Simple Model of Forward Visibility for Snowplow Operators Through Snow and Fog at Night

1997 ◽  
Vol 1585 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Bullough ◽  
Mark S. Rea
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
New York State ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Line Of Sight ◽  
York State Department ◽  
Light Sources ◽  
Department Of Transportation ◽  
Narrow Beam ◽  
York State ◽  
Beam Type

Backscattered light reflected from falling snow, rain, and fog impairs visibility and can hinder performance of snowplow operators. New York State Department of Transportation snowplow operators cite backscattered glare as an important problem, and many drivers use their own “solutions” to counteract it. A literature review yielded two important conclusions: backscattered light from a lamp in fog and falling snow is reduced, and visibility is improved ( a) as the lamp is moved away from the operator’s line of sight and ( b) with a narrow-beam lamp. Field tests of lighting configurations during inclement weather were conducted to determine the effects of beam type and displacement from the operator’s line of sight on visibility, glare, and satisfaction. On the basis of these data and the literature, a simple mathematical model was developed that predicts the forward-visibility ratings of snowplow operators. This model can be used to guide specifiers in selecting light sources and mounting locations for snowplow operations.

Estimating Average Automobile Occupancy from Accident Data in New York State

1996 ◽  
Vol 1553 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-123
Author(s):  
Seth A. Asante ◽  
Louis H. Adams ◽  
John J. Shufon ◽  
Joseph P. McClean
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
New York State ◽  
Congestion Management ◽  
Time Of Day ◽  
System Level ◽  
York State Department ◽  
Department Of Transportation ◽  
York State ◽  
Accident Data ◽  
Occupancy Rates

Average automobile occupancy (AAO) data are valuable input to congestion management systems (CMS). Continuous field collection of these data at the system level has been lacking because of high costs associated with current data collection methodology. It is shown how the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) has built upon prior research by the Connecticut Department of Transportation, which uses traffic accident data to calculate estimates of vehicle occupancy, and has tailored the process to meet NYSDOT's CMS needs. Accident data covering a 3-year period are used to estimate AAOs by county, year of occurrence, month of year, day of week, and time-of-day intervals. Occupancy rates are calculated to be lowest during the morning peak traffic period and highest during the evening period between 6:00 and 11:00 p.m. Occupancy rates are highest for summer months and lowest for winter months. Occupancy rates are highest for the weekends and lowest for weekdays. Accident-based AAOs are compared to multiple-station roadside-observed AAOs. Adjustment factors are developed to convert the former to be comparable to the latter. It is concluded that using accident data to estimate AAO is a viable and economical approach to continuous monitoring of system-level AAO performance. NYSDOT is currently using accident-based AAO data as an integral part of its CMS.

Electronic Permitting Issuance System for Oversize/Overweight Vehicles

1998 ◽  
Vol 1643 (1) ◽  
pp. 143-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda K. Nozick ◽  
Mark A. Turnquist ◽  
George F. List
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
New York State ◽  
Electronic System ◽  
Geographical Information ◽  
Level Of Service ◽  
York State Department ◽  
Department Of Transportation ◽  
York State ◽  
Construction Companies ◽  
Data Checking

The effort reported here focuses both on improving the efficiency of the special hauling permitting processes of the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and on improving the level of service offered to NYSDOT’s customers—truckers, construction companies, and others applying for permits. The electronic system is designed to replace a largely manual system of data checking, route verification, and permit issuance. By linking personal computers at transmission companies (third parties that prepare and submit permit applications for truckers) directly to computers at NYSDOT, and equipping these computers with automated route verification capability using a geographical information system, improved service can be offered at reduced cost to the state.

