Design of the Cross Florida Greenway Land Bridge Over I-75 Using Precast Florida U-Beams

2000 ◽  
Vol 1696 (1) ◽  
pp. 188-192
Author(s):  
Charles F. Duggar ◽  
John A. Corven
Keyword(s):  
The United States ◽  
The State ◽  
Structural Elements ◽  
Department Of Transportation ◽  
Land Bridge ◽  
Right Of Way ◽  
Florida Department ◽  
Integral Abutments ◽  
International Attention ◽  
The Cross

The Cross Florida Greenway is a multiuse trail that bisects the central region of Florida, an area that was originally set aside for the Cross Florida Barge Canal. After Congress deauthorized the barge canal, the Cross Florida Greenway State Recreational Area was created, and the canal property was turned over to the state. Interstate 75 interrupts the Cross Florida Greenway in Marion County in a north-to-south direction for a distance of about 1829 m (6,000 ft) along the I-75 centerline. No bridges or underpass structures currently exist that connect both sides of the Greenway. Through several years of study, the Florida Department of Transportation and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection developed a land bridge concept for traversing the I-75 right-of-way while continuing the Greenway characteristics across the bridge. The land bridge concept is used internationally and is conducive to wildlife usage. The structure will be 16 m (52.5 ft) wide. It will provide a stabilized section along the center portion of the bridge for bicyclists, pedestrians, and equestrians, as well as earthen berms to support plantings along the outside edges of the structure. The key unique structural elements of the bridge, which is the first precast U-beam superstructure to be constructed in the state, include use of open triangular-shaped median piers, integral abutments, and geosynthetic-reinforced, vegetated approach slopes. The project is expected to attract national and international attention because it may be the first of its kind in the United States and because of its location along the heavily traveled I-75.

Analysis of Florida Transit Bus Crashes

2002 ◽  
Vol 1791 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel R. Rey ◽  
Dennis Hinebaugh ◽  
Jose Fernandez
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
The United States ◽  
Department Of Transportation ◽  
Transit Systems ◽  
Florida Department ◽  
Effectiveness Of Training ◽  
Transportation Research ◽  
Led Lights ◽  
Selection Of ◽  
Transit Bus

Through its National Center for Transit Research, and under contract with the Florida Department of Transportation, the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) was tasked with reviewing a sample of data on transit bus crash occurrence from selected Florida transit systems. The purpose of this review is to analyze changes in crash occurrence over time in relation to the effectiveness of training programs and capital safety improvements in reducing bus crashes. To this end, CUTR conducted two case studies utilizing occurrence data from Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority in Tampa (which implemented a refresher training course for bus operators) and LYNX Transit in Orlando (which replaced standard rear-end brake lights and turn signal and emergency flasher lights with high-density LED lights). The case studies examined the effect that these two particular safety campaigns had on postimple-mentation bus crash occurrence for the two properties. In addition to the promotion of safety, it is anticipated that this effort will be a preliminary step in the process of establishing a general list of safety campaigns, along with related costs and “rule of thumb” occurrence prevention effectiveness levels for each. A list of this nature will aid transit systems in Florida, the United States, and elsewhere in the selection of safety campaigns that will meet financial and safety goals.

Developing a tool to help highway patrol in allocating resources to crashes

2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 231-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trenna T Terrill ◽  
M Mahdi Rezapour Mashhadi ◽  
Khaled Ksaibati
Keyword(s):  
Preventive Measure ◽  
Temporal Analysis ◽  
The United States ◽  
The State ◽  
Department Of Transportation ◽  
Truck Traffic ◽  
Crash Data ◽  
Heavy Truck ◽  
Highway Patrol ◽  
Number Of Citations

