KDOT Traffic Engineering Outline

1	Signs, Signals & Speed Limits: Answering the most common questions about Traffic Engineering Kansas Department of Transportation January 2004
2	Traffic Engineering is… Signing Traffic control Corridor Management/Access
3	"Signing" Signing
4	Common Signing Questions: What’s the process for getting a sign for a business or attraction? What’s required to get a blue logo sign installed or to add a logo to it? Why are some attractions that are approved, unable to get a sign? How do you determine which cities get added to the green destination signs?
5	Traffic Engineering Guide Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) National standard for all traffic control devices Helps guide many of KDOT’s Traffic Engineering decisions
6	Types of Signs: Regulatory- Warning- Guidance- Supplemental Guide Signs
7	Supplemental Guide Signs Traffic generators (Standard and Supplemental Guide) General motorist services
8	Supplemental Guide Signs Specific service signs (logos) Cultural, Historical and Recreational (Travel & Tourism)
9	Commemorative Signs Prefer to install plaques orsigns in rest areas Allows for more information No distraction for drivers National standard set by MUTCD which KDOT follows If on highway, one sign placed at each end of the designated section Only one designation per section Nat’l/Int’l Championships signed
10	Destination Signs Point toward major traffic generators Installed prior to highway/highway junctions
11	“Control Cities” On Interstate: Established by American Association of State Highways & Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Control Cities on I-70: Denver, Limon, Hays, Salina, Topeka, Kansas City, Columbia Used on guide, distance & destination signs on Interstate
12	Distance Signs Top Line – Next incorporated city or highway junction on or abutting the route Middle Line – Intermediate city or highway junction Bottom Line – Next major traffic generator or “control city” (on Interstate)
13	Tourism Signing
14	Tourism Signing Application submitted to: Department of Commerce, Division of Travel & Tourism Travel & Tourism Reviews applications Sends letter approving or denying sign request KDOT Quarterly meetings & field reviews with Travel & Tourism Design, make & install signs at no cost to attraction Occasionally, limited space or too manyexisting signs means even with approval, attraction signs cannot be provided
15	Logo Signing Allowed on Interstates and Kansas Freeways Must have at least two qualified businesses to install a sign $1,550 per year for two mainline and two ramp signs
16	Traffic Control
17	Common Traffic Control Questions Do you have a way to keep an eye on stretches of road or intersections so that spots that seem to have a lot of crashes can be addressed? How do you set speed limits? How do you determine which intersections need traffic signals?
18	Traffic Control Road Safety Audits Speed limits Traffic signals Safety projects Pavement markings Lighting
19	Road Safety Audits County-wide traffic study of all state routes Done on 3 to 5 year cycle Enhances safety of state highway system Promotes consistency across state
20	Audits Include: Speed limits Traffic signals School crossings Intersection safety & signing Roadway signing Sight distance Crash reviews
21	Speed Limits Gather actual speed data Aiming for “voluntary compliance” Goal is to have 85 percent of drivers obeying the law Consistent with other states Deviations can create problems
22	Traffic Signals Guided by warrants in MUTCD Warrants: minimum thresholds to consider a signal Examine: Traffic volumes Right turn volumes Crashes Pedestrian/school crossings Population Speed Number of lanes
23	Traffic Signals Advantages: Improve safety Improve congestion Increase capacity Interrupt heavy traffic to permit cross traffic Possible disadvantages: Decrease safety Worsen congestion Decrease capacity Increase delay Cause people to use other routes Expensive toinstall & maintain
24	Safety Projects Federal-aid Safety Program Cities with population >5000 Every other year we ask cities to submit high crash intersections Locations & projects are selected Typically small projects Signals, left turn lanes, roundabouts
25	Benefits $24.5 million spent on 124 intersections Average of $193,000 per intersection $27 million per year benefit due to fewer crashes Crashes down 51% (4220 to 2064) Injury/Fatal crashes down 61% (1407 to 546) Over 20 years: estimate nearly $547 million saved
26	Access Management
27	Common Access Questions How do you determine where to allow new driveways? Why can’t every business have directaccess to a highway? Why do you restrict some driveways to right-in, right-out traffic only? Why do you purchase extra right-of-way for a project?
28	Access Management System for location, spacing, design and operation of driveways, median openings, interchanges and street connections to roadways Also involves design applications: median treatments, auxiliary lanes, appropriate traffic signal spacing
29	Pipe Theory
30	Pipe Theory
31	Why Access Management: Addresses capacity issues that could decrease life of roadway Balance public safety & business access Motorists face fewer decision points, traffic conflicts & delays
32	Conflict Points
33	Access Points vs. Crash Rate
34	Travel Time vs. Signal Density
35	Access Permits An access permit is needed when: Construction of a new driveway or entrance point When any work within the right-of-way takes place Change in land use
36	Corridor Management Gets KDOT & local partners out in front to help prevent access issues KDOT identifies corridors Work together to develop Master Plan Projects: Advance purchase of right-of-way Construction of reverse frontage roads Construction of raised non-traversable medians
37	Information Available Speed limits Traffic signals Two-way left turn lanes Pedestrian signals Roundabouts Road safety audits Flashing beacons Courteous driving Pavement markings Lighting Four-way stops Traffic signal phasing & timing School Crossing Guard training Funding for school signing Traffic studies Traffic engineering school
38	Any More Questions? We’re here to help: KDOT Bureau of Traffic Engineering David Church, Bureau Chief (785) 296-3618 E-mail: church@ksdot.org