Striping Program

The use of wider (greater than 4 in) edge line pavement markings is recognized as a proven safety countermeasure by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). However, providing wider edge lines can pose challenges due to budget and striping capacity constraints. One strategy that could be used to address the capacity constraints involves reducing the amount of striping performed on low volume roads. The objective of this research study is to synthesize existing research and Department of Transportation (DOT) practices regarding the use of wider edge line markings on all roads and the use of pavement markings of any width on low volume roads to facilitate the evaluation of tradeoffs between different pavement marking strategies. The research methodology to meet these objectives includes a literature review (e.g., research studies and DOT guidance and standards) and DOT interviews. Results from the literature review indicate crash reductions for wider pavement markings ranging from 7 percent to 30 percent (total crashes) and from 14 percent to 51 percent (fatal and injury crashes) and benefit-cost ratios ranging from 24:1 to 55:1. Regarding prevalence of wider pavement markings, most state DOTs use 6-in markings (or, in some cases, 5-in markings) to some extent. Previous research studies on the use of pavement markings on low volume or narrow roads have shown mixed results. The literature review identified 12 state DOTs with state-specific warrants for center line or edge line markings on low volume roads. Implementation challenges noted by DOTs during the interviews include communication, budget and capacity constraints, and equipment needs. Overall, the research findings indicate that increased use of wider pavement markings and reductions in the use of pavement markings on lower volume roads is a viable strategy that can be explored further for implementation.

• Record URL:
  • https://hdl.handle.net/10355/103001
• Record URL:
  • https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/76743
• Summary URL:
  • https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/76746
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Report date June 2024, published July 2024.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Missouri, Columbia

  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
  Columbia, MO  United States  65211-2200

  Missouri Department of Transportation

  Construction and Materials Division
  Jefferson City, MO  United States  65102

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Brown, Henry
  • 0000-0003-1473-901X
  • Edara, Praveen
  • 0000-0003-2707-642X
  • Qing, Zhu
  • 0000-0002-3219-6971
  • Potts, Ingrid
  • 0000-0003-1766-3604
• Publication Date: 2024-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 77p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Benefit cost analysis; Crash rates; Low volume roads; Road markings; Striping; Width
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Pavements; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01928585
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: cmr 24-008
• Contract Numbers: TR202402
• Files: NTL, TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Aug 23 2024 4:54PM