenhouse gas emission, promotes a healthy lifestyle, and improves quality of life. Recently, there is an emphasis on developing integrated transportation systems with off-road shared use paths and on-road facilities. A majority of highway bridges that are located on the planned or existing non-motorized paths have become bottle-necks for non-motorized traffic. Therefore, there is a need to evaluate the bridges on non-motorized paths to identify safe passage alternatives to non-motorized traffic. The owner agencies need to have access to a methodological process to evaluate a site for the best …

14-01 Exploring The Equity Dimensions Of Us Bicycle Sharing Systems, C. Scott Smith, Jun-Seok Oh, Cheyenne Lei

Transportation Research Center Reports

Research over the past several decades has made it increasingly clear that livable communities are inextricably linked with the provision of opportunities for active and/or non-motorized transportation; i.e., walking, cycling and their variants. An emerging phenomena that is working within the broader movement of active transportation is public bicycle sharing systems (BSS). Such systems have grown considerably in the US in recent years and, in some cases, are dramatically changing the ecology of urban transport. Alongside celebrations of the early successes of US BSS, have been criticisms that these systems have not been adequately integrated into lower-income communities; a pattern …

Risk Assessment On Carriage Of Maritime Dangerous Goods In Packaged Form By Ship, Sifang Zeng

Maritime Safety & Environment Management Dissertations (Dalian)

No abstract provided.

Optimization Of Containership Speed Based On Operation And Environment Regulations, Changjiang Yu

Maritime Safety & Environment Management Dissertations (Dalian)

No abstract provided.

Role Of Soil Parameters On Loading Of Buried Structures, Xiao Zhang, Mark D. Bowman, Rafael R. Armendariz Briones

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Load rating is the process to evaluate and explore the structural capacity of bridges as much as possible within safety range. As a balance between economy and safety, proper load ratings save money and keep public safe. Knowing the contribution and interaction of each different soil parameter on the loading can significantly reduce the amount of work when load rating those structures. However, for buried structures without plans, such contribution or interaction is never known. This parametric study explores how much each soil parameter of three types of soils can affect the loading of buried structures without plans. An existing …

Influence Of Warping On Stress For Restrained Concrete Slabs: For Application To Crcp, Corey M. Beck, W. Jason Weiss, Nathan T. Todd

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Continuously-reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) is widely used in transportation system because of its low maintenance requirement. However, the need for large volumes of steel creates a high cost for new construction. The Illinois Tollway is preparing to substantially renovate highways in and around Chicago and this work seeks to understand how concretes of varying mixture designs can be made thinner by reducing the amount of built-in stress. The experiment examines warping in beams subjected to various degrees of restraint, in an effort to assess effectiveness at reducing warping in continuously reinforced concrete pavements. Value added methodologies such as internal curing …

Effect Of Thermal Loads On Substructures: New Trammel Creek Bridge On Ky-100 In Allen County, Kentucky, Zhihui Zhu, Michael T. Davidson, Issam E. Harik, Charlie Sun

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

When infrastructure is subjected to temperature changes, structural members that are either partially or fully restrained against motion can develop internal stresses. The phenomenon of temperature-induced internal stress development in superstructure members has prompted the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) to include provisions for determining superstructure temperature load effects. However, little consideration has been given to explicitly quantifying the effect that thermal stresses have on foundation systems such as intermediate bridge piers. The objective of this study is to instrument a multi-span integral abutment bridge with temperature and bridge response monitoring devices, and ultimately, to make …

2015 Safety Belt Usage Survey In Kentucky, Kenneth R. Agent, Eric R. Green, Michael A. Fields

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of the survey summarized in this report was to establish a statewide safety belt usage rate in Kentucky for 2015. This rate can be compared to those determined from previous surveys. The 2015 statewide survey documents the continued increase in usage associated with the change in the law to allow primary enforcement and related education and enforcement.

