Cost-benefit analysis of temporary hard shoulder running in Austria

The national Austrian motorway operator Asfinag is considering installing temporary shoulder lane usage on a motorway as already done in the Netherlands, Germany and the UK. This paper presents the methodology and results of a recent cost-benefit study for a two-lane motorway including two interchanges and two exits/entrances. The cost of reinforcement of shoulders, widening ramp ingress and egress, setting up emergency refugee areas, extending the existing dynamic speed control system and installing a surveillance system is being compared with the benefit of improving the service level and its impact on safety. The benefit is justified by decreasing travel times, improving traffic flow reliability and reducing traffic emissions. Numerical analysis of microscopic traffic flow simulation indicate that the cost of temporary shoulder running can be justified if current volumes will increase by 5% to 25% during peak periods. Forecasts on the safety impact rely on observed data at German motorways with marginal decrease of accident rates due to speed harmonization as speeds will be reduced from 130 km/h to 100 km/h. The shoulder lane use has to be extended through interchanges as congestion will build up. Otherwise only the origin of bottlenecks will move. While these figures are site dependent, the general approach and methodology is transferrable.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://www.piarc.org/en/order-library/13949-en-Proceedings%20of%20the%20XXIVth%20World%20Road%20Congress,%20Mexico%20-%202011.htm
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission of the World Road Association – PIARC.
• Corporate Authors:

  World Road Association (PIARC)

  La Grande Arche, Paroi Nord, Niveau 5
  F-92055 La Defense Cedex,   France 
• Authors:
  • Fellendorf, M
  • Graf, A
  • Lautner, B
• Conference:
  • 24th World Road Congress
  • Location: Mexico City , Mexico
  • Date: 2011-9-26 to 2011-9-30
• Publication Date: 2011

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 15p
• Monograph Title: 24th World Road Congress Proceedings: Roads for a Better Life: Mobility, Sustainability and Development

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automatic speed control; Benefit cost analysis; Freeways; Lane distribution; Microscopic traffic flow; Paved shoulders
• Uncontrolled Terms: Lane widening
• Geographic Terms: Austria
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01502350
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 2840602679
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 23 2013 11:06AM