scholarly journals Enhanced Traffic Control Devices at Passive Highway-Railroad Grade Crossings

1998 ◽  
Vol 1648 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
David A. Noyce ◽  
Daniel B. Fambro
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Control ◽  
Warning Sign ◽  
Observation Study ◽  
Strobe Light ◽  
Sign System ◽  
Grade Crossing ◽  
Control Devices ◽  
Traffic Control Devices ◽  
Grade Crossings ◽  
Driver Error

More than 2,000 crashes and 239 fatalities were reported at public passive highway-railroad grade crossings in 1994. Driver error, often due to a breakdown in communication between traffic control devices and the driver, is commonly cited as a factor in passive grade crossing crashes. The objective of this study was to evaluate an improved method for communicating with drivers in an effort to improve safety at passive grade crossings. Specifically, this study evaluated the effectiveness of a vehicle-activated strobe light and supplemental sign as enhancements to the railroad advance (W10-1) warning sign at a passive highway-railroad grade crossing near Temple, Texas. Three study methods were used to evaluate this enhanced sign system including a before and after speed study, a driver survey, and a driver observation study. The results indicated that average speeds on the approaches to the grade crossing were lower after the installation of the enhanced sign system. Drivers responded favorably to the enhanced sign system, and no adverse driver reactions were observed at the onset of the flashing strobe light. The strobe light was effective in directing drivers’ attention to the railroad advance warning and supplemental signs. The enhanced sign system appears to increase driver awareness of the passive grade crossing, cause some drivers to approach the grade crossing with additional caution, and reduce the average speed near the nonrecovery zone on both approaches.

Preliminary Analysis of Light Rail Crashes in Denver, Colorado

2012 ◽  
Vol 2275 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pamela M. Fischhaber ◽  
Bruce N. Janson
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Control ◽  
Preliminary Analysis ◽  
Prediction Models ◽  
Hazard Index ◽  
Traffic Signals ◽  
Control Device ◽  
Light Rail ◽  
Crash Prediction ◽  
Grade Crossing ◽  
Grade Crossings

This paper presents a preliminary analysis of light rail crashes at at-grade crossings in Denver, Colorado, based on Regional Transportation District data for 1999 through 2009. Differences in design and operation of at-grade crossings are discussed for light rail versus common carrier railroad (railroad). The differences appear to warrant the development of separate crash prediction and hazard index models because models developed for railroad at-grade crossing operations may not accurately predict the number and severity of crashes at light rail at-grade crossings. In addition, the models developed for railroads do not predict crashes at crossings for some traffic control device types such as traffic signals. The lack of information for crossings controlled by traffic signals in the railroad crash prediction equations is one reason why equations specific to light rail may need to be developed. This study identifies patterns in light rail crossing crash data that warrant further investigation and support the development of crash prediction models and hazard index equations specific to light rail at-grade crossing configurations and operations.

Work Zone Traffic Accidents Involving Traffic Control Devices, Safety Features, and Construction Operations

1998 ◽  
Vol 1650 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
James E. Bryden ◽  
Laurel B. Andrew ◽  
Jan S. Fortuniewicz
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Traffic Control ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Traffic Accidents ◽  
New York State ◽  
Work Zone ◽  
York State Department ◽  
Control Devices ◽  
Traffic Control Devices ◽  
Safety Features

There were 496 work zone traffic accidents on New York State Department of Transportation construction projects from 1994 through 1996. These accidents involved impacts with work zone traffic control devices and safety features; construction features, such as pavement bumps and joints; drainage features; excavations and materials; and construction vehicles, equipment, and workers. These items, which include all of the features introduced into the roadway environment by construction activity, represent one-third of all work zone accidents and 37 percent of those involving serious injury. Channelizing devices, arrow panels, signs, and other traffic control devices generally resulted in little harm when impacted. Impact attenuators, both fixed and truck mounted, also performed well. Although portable concrete barriers prevent vehicle intrusions, impacts with barrier are severe events. Barriers must be properly designed and limited to only those locations where they are needed to protect more serious hazards. Construction vehicles, equipment, and workers were involved in over 20 percent of all work zone accidents, resulting in serious injuries. Although intrusions by private vehicles into work spaces are a serious concern, construction vehicles, equipment, and workers in open travel lanes are also a serious concern. Good design of work zone traffic control plans, combined with adequate training and supervision of workers, is essential to control both concerns.

