SOME FINDINGS AND OPINIONS GOVERNING CONTINUOUS 2-WAY LEFT-TURN MEDIAN LANES

The local and provincial/state highway and traffic agencies in Canada and the United States were surveyed to determine the extents to which continuous two-way left turn median lanes (C2WLTML'S) are employed, and how the various user agencies feel about them. A total of 71 useful responses were returned, 23 from Canada and 48 from the USA. The paper presents user comments and quantitative data describing and summarizing the characteristics of 152 locations where C2WLTML'S are currently used. These data include ranges and averages for factors such as: speed limits; lengths of stretches of C2WLTML, and numbers of intersections, traffic signals and driveways contained in each; widths of the median lane and roadway; costs of implementation; traffic volumes; operating speeds; delays; congestion; and accidents. The results of the survey show that C2WLTML'S are used widely on high volume roads to reduce delays and accidents caused by left turns to and from driveways. Highway agencies are overwhelmingly in favour of their use. A number of tentative suggestions for the use of C2WLTML'S are suggested in the paper. (TRRL)

• Corporate Authors:

  Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE)

  Washington, DC  United States 
• Authors:
  • Yagar, S
• Publication Date: 1983

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 18 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Conferences; Costs; Crashes; Intersections; Medians; Opposing traffic; Safety; Speed limits; Traffic control; Traffic delays; Traffic lanes; Traffic safety; Traffic signals; Traffic speed; Traffic volume; Turning traffic; Volume; Width
• Geographic Terms: Canada; United States
• Old TRIS Terms: Continuous 2-way left turn median lanes
• ITRD Terms: 1643: Accident; 8018: Canada; 2914: Central reserve; 8525: Conference; 9010: Delay; 455: Junction; 615: Meeting traffic; 624: Speed limit; 654: Traffic control; 2827: Traffic lane; 565: Traffic signal; 1836: Turning; 8122: USA; 6468: Volume
• Subject Areas: Finance; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Safety and Human Factors; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00378973
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transportation Association of Canada (TAC)
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 30 1983 12:00AM