OPERATIONAL EFFECTS OF GEOMETRIC DESIGN AT FREEWAY LANE DROPS (ABRIDGMENT)

Traffic operations at freeway lane drops suffer when geometric design or traffic control devices provide insufficient or misleading information to drivers. This paper discusses the nature of traffic operation problems at freeway lane drop locations and presents eight design principles that should be considered when a lane drop is constructed or updated. These principles include recommendations for planning visibility, location, taper and escape lane characteristics, and traffic control device requirements. A before and after study conducted at a lane drop site in metropolitan Los Angeles illustrates a method for using the design principles to evaluate the effectiveness of a change in traffic control devices at the site.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1975/541/541-003.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=OPERATIONAL+EFFECTS+OF+GEOMETRIC+DESIGN+AT+FREEWAY+LANE+DROPS+(ABRIDGMENT)&author=D.+Goodwin&publication_year=1975
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03611981
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Operational Effects of Geometrics. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • Goodwin, Diane Nelson
• Conference:
  • 54th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia
  • Date: 1975-1-13 to 1975-1-17
• Publication Date: 1975

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: pp 26-30
• Monograph Title: Effect of roadway geometrics on traffic operations
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 541
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Before and after studies; Driver information systems; Escape lanes; Freeways; Geometric design; Highway design; Highway operations; Lane drops; Problem drivers; Reckless drivers; Traffic; Traffic control devices
• Old TRIS Terms: Erratic driving behavior; Freeway design
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00127147
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309023947
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Jan 14 1976 12:00AM