Modeling the Risk of Wrong-Way Driving Entry at the Exit Ramp Terminals of Full Diamond Interchanges

2018 ◽  
Vol 2672 (17) ◽  
pp. 35-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md Atiquzzaman ◽  
Huaguo Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Control ◽  
Initial Point ◽  
Geometric Design ◽  
Design Features ◽  
Entry Points ◽  
Control Devices ◽  
Traffic Control Devices ◽  
Diamond Interchanges ◽  
Transportation Agencies ◽  
Exit Ramp

Wrong-way driving (WWD) crashes are a critical safety issue on freeways. Although these crashes are rare and random in nature, they often result in severe injuries and/or fatalities. Typically, exit ramp terminals are the initial point of entry for wrong-way (WW) drivers on freeways. Therefore, it is important for transportation agencies to identify the exit ramp terminals with higher possibility of WW entries and apply safety countermeasures to reduce the chances of their occurrence. However, the random nature of WWD crashes and the difficulty in identifying the actual entry points makes it hard for transportation agencies to assess the risk of WWD at a particular exit ramp terminal and apply countermeasures accordingly. This study developed mathematical models for predicting the risk of WW entries at the exit ramp terminals of full diamond interchanges. The geometric design features, usage of traffic control devices, area type where the interchanges are located, and annual average daily traffic (AADT) at the exit ramp terminals with or without history of WWD were used as potential predictors of WW entry. Transportation agencies can use these models to assess the risk of WW entries at the exit ramp terminals within their jurisdictions and consider possible countermeasures. They also can be applied during the design phase to determine the combination of geometric design features and traffic control devices that ensures the least possibility of WW entry.

Functional tests of the ETCS and rail traffic control systems

2021 ◽  
Vol 133 ◽  
pp. 15-26
Author(s):  
Paweł Drózd ◽  
Adam Rosiński
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Control ◽  
Functional Model ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Base Layer ◽  
Initial State ◽  
Railway Traffic ◽  
Control Devices ◽  
Traffic Control Devices ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Impact

The paper presents the issues of railway traffic control devices testing and focuses on European Train Control System (ETCS) devices widely implemented in railways. The functions of the ETCS system, principles of operation are described. The basic telegrams transmitted in the track-to-train relation are listed. The process of designing and verifying the implemented data and what parameters are checked at the stage of field tests using the locomotive is briefly described. The functional model of the SRK devices, including ETCS elements, was presented, and the close relationship between the base layer of the railway traffic control devices and the ETCS was shown. Equipment testing reduces the availability of the rail network, engages staff, and generates costs. A test generation method is presented to minimize the impact. Two indicators are proposed for reducing the set of checks, the cost of checking and the information effectiveness. The cost of checking due to the problematic estimate is generalized, divided into three groups taking into account the difficulty and resource consumption of bringing the devices to the initial state and their operation according to the test. Therefore, the obtained set of checks is suboptimal and ensures complete coverage of the functions with tests, which is essential when testing devices. The tests are carried out using available setting commands and the implementation of tasks - entry and exit routes at the station. The proposed method is universal and can be applied to any railway traffic control device, regardless of the manufacturing technology. It is a non-invasive method in the structure of the tested devices and does not require additional hardware resources.