In recent years, the United States has experienced significant growth in the amount of freight transported by truck, and this is expected to increase in future. Collisions involving trucks have some of the greatest ramifications and are associated with economic and societal costs. The state of Wyoming has one of the highest rates of crashes involving trucks in the country. The Wyoming Highway Patrol puts a substantial amount of its resources into enforcing commercial vehicle inspections and traffic laws in the state. Because of the heavy truck traffic on Interstate 80 (I-80), the much of the Wyoming Highway Patrol’s resources are utilized in patrolling and performing inspections there. Because of this intensive truck corridor, the Wyoming Highway Patrol may not be focusing resources on other locations throughout the state. The Wyoming Department of Transportation and the Wyoming Highway Patrol jointly selected three zones throughout the state of Wyoming based on high truck traffic areas. Historical statewide crash data and statewide citations issued by the Wyoming Highway Patrol in these zones are analyzed in this study. The relationship between the numbers of citations issued along the studied route and the number of crashes that occurred is investigated in this article. Statistical analysis using ordinal least squares on I25 indicates that, on a monthly scale, the number of citations is a preventive measure for the number of crashes. Spatial temporal analysis on I25 showed that although Wyoming Highway Patrol resources are allocated to locations with the greatest number of crashes, it needs to allocate more resources on I25 north between midnight and 6 a.m. This study provides the Wyoming Highway Patrol with information regarding where more enforcement may be needed within other areas in the state of Wyoming.

scholarly journals Effect of Dynamic Envelope Pavement Markings on Vehicle Driver Behavior at a Highway-Rail Grade Crossing

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott Gabree ◽  
Stephanie Chase ◽  
Marco daSilva
Keyword(s):  
The United States ◽  
Transportation Systems ◽  
United States Department ◽  
Department Of Transportation ◽  
Pavement Markings ◽  
Florida Department ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Grade Crossing ◽  
Grade Crossings ◽  
Stop Line

The United States Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center), under the direction of the USDOT Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Office of Research and Development (R&D), recently completed a study on the use of pavement markings to reduce instances of vehicles stopping on the tracks at grade crossings. Specifically, the study evaluated the effectiveness of pavement markings placed within the dynamic envelope, the region between and immediately adjacent to the tracks at a grade crossing, and new corresponding signage at the Commercial Boulevard grade crossing (ID# 628186E) in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The goal of this research study was to gain an understanding of the effect of dynamic envelope pavement markings and accompanying signage on driver’s not stopping while traversing the tracks. The addition of the dynamic envelope markings and signage is intended to make this area more pronounced, resulting in fewer motorists entering the dynamic envelope if they are unable to exit the other side. Researchers coded driver stopping behavior at this crossing before and after the surface treatments were installed. Vehicles were coded as having stopped in one of four zones: behind the stop line and gate arm (Zone 1), past the stop line but before the tracks (Zone 2), on the tracks (Zone 3), or immediately after the tracks (Zone 4). Stopping in Zone 3 is considered to be the most dangerous behavior that a driver could perform, while stopping in Zone 1 is the safest. The goal of the added markings and signage is to reduce the number of vehicles which come to a stop within the dynamic envelope, thus reducing the possibility that a vehicle is present on the tracks when a train approaches resulting in a collision. The addition of the dynamic envelope pavement markings and modified signage resulted in a statistically significant change in driver stopping behavior. Specifically, the pavement markings and signage reduced the proportion of vehicles that stopped in Zone 3, resulting in a 45% reduction in vehicles stopped in Zone 3 for eastbound vehicles and 14% for westbound vehicles. They also increased the proportion of vehicles stopping in Zone 1, which is the safest behavior a driver can perform (9% increase for eastbound and 6% increase for westbound). Additionally, fewer vehicles were found to stop in both Zone 2 and Zone 4, which are both moderately dangerous. Based on these results, the Florida Department of Transportation is exploring the use of this safety treatment at additional grade crossings with a high risk for unsafe vehicle stopping behavior.