Evaluation Of The Safety Effectiveness Of Clearview Font And Fluorescent Yellow Sheeting On Michigan Freeways And Non-Freeways, Lusanni Mercedes Acosta Rodrieuez

Masters Theses

Halation or irradiation makes guide sign fonts difficult to read. Missing the necessary guide sign information causes anxiety and confusion to drivers, and hence may lead to crashes. In order to avoid or mitigate the situation a newer font, Clearview, is used to provide better readability at long distances. In a similar context the lack of brightness in sheeting material for warning signs reduces conspicuity of sings. Installation of fluorescent yellow sheeting has been done to provide signs with more noticeable and brighter materials. This observational before and after study is an evaluation of the safety and economic benefits of …

Spatial Database For Intersections, Eric R. Green, Christopher L. Blackden, Michael A. Fields

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Deciding which intersections in the state of Kentucky warrant safety improvements requires a comprehensive inventory with information on every intersection in the public roadway network. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) had previously catalogued only those intersections where state-maintained roadways met. However, this inventory did not account for intersections between state- and locally-maintained routes, nor was it designed to accommodate regular updates. As such, the Kentucky Transportation Center (KTC) at the University of Kentucky developed a methodology to create and maintain a full inventory of every intersection in the state. The database contains precise location information as well as several safety …

Synthesis Of Public-Private Partnerships: Potential Issues And Best Practices For Program And Project Implementation And Administration, Bryan Gibson, Candice Y. Wallace, Roy E. Sturgill

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Public-private partnerships (P3s or PPPs) offer an innovative procurement method for the public sector. P3s involve collaborations between the public and private sectors to finance, develop or maintain transportation infrastructure. In an era of shrinking budgets and increased demand for transportation infrastructure, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) can analyze experiences in other states to determine a best path forward on the issue of P3s. The objective of this study is to examine benefits and drawbacks of using P3s, current trends and past performance of P3s in the procurement of state transportation infrastructure projects, and common legislative statutes relating to P3s. …

A Gis-Based Expert Systems Predictive Habitat Model For Threatened And Endangered Species: Case Study Using Kentucky Arrow Darter, Benjamin L. Blandford, Michael Shouse, John Ripy

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This study presents a GIS-based predictive habitat suitability model for the Kentucky arrow darter (Etheostoma spilotum), a fish species of the upper Kentucky River basin that is a candidate for federal listing by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The model is based on previous work: the development of a similar predictive model for identifying the habitat of the blackside dace, a threatened minnow species of the upper Cumberland River basin in Southeastern Kentucky. The research describes a weighted, rules-based system which incorporates expert knowledge about habitat preferences for the arrow darter. For this model, five habitat factors …

Dynamic Characteristics And Seismic Response Analysis Of A Long-Span Steel-Box Basket-Handle Railway Arch Bridge, Xuhui He, Biao Wei, Yunfeng Zou, Dongyang Hu, Daniel G. Linzell

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

The inside oblique angle between the vertical plane and the arch rib has been shown to be one of the main factors influencing dynamic properties of long-span steel-box basket-handle arch bridges. Details related to the extent, that the inside oblique angle influenced the dynamic characteristics and the seismic response of the arch bridge under the combined longitudinal and vertical seismic excitation and under the combined lateral and vertical seismic excitation, were reported herein. Four oblique angles (0°, 3°, 4.8°, and 6°) were selected based on the arch ribs height and bridge deck width. Findings suggested that a larger inside oblique …

Evaluating The Use Of Crowdsourcing As A Data Collection Method For Bicycle Performance Measures And Identification Of Facility Improvement Needs, Miguel A. Figliozzi, Bryan Philip Blanc

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

This research developed a smartphone application called ORcycle to collect cyclists’ routes, users, and comfort levels. ORcycle combines GPS revealed route data collection with new questionnaires that try to elicit cyclists’ attitudes as well as comfort levels and factors that influence their perceived comfort and route choice. The new questionnaires were developed to better understand how cyclists’ comfort levels are affected by route characteristics, route stressors, safety reports, cyclists’ demographics, and cyclists’ cycling attitude. Preliminary results show that many trip characteristics, route choice factors, route stressors and demographic variables are correlated with comfort levels. ORcycle is the first statewide deployment …

Developed Pipe Bursting Specifications Using High Density Poly Ethylene (Hdpe), Manoj Mohanraj

Master of Technology Management Plan II Graduate Projects

Pipe bursting is a trenchless method for replacing old deteriorated or under sized pipe by fracturing or splitting. Earlier published pipe bursting specifications do not completely cover the current state of the art and without proper allocation of risks. Specifications are set of written instructions given by the owner to the contractor. The developed Pipe Bursting specification with HDPE will help the owners, contractor, and engineers to carry out a successful burst timely and economically. In this research study, sixteen specifications from various sources were collected. Various agreements and disagreements among these specifications were identified, analyzed, and considered while developing …

