Innovative Work Zone Traffic Control and Technology - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Innovative Work Zone Traffic Control and Technology

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1-2 mph reduction in car speeds. 3-4 mph reduction in truck speeds. Not reusable ... A number of tools are available to improve work zone safety and operations ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Innovative Work Zone Traffic Control and Technology


1
Innovative Work Zone Traffic Control and
Technology
  • Mike Fontaine
  • Virginia Transportation Research Council
  • Making Work Zones Work Better Workshop

2
Work Zone Problems
  • Capacity reduction
  • Increased queuing
  • Delays
  • Safety
  • Crash rate increases 7 to 119 percent
  • Rear end crashes most common
  • Speeding is often a factor

3
Objective
  • Describe techniques that could improve safety
    and/or operations in work zones
  • DOT controlled
  • Portable
  • Cost effective

4
Devices Covered
  • Worker garments
  • Rumble strips
  • Radar drones
  • Speed displays
  • Late merge

5
Worker Garments
  • Potential camouflage problem
  • Evaluated 5 garments
  • Field testing inconclusive

6
Worker Garment Evaluation
  • Luminance (brightness)
  • Contrast ratio
  • Concrete
  • Asphalt
  • Vegetation
  • Equipment
  • Orange TCDs

7
Garment Assessment
  • Solid fabric garments performed best
  • Highest luminance
  • Best contrast against variety of backgrounds
  • Concerns about comfort in Texas
  • Proposed TxDOT vest was the best of the mesh
    vests
  • Does not meet new ANSI standard

8
TxDOT Vest Before After
9
Temporary Rumble Strips
  • Reduce speeds
  • Increase driver awareness

10
Temporary Rumble Strips
  • ¼ inch thick neoprene strips
  • 4 inches wide
  • Adhesive backed
  • 2 sets of 6 strips installed on work zone
    approaches
  • 18-inch spacings

11
Rumble Strips Results
  • Evaluated at 2 sites
  • 1-2 mph reduction in car speeds
  • 3-4 mph reduction in truck speeds
  • Not reusable
  • Lengthy installation time (40 minutes)
  • Noise concerns

12
Radar Drone
  • Emits K band radar signal
  • Intended to simulate enforcement
  • 1 mile range
  • Approx. 400

13
Radar Drone Results
  • Evaluated at 3 sites
  • 2 mph speed reduction
  • Easy to use
  • Effectiveness may decline over time

14
Speed Display
  • Provides motorist feedback on speeds
  • Radar drone effect
  • 10,000

15
Speed Display Features
  • 24-inch LED display
  • Strobe alert
  • Worker alert siren
  • Battery powered

16
Speed Display Results
  • Evaluated at 4 sites
  • 5 mph reduction in average speeds
  • 10-30 reduction in number of vehicles exceeding
    speed limit
  • Easy to set-up and remove

17
Changeable Message Signs with Radar
  • Message only displayed to speeders
  • 5 mph reduction maintained for 4 months

18
Lane Closure Issues
  • Problems stemming from lane closures
  • Reduced capacity
  • Increased travel times
  • Increased driver frustration
  • Aggressive driving and queue jumping

19
The Late Merge Concept
  • Late merge
  • Utilize all approach lanes to merge point
  • Shorter queues
  • Possible improved throughput
  • More equitable distribution of delay

20
Late Merge Applications
  • Pennsylvania
  • First deployments
  • Wide deployment on freeways
  • Texas
  • Tests in Dallas/Fort Worth
  • Freeways
  • Virginia
  • Tests on primary roads

21
Late Merge
22
Pennsylvania Late Merge
23
Pennsylvania Late Merge
24
Virginia Late Merge
25
Virginia Late Merge
26
Late Merge
  • Benefits
  • Up to 15 increase in throughput
  • 75 fewer forced merges
  • 30 reduction in lane straddles
  • Reduced queue length
  • Potential Limits
  • Approach taper at high speeds under low volumes
  • Driver understanding
  • Use on roads with gt 2 lanes

27
Summary
  • A number of tools are available to improve work
    zone safety and operations
  • Improved worker visibility
  • Reduced speeds
  • Increased flow

28
Questions?
  • Mike Fontaine
  • Michael.Fontaine_at_VirginiaDOT.org
  • (434) 293-1909
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