Evaluation of Centerline Audible Roadway Delineators (CARDs) in New York State

2020 ◽  
pp. 036119812097269
Author(s):  
Robert Zitowsky
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
New York State ◽  
Control Group ◽  
York State Department ◽  
Department Of Transportation ◽  
York State ◽  
Run Off ◽  
Fatal Crashes ◽  
Crash Modification Factors ◽  
Dutchess County

This study evaluated the safety effectiveness of the systemic implementation of centerline rumble strips on New York State-owned roads. In New York State, rumble strips installed on the centerline are referred to as centerline audible roadway delineators (CARDs). The effect of CARDs on head-on sideswipe (HO/SS), run-off-road (ROR), injury crashes, and fatal crashes was analyzed. This was an observational, naïve before–after with comparison group study. The treatment group included all segments where CARDs were installed in 2013, 2014, and 2015 in New York State Department of Transportation Regions 1 and 4, and Dutchess County in Region 8. Eligible segments without CARDs in those regions constituted the control group. The crashes comprised 2009 to 2017 HO/SS and ROR fatal, all injury, and property damage only crashes. The study showed that CARDs are an effective treatment to reduce ROR and HO/SS crashes. There was a decrease of 24 ROR and 9 HO/SS crashes on CARDs segments installed in 2013, a decrease of 12 ROR and 27 HO/SS crashes on CARDs segments installed in 2014, and a decrease of 40 ROR and 35 HO/SS crashes on CARDs segments installed in 2015. Crash modification factors (CMFs) developed for CARDs included ROR crashes (a CMF of 0.774 [expected reduction of 22.6%] in all ROR crashes); HO/SS crashes (a CMF of 0.623 [expected reduction of 37.7%] in HO/SS total crashes); and HO/SS injury crashes (a CMF of 0.572 [expected reduction of 42.8%] in injury HO/SS crashes).

Evaluation of High-Occupancy-Vehicle Lanes on Long Island Expressway

1996 ◽  
Vol 1554 (1) ◽  
pp. 110-120
Author(s):  
Wayne Ugolik ◽  
Nancy O'Connell ◽  
Jerome S. Gluck ◽  
Atma Sookram
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Long Island ◽  
New York State ◽  
Monitoring Program ◽  
State Department ◽  
York State Department ◽  
Department Of Transportation ◽  
York State ◽  
Hov Lanes

New York State's first suburban high-occupancy-vehicle (HOV) lanes were opened in May 1994 along a 19.3-km (12-mi) stretch of the Long Island Expressway (LIE), I-495 in western Suffolk County, a major suburb of metropolitan New York City. As with some other HOV facilities across the country, the implementation of HOV lanes on Long Island remains controversial. Nevertheless, HOV lanes continue to have an important role in subsequent plans to manage congestion on the LIE. In May 1991 the New York State Department of Transportation formed the LIE/HOV task force to provide advisory opinions on key HOV issues. The task force, comprising private-sector and government representatives, recommended among its numerous findings that the New York State Department of Transportation establish a comprehensive HOV monitoring program to provide up-to-date information to the media and concerned citizens, as well as help fine-tune operational and marketing elements associated with HOV lane usage and to provide firsthand information and guidance for the subsequent development of HOV lanes on the LIE and in the region. The department, in conjunction with consultant services, instituted a monitoring program that involved surveys and focus groups and periodic compilation of relevant HOV data. The first stage of that ongoing evaluation process is reported. A finding of note is that the HOV lanes have encouraged new ridesharing. Also, both HOV users and nonusers support extending the HOV lanes on the LIE.

scholarly journals Comparing Approaches to Winter Highway Maintenance Operations Through User Mobility Performance

2011 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Claude Thill ◽  
Hai Sun
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
New York State ◽  
York State Department ◽  
User Mobility ◽  
Department Of Transportation ◽  
Speed Reduction ◽  
Winter Maintenance ◽  
York State ◽  
Mobility Performance ◽  
Early Stages

This paper compares the winter maintenance performances of sections of two limited access highways operated by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and the New York State Thruway Authority (NYSTA). Performance is assessed by two user mobility indicators: speed reduction during snowstorms and speed recovery duration following the end of snow events. Multivariate linear regressions are estimated to model these mobility indicators. The results show major discrepancies in level of service between the two agencies, particularly in the early stages of snowstorms. Another result is that speed recovery is indistinguishable in the hour following the end of snow events. It also found that NYSTA's higher outlay of resources appears to be effective only during short storms and in the early stages of storms.

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