An Evaluation Of The Neighborhood Traffic Management Program Of Centennial, Colorado, Rolando Gabriel Melgoza

Civil and Environmental Engineering Master's Project Reports

Residential neighborhoods throughout the United States seek to maintain a quality of life where residents can live free of traffic factors adversely affecting their safety. Many communities have adopted a Neighborhood Traffic Management Program (NTMP) to address concerns over cut-through traffic, speeding, and safety. The City of Centennial, Colorado, incorporated in 2001, is a young city and has its own NTMP. Four traffic mitigation projects have been implemented. The objective of this research is to conduct a before and after comparison study of each Centennial NTMP project, to review the NTMP policies of American cities with similar suburban characteristics to …

Alkali Silica Reaction Mitigation Using High Volume Class C Fly Ash, William Joseph Phillips

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Alkali-Silica Reaction (ASR) is a neutralization reaction that occurs between an acid (silicic acid) and a basic pH pore solution (Calcium Oxide, Potassium Oxide, and Sodium Oxide). ASR causes deleterious expansion within concrete, which can cause durability issues decreasing the life span of concrete. ASR in concrete has been found in increasing quantities since its discovery in 1940 by Stanton. Several cases of ASR have occurred in Arkansas near Fayetteville, Pine Bluff, and Little Rock. The purpose of this research was to develop preventative measures using Class C fly ash in concrete, which contains the moderately reactive aggregates found in …

Design And Evaluation Of An Energy-Absorbing, Reusable Roadside/Median Barrier, Scott Rosenbaugh, Ronald K. Faller, Robert W. Bielenberg, James C. Holloway, Karla A. Lechtenberg, Jennifer D. Schmidt, John D. Reid, Justice E. Kohtz

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Preventive Maintenance Program For Bridges, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Jared Fairchild, Bobby W. Meade, Sudhir Palle

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s (KYTC) bridge inventory is rapidly aging. As such, the Cabinet needs to identify and implement relevant preventative maintenance (PM) actions to extend the useful service lives of those structures. Maintenance actions, costs, and application interval/repair durability information have been obtained for both cyclical and condition - based bridge PM. Additionally, information rehabilitation actions were acquired from a regional DOT survey and from other literature. As part of this study, the Kentucky Transportation Center (KTC) researchers monitored a KYTC bridge washing project to assess its level of effectiveness and to identify potential improvements. Based upon these tasks, …

A Modified Rank Ordered Logit Model To Analyze Injury Severity Of Occupants In Multi-Vehicle Crashes, Shelley Bogue

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Research on methodological approaches to model injury severity has become important in order to prevent crash fatalities. Roadways have always been dangerous, with significant congestion and uncontrollable variables, such as weather, coupled with road users' decisions including seat belt and alcohol/drug use. These decisions can influence the severity of injuries sustained by vehicle occupants in the event of a crash. Few studies have examined the potential impacts of comprehensive roadway user injury severity profiles of all occupants ( drivers as well as passengers) in all vehicles involved in a crash. The focus of past studies has been on examining the …

Kirby, Leonard Tarrant, 1760-1842 - Relating To (Sc 2907), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid and scan (Click on "Additional Files" below) for Manuscripts Small Collection 2905. Typescripted letter to the editor of the Bowling Green (Kentucky) Democrat, 16 January 1873, from “Allen,” relating the memories of Len Kirby of Allen Springs regarding early Bowling Green, the railroad, and travel between Bowling Green and Scottsville, Kentucky.

Jurisdictional Roadside Ditches, Sarah M. Mccormack, Christopher W. Van Dyke, Doug Kreis

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA) mandates that state agencies and other entities perform compensatory mitigation when their activities impair jurisdictional waters. In the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) is required to pay in-lieu fees or purchase stream mitigation credits when a roadside ditch is impaired or relocated as part of a road construction project. In-lieu fees and stream mitigation credits are costly, and ditches that have suffered degraded habitat and loss of hydrogeomorphic functionality are treated as total losses when they are impacted by construction and maintenance activities. This raises the question of whether …