Formation Of An Estimate For A State Contract With A Firm Price In The Construction Sector

2020 ◽  
pp. 47-57
Keyword(s):  
Construction Projects ◽  
Cost Of Capital ◽  
Federal Budget ◽  
The State ◽  
Structural Elements ◽  
Construction Sector ◽  
Construction Process ◽  
Practical Application ◽  
Stage Of Development ◽  
Capital Construction

The issues of determining the estimated cost of capital construction projects with the involvement of Federal budget funds at the stage of development of project documentation, during verification of the accuracy of determining the estimated cost and the initial (maximum) contract price are considered. On the basis of the assessment of amendments to urban planning legislation for the purpose of implementing a state contract by the contractor ( based on the results of competitive procedures or without competitive procedures by decision of state authorities), the procedure for forming the estimate as part of a state (municipal) contract, the price of which is firm, is presented. For the purpose of mutual settlements between the customer and the contractor for the work performed, the formation of primary accounting documentation, as well as for checking the work performed by regulatory authorities, an example of drawing up an estimate of the state (municipal) contract on the basis of grouping costs according to structural elements and complexes of work is given. The result of the research conducted was the development of regulations and the formation of criteria for their practical application by state bodies, institutions, organizations and other participants in the investment-construction process, as well as recipients of budget funds, who perform the functions of the state (municipal) customer, developer and technical customer.

Varied Responses to Human-Induced Seismicity in the City of Azle, Texas

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Sarmistha R. Majumdar
Keyword(s):  
State Government ◽  
Induced Seismicity ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
The United States ◽  
The State ◽  
Prior History ◽  
Small Community ◽  
Regulatory Policies ◽  
The Status

Fracking has helped to usher in an era of energy abundance in the United States. This advanced drilling procedure has helped the nation to attain the status of the largest producer of crude oil and natural gas in the world, but some of its negative externalities, such as human-induced seismicity, can no longer be ignored. The occurrence of earthquakes in communities located at proximity to disposal wells with no prior history of seismicity has shocked residents and have caused damages to properties. It has evoked individuals’ resentment against the practice of injection of fracking’s wastewater under pressure into underground disposal wells. Though the oil and gas companies have denied the existence of a link between such a practice and earthquakes and the local and state governments have delayed their responses to the unforeseen seismic events, the issue has gained in prominence among researchers, affected community residents, and the media. This case study has offered a glimpse into the varied responses of stakeholders to human-induced seismicity in a small city in the state of Texas. It is evident from this case study that although individuals’ complaints and protests from a small community may not be successful in bringing about statewide changes in regulatory policies on disposal of fracking’s wastewater, they can add to the public pressure on the state government to do something to address the problem in a state that supports fracking.

Is This the Care We Need?: An Examination of Childcare Policy in Pennsylvania

Commonwealth ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennie Sweet-Cushman ◽  
Ashley Harden
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Child Care ◽  
Current System ◽  
The United States ◽  
The State ◽  
Federal State ◽  
Women And Politics ◽  
Richard Nixon ◽  
State And Local ◽  
Childcare Policy

For many families across Pennsylvania, child care is an ever-present concern. Since the 1970s, when Richard Nixon vetoed a national childcare program, child care has received little time in the policy spotlight. Instead, funding for child care in the United States now comes from a mixture of federal, state, and local programs that do not help all families. This article explores childcare options available to families in the state of Pennsylvania and highlights gaps in the current system. Specifically, we examine the state of child care available to families in the Commonwealth in terms of quality, accessibility, flexibility, and affordability. We also incorporate survey data from a nonrepresentative sample of registered Pennsylvania voters conducted by the Pennsylvania Center for Women and Politics. As these results support the need for improvements in the current childcare system, we discuss recommendations for the future.

Development of the Concepts for Providing Close Air Support

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-74
Author(s):  
Hristov Manush
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Air Force ◽  
The United States ◽  
Second World War ◽  
The State ◽  
World War ◽  
Present Stage ◽  
Combat Experience ◽  
Second World

AbstractThe main objective of the study is to trace the perceptions of the task of an aviation component to provide direct aviation support to both ground and naval forces. Part of the study is devoted to tracing the combat experience gained during the assignment by the Bulgarian Air Force in the final combat operations against the Wehrmacht during the Second World War 1944-1945. The state of the conceptions at the present stage regarding the accomplishment of the task in conducting defensive and offensive battles and operations is also considered. Emphasis is also placed on the development of the perceptions of the task in the armies of the United States and Russia.

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