Designing Highways to Be More Likable

This paper describes how design, planning and pricing should all be used to improve highway travel. Traffic congestion can best be remedied by managed lanes. The author argues that roads should be funded with money that users pay directly for service rather than through the conventional tax-and-grant system. When customers are prepared to pay tolls sufficient to fund extra capacity, it is economically efficient to provide it. Highway design features such as elevated expressways and better use of rights of way can also reduce congestion and make highway travel more tolerable. Mixed-use highways, designed for all types of vehicles, have constrained the ability to add needed capacity to the urban expressway. Separating car and truck traffic would offer many benefits, including allowing car-only parkways to be built with narrower lanes and lower overhead clearance. These parkways would also make for a more pleasant and safer trip.

• Authors:
  • Samuel, Peter
• Publication Date: 2007

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; Photos; References;
• Pagination: pp 85-103
• Serial:
  • Tollways
  • Volume: 4
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Financing; Highway design; Highway planning; Highways; Managed lanes; Parkways; Road pricing; Toll roads; Traffic congestion
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; I21: Planning of Transport Infrastructure; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01088729
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 25 2008 2:35PM