Developing and Implementing Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices Criteria for Selecting Traffic Control for Unsignalized Intersections

2019 ◽  
Vol 2673 (11) ◽  
pp. 319-331
Author(s):  
H. Gene Hawkins ◽  
Kay Fitzpatrick ◽  
Marcus A. Brewer
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Control ◽  
Traffic Engineering ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Research Team ◽  
Right Of Way ◽  
Unsignalized Intersections ◽  
Control Devices ◽  
Traffic Control Devices ◽  
Urban Conditions ◽  
Selection Of

The 2009 United States Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) includes guidance for the use of various types of traffic control at unsignalized intersections. Despite changes and advances in traffic engineering in recent decades, the MUTCD content related to selection of traffic control in Part 2B has seen only minor changes since 1971. The types of unsignalized traffic control addressed in the current research included no control, yield control, two-way stop control, and all-way stop control. The research team developed recommendations using information available from reviews of existing literature, policies, guidelines, and findings from an economic analysis along with the engineering judgment of the research team and panel. The researchers then developed recommended language for the next edition of the MUTCD for unsignalized intersections. This includes consideration of high-speed (rural) and low-speed (urban) conditions along with the number of legs at the intersection. Because the number of expected crashes at an intersection is a function of the number of legs, the decision on appropriate traffic control should also be sensitive to the number of legs present. The proposed language includes introductory general considerations, discusses alternatives to changing right-of-way control, and steps through the various forms of unsignalized control from least restrictive to most restrictive, beginning with no control and concluding with all-way stop control.

Effect of Pedestrian-Related Factors on Intersection Performance

2005 ◽  
Vol 1920 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-73
Author(s):  
Hoe Kyoung Kim ◽  
Michael P. Hunter
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Control ◽  
National Standard ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Minimal Impact ◽  
Traffic Lane ◽  
Cycle Lengths ◽  
Control Devices ◽  
Traffic Control Devices ◽  
Walking Speeds ◽  
The Impact

The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) contains the national standard for installing and maintaining traffic control devices on all streets and highways. The 2003 MUTCD contains numerous corrections, revisions, and updates to the millennium edition (2000). One update is related to the definition of crossing distance at signalized intersections, where the crossing distance is extended to the far-side curb rather than the center of the farthest traffic lane. This study investigated the sensitivity of intersection performance to crossing distance and walking speed, critical constraints in the determination of the minimum green time. Three crossing distance standards and four walking speeds are considered. With Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) procedures, the impacts of the given crossing distance definitions and walking speeds on intersection operations were tested on two intersection configurations over a range of cycle lengths and traffic volumes. The effect on intersection performance was found to be most significant at low cycle lengths, in some instances with the delay increased manyfold. However, when cycle lengths were increased to account for the pedestrian constraints, optimal delay rarely increased by more than a few seconds. Additionally, as the discrepancy between the critical lane traffic volume on the main and cross streets was increased, the impact of pedestrian green times on vehicle delay also increased. It was seen that as the cycle length increased, pedestrian minimum green times no longer governed, so the impact of pedestrians on intersection performance became increasingly insignificant, often with a minimal impact on the optimal performance.

Some aspects of project management in terms of design automation for railway traffic control devices

2018 ◽  
Vol 121 ◽  
pp. 411-421
Author(s):  
Paweł Wontorski ◽  
Andrzej Kochan
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Traffic Control ◽  
Design Automation ◽  
Graphical Form ◽  
Project Management System ◽  
Railway Traffic ◽  
Selection Of Variables ◽  
Control Devices ◽  
Traffic Control Devices ◽  
The Impact

The article presents the concept of integration system of design automation and system of project management. A model was developed cooperation between the two systems on several levels, based on continuous monitoring of the design process and comparing the assumed values of the selected parameters from the actual values. The selection of variables transmitted based on the assumption of cooperation project management system with the system of design automation for railway traffic control devices, designed to support of designers. Due to the nature of projects for railway traffic control devices drew attention to the quality control of the project in the context of the safety and reliability of railway traffic control system, the impact of deviations from the schedule to the railway timetable, version compatibility, and changes in the chamfering work on objects with continuous rail traffic. The structure of the model is presented in graphical form.

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