Thesis (Ph. D. in Engineering)--University of California, Berkeley, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 64-66). Also available online via the University of California web site (http://repositories.cdlib.org/escholarship/).

Thesis (Professional Degree)--University of Missouri, School of Mines and Metallurgy, 1934. / The entire thesis text is included in file. Typescript. Title from title screen of thesis/dissertation PDF file (viewed June 9, 2010)

This thesis seeks to construct an empirical model of highway finance in the United States, and in particular, to examine the relationship between highway-user revenues and highway spending. It provides a general overview of the current highway system, including the federal-aid highway program, and the flow of highway funds between different levels of government. It also examines issues relating to highway-user revenues. A review of the literature failed to provide any "standard" model of highway spending and no previous studies of spending across all levels of government. Using data from the 50 states and the District of Columbia over the three-year period 1998-2000, regressions were run on the dollars spent on highways in each state from all levels of government. The independent variables included highway-user revenues (as defined by the Federal Highway Administration) in each state from all levels of government, lane-miles, daily vehicle-miles of traffic, land area, percent of land area classified as urban, population, gross state product, annual average wage, percent of traffic consisting of trucks, and average winter temperature. OLS estimates using the classical linear regression model were found to be unreliable, and attempts at using a growth rate model provided poor overall fit. Opportunities for future research are identified, as this is an important issue that should be of interest in public policy decision-making. / Master of Arts

For nearly 100 years the design of highways has incorporated safety through the application of criteria to each individual design element. Design elements are items like the horizontal curve, vertical curves, the cross-section, clear zone and roadside slopes. As a result, safety is only indirectly addressed since the design elements are developed in isolation without a good understanding on the impact of one element on another. To make matters worse, design elements communicate messages to the driver about the appropriate speed for the highway. Long straight tangent sections encourage drivers to drive faster whereas curved highway segments communicate a lower operating speed. This can lead to inconsistent message to the driver when design elements are not coordinated with each other. A new method is proposed that accounts for the interaction between design elements in such a way that the designer can estimate the frequency and societal cost of motor vehicle crashes. With this estimate of cost, the designer can base design decisions on what would minimize the societal cost of both the infrastructure improvement and safety. This method will allow designers to formulate highway designs that achieve a specific level of safety and communicate consistent information to drivers. This research provides a valuable planning and design tool for practitioners and policy makers alike. It represents an important shift in the highway design paradigm.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 103-105).

Thesis (Ph. D. in Engineering)--University of California, Berkeley, 2005. / "May 2005." Includes bibliographical references (p. 64-66). Also available online via the ITS Berkeley web site (www.its.berkeley.edu).

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 103-105). Also available in print.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1982. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Project cost escalation is a major problem for State Highway Agencies (SHA). This problem is evident in cost estimating procedures that may not promote consistency and accuracy of costs over the project development process. The research proposes that a relationship exists between applying good estimating practices and minimizing cost escalation from the initial planning estimate to the engineer??s estimate at final design. The objective of this research is to develop a preliminary list of strategies, methods, and tools for project cost estimation practices aimed at achieving greater consistency and accuracy between the project development phases. A literature review was conducted that assisted in identifying factors that lead to the cost escalation of projects. The information from the literature was used to discover the core estimating assumptions that are the root causes behind cost escalation and lack of project estimate consistency and accuracy. After the cost escalation factors were determined, interviews with SHAs were conducted that lead to identifying unique and/or innovative approaches that will aid the SHAs in overcoming the cost escalation factors. The main methodology used to develop a potential list of strategies, methods, and tools was first focused on linking strategies to causes of cost escalation. Global strategies were identified by means of this approach. Methods and tools that would likely be effective in implementing the strategies are therefore directed at mitigating root causes of estimate problems in a focused approach. The strategies, methods, and tools are aligned with the project development phase where they would be implemented. Thus, a preliminary list of strategies, methods, and tools is provided in this study.