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The aim of this study was to investigate different standards of bidirectional bike lanes and investigate if they provide enough space for the needs of cyclists. A method was developed for evaluating cyclists’ behaviour using the theory of risk homeostasis and two risk-factors; speed and sideways position. An experimental design was also constructed and the results from the subsequent experiment implies that the two chosen risk markers could be useful in future studies relating to the design of bicycle infrastructure. A significant difference in the positioning of cyclists was found on different bike lane widths. The risk markers for sideways position show significant results at bidirectional bike lane widths below 2.4 meters. At such widths, cyclists seem to actively position themselves closer to the curb in the presence of oncoming cyclists. This is interpreted as a risk compensation which indicates that cyclists are not completely comfortable on that standard of bike lane. A conclusion would be to view bidirectional bike lanes at 2.4 meters width on flat surfaces, with adequate safety-zones beside the bike lanes, as a good standard for regular cyclists in many situations. More widening is not believed to provide major additional experienced safety or passability until the width allow for safe overtaking in the presence of oncoming cyclists. / Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka olika standarder av cykelbanor och se om de tillgodoser cyklisternas utrymmesbehov. En metod utvecklades för att utvärdera cyklisters beteende på olika standarder av dubbelriktade cykelbanor med hjälp av riskhomeostasteorin och två riskmarkörer; sidledsposition och hastighet. En experimentdesign utvecklades och experimentet genomfördes. Resultaten tyder på att metoden fungerar och kan vara till nytta i framtida studier gällande cyklisters behov, relaterat till designen av cykelinfrastruktur. Resultaten visar att cyklisterna placerar sig längre från kanten på cykelbanan ju bredare den är. En statistiskt signifikant skillnad i sidledsposition uppmättes också vid möten av andra cyklister när bredden på cykelbanan sjönk till under 2,4 meter. Vid dessa bredder placerade sig cyklisterna aktivt närmare kanten vid möten. Resultatet tolkas som en form av riskkompensation och indikerar att cyklisterna inte är helt trygga på cykelbanor av den bredden. Slutsatsen blir att vi kan betrakta 2,4 meter breda, dubbelriktade cykelbanor på horisontella ytor med tillräckliga säkerhetsavstånd till hinder vid sidan av cykelbanan som en god standard för många förhållanden. Ytterligare breddning tordes inte ge några större upplevda säkerhets- eller framkomlighetsfördelar förrän bredden tillåter säkra omkörningar även vid möten.

Analysis of intersection crashes is a significant area in traffic safety research. This study contributes to the area by identifying traffic-geometric characteristics and driver demographics that affect different types of crashes at signalized intersections. A simple methodology to estimate crash frequency at intersections based on the size of the intersection is also developed herein. First phase of this thesis used the crash frequency data from 1,335 signalized intersections obtained from six jurisdictions in Florida, namely, Brevard, Seminole, Dade, Orange, and Hillsborough Counties and the City of Orlando. Using these data a simple methodology has been developed to identify the expected number of crashes by type and severity at signalized intersections. Intersection size, based on the total number of lanes, was used as a factor that was simple to identify and a representative of many geometric and traffic characteristics of an intersection. The results from the analysis showed that crash frequency generally increased with the increased size of intersections but the rates of increase differed for different intersection types (i.e., Four-legged intersection with both streets two-way, Four-legged intersection with at least one street one-way, and T-intersections). The results also showed that the dominant type of crashes differed at these intersection types and severity of crashes was higher at the intersections with more conflict points and larger differential in speed limits between major and minor roads. The analysis may potentially be useful for traffic engineers for evaluating safety at signalized intersections in a simple and efficient manner. The findings in this analysis provide strong evidence that the patterns of crashes by type and severity vary with the size and type of intersections. Thus, in future analysis of crashes at intersections, the size and type of intersections should be considered to account for the effects of intersection characteristics on crash frequency. In the second phase, data (crash and intersection characteristics) obtained from individual jurisdictions are linked to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) database to include characteristics of the at-fault drivers involved in crashes. These crashes are analyzed using contingency tables and binary logistic regression models. This study categorizes crashes into three major types based on relative initial movement direction of the involved vehicles. These crash types are, 1) Initial movement in same direction (IMSD) crashes. This crash type includes rear end and sideswipe crashes because the involved vehicles for these crashes would be traveling in the same direction prior to the crash. 2) Initial movement in opposite direction (IMOD) crashes comprising left-turn and head on crashes. 3) Initial movement in perpendicular direction (IMPD) crashes, which include angle and right-turn crashes. Vehicles involved in these crashes would be traveling on different roadways that constitute the intersection. Using the crash, intersection, and at-fault driver characteristics for all crashes as inputs, three logistic regression models are developed. In the logistic regression analyses total number of through lanes at an intersection is used as a surrogate measure to AADT per lane and also intersection type is introduced as a 'predictor' of crash type. The binary logistic regression analyses indicated, among other results, that at intersections with one-way roads, adverse weather conditions, older drivers and/or female drivers increase the likelihood of being at-fault at IMOD crashes. Similar factors associated with other groups of crashes (i.e., IMSD and IMPD) are also identified. These findings from the study may be used to develop specialized training programs by zooming in onto problematic intersections/maneuvers.

A 15.5-mile portion of the I-85 high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane in the metropolitan area of Atlanta, GA was converted to a high-occupancy toll (HOT) lane as part of a federal demonstration project designed to provide a reliable travel option through this congested corridor. Results from the I-85 demonstration project provided insight into the results that may follow the Georgia Department of Transportation's planned implementation of a $16 billion HOT lane network along metropolitan Atlanta's other major roadways [2]. To evaluate the impacts of the conversion, it was necessary to measure changes in corridor travel speed, reliability, vehicle throughput, passenger throughput, lane weaving, and user demographics. To measure such performance, a monitoring project, led by the Georgia Institute of Technology collected various forms of data through on-site field deployments, GDOT video, and cooperation from the State Road and Toll Authority (SRTA). Changes in the HOT lane's speed, reliability or other performance measure can affect the demographic and vehicle characteristics of those who utilize the corridor. The purpose of this particular study was to analyze the changes to the vehicle characteristics by comparing vehicle occupancy, vehicle classifications, and vehicle registration data to their counterparts from before the HOV-to-HOT conversion. As part of the monitoring project, the Georgia Tech research team organized a two-year deployment effort to collect data along the corridor during morning and afternoon peak hours. One year of data collection occurred before the conversion date to establish a control and a basis from which to compare any changes. The second year of data collection occurred after the conversion to track those changes and observe the progress of the lane's performance. While on-site, researchers collected data elements including visually-observed vehicle occupancy, license plate numbers, and vehicle classification [25]. The research team obtained vehicle records by submitting the license plate tag entries to a registration database [26]. In previous work, vehicle occupancy data were collected independently of license plate records used to establish the commuter shed. For the analyses reported in this thesis, license plate data and occupancy data were collected concurrently, providing a link between occupancy records of specific vehicles and relevant demographic characteristics based upon census data. The vehicle records also provided characteristics of the users' vehicles (light-duty vehicle vs. sport utility vehicle, model year, etc.) that the researchers aggregated to identify general trends in fleet characteristics. The analysis reported in this thesis focuses on identifying changes in vehicle characteristics that resulted from the HOV-to-HOT conversion. The data collected from post-conversion are compared to pre-conversion data, revealing changes in vehicle characteristics and occupancy distributions that most likely resulted from the implementation of the HOT lane. Plausible reasons affecting the vehicle characteristics alterations will be identified and further demographic research will enhance the data currently available to better pinpoint the cause and effect relationship between implementation and the current status of the I-85 corridor. Preliminary data collection outliers were identified by using vehicle occupancy data. However, future analysis will reveal the degree of their impact on the project as a whole. Matched occupancy and license plate data revealed vehicle characteristics for HOT lane users as well as indications that the tested data collectors are predominantly synchronized when concurrently collecting data, resulting in an argument to uphold the validity of the data collection methods. Chapter two provides reasons for why HOT lanes were sought out to replace I-85's HOV lanes. Chapter two will also provide many details regarding how the HOT lanes function and it will describe the role the Georgia Institute of Technology played in the assessment the HOV-to-HOT conversion. Chapter three includes the methodologies used to complete this document while chapter four provides results and analysis for the one year period before the conversion and the one year period after the conversion.

This paper examines the issues of equity, as applicable to the HOV-to-HOT conversion project planned for the I-85 North corridor in the Metropolitan Atlanta Region. A review of literature is undertaken to describe the typology of transportation equity issues within the wider context of environmental justice, and to highlight socio-economic factors and local and national transportation funding factors that influence people's travel choices and their mobility and accessibility options. Demographic data on the I-85 corridor peak period commuters in Metropolitan Atlanta is analyzed, in addition to results of focus groups polling current Metropolitan Atlanta interstate commuters on the topic of managed lanes during 2008. The thesis makes a conclusion that a final decision about the equity impact of the I-85 HOV-to-HOT conversion is likely not possible without undertaking a Metropolitan area-wide analysis. Some of the equity findings that emerge indicate that there are no significant income differences between the the HOV lane users and general purpose lane I-85 commuters; that there are differences between median incomes of block groups represented by current I-85 commuters (both HOV lane users and general purpose lane users) and median incomes of block groups typical for the base geography; and that investing in Xpress bus service improvements would primarily serve those households with more vehicles than drivers, unless improvements to reverse commute options and feeder bus networks are made. The focus group findings suggest that current interstate highway users in Metropolitan Atlanta, originating in the suburbs, are generally accepting of the HOT concept and recognize the value of travel time savings.

Master of Science / Department of Civil Engineering / Sunanda Dissanayake / Construction of by-pass lanes at rural intersections typically has been considered a low-cost safety improvement. Safety analysis utilizes two common approaches to evaluate treatment effectiveness: before-and-after study and cross-sectional study. This research performed paired sample t-test statistical analysis to estimate changes in total of crash frequency, crash rates, EPDO crash frequency, and EPDO crash rates at intersections, three to five years after adding a by-pass lane compared to identical time period before the by-pass lane was added. Crash data between 1990 and 2011 were obtained from Kansas Crash and Analysis Record System (KCARS) maintained by the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). In order to perform a cross-sectional study, intersections with by-pass lanes were compared to intersections with no countermeasures; crash data were obtained for more than 1,100 intersections in the state of Kansas. According to before-and-after study, addition of by-pass lanes improves safety at unsignalized rural intersections; crashes and their severities are reduced after adding by-pass lanes. But, these reductions are not statistically significant under 95% confidence level. However, when considering intersection related crashes, a statistically significant reduction in crash rates is happened after adding by-pass lanes at 3-legged intersections. In cross-sectional study, crashes and their severities are lower at 3-legged intersections with the by-pass lanes versus 3-legged intersections without the by-pass lanes. However, these reductions are not statistically significant under 95% confidence level. When considering 300 feet intersection crash box, statistically significant reductions are happened at 4-legged intersection. In contrast, crashes and their severities increased at 4-legged intersections with the by-pass lanes, but these changes are not statistically significant under 95% confidence level. The Crash Modification Factors were calculated to evaluate safety effectiveness of adding by-pass lanes at unsignalized rural intersections. The calculated CMFs less than 1.0, indicate a reduction in crashes after implementation of by-pass lanes. Finally, this study concluded that expected crashes at intersections with by-pass lanes are lower than intersections without by-pass lanes.

無 / Since 1980, due to the reform and opening door policies, the economy has developed rapidly and the demand for energy has greatly increased in China. Nowadays China needs to continue economic growth to last the survival of CCP regime. Therefore economic growth is the core of China. Since Chinese economic growth depends on its energy supplies. To sustain economic growth, China not only tries to acquire offshore oil deposits, but also must rely upon oversea oil. China has become heavily reliant on foreign oil supplies and also becomes the highly competitive country in oil resource on the world. The majority of China’s oil import is through sea transportation. This over-reliance on sea lanes of communication (SLOC) causes China to fall into face great risks. Beijing feels vulnerable in its Oil transporting lanes and therefore attempts to maintain the stability of its imported oil supplies by securing SLOC to sustain its economic growth. Under these circumstances, the development of the PLA Navy thus becomes a key factor of Chinese prosperity. Beijing becomes aware that a strong navy could protect its oil transporting lanes. However, China does not have a strong navy to acquire its oil transporting lanes. However, China does not have a strong navy to acquire its oil transporting lanes and offshore oil deposits. For this reason, the development of PLA Navy is a natural trend for Chinese expanding national interests. China wants to defend its SLOC far away from its coast to sustain oil supplies stability so that conducts its naval” far sea defense” policy to build a blue-water navy.

Esta dissertação de mestrado apresenta um estudo do processo de formação de pelotões em rodovias de pista simples brasileiras e a dispersão desses pelotões nas faixas adicionais de subida. Este estudo foi realizado usando-se dados empíricos coletados na SP 255, uma rodovia de pista simples do estado de São Paulo. Um dos trechos estudados possuía faixas adicionais nos aclives e o outro era sem faixas adicionais. Para caracterizar a formação de pelotões, três aspectos foram estudados: a porcentagem de veículos em pelotões, o tamanho médio dos pelotões e a recomposição dos pelotões após o término de uma faixa adicional. Modelos matemáticos foram adaptados para representar o processo de formação de pelotões em rodovias brasileiras. Visando fornecer subsídios para futuros projetos de faixas adicionais, a dispersão dos pelotões nas faixas adicionais de subida foi analisada considerando-se as seguintes medidas de desempenho: taxa de ultrapassagem, velocidade média da corrente, porcentagem de veículos em pelotões e comprimento de faixa para a dispersão dos pelotões. Os resultados do estudo da dispersão dos pelotões mostram que as faixas adicionais melhoram o nível de serviço não apenas na direção onde são implantadas, mas também na direção do tráfego oposto uma vez que cerca de 70 a 75% do fluxo no sentido analisado divergem para as faixas adicionais, proporcionando uma porcentagem maior de gaps adequados para a dispersão dos pelotões do fluxo oposto. / This master thesis presents a study of the platoon formation process in the Brazilian two-lane roads and the dispersion of these platoons in the passing lanes. This study was developed using empirical data collected in the SP 255, a two-lane road of the state of São Paulo. One of the segments studied had passing lanes on upgrades and another was without passing lanes. In order to characterize the platoon formation, three aspects were studied: the percent of vehicle in platoon, the mean platoon size and the platoon recomposition after the end of a passing lane. Mathematical models were adapted to represent the platoon formation in the Brazilian roads. Aiming to aid future auxiliary lanes projects, the platoon dispersion in the climbing lanes was analyzed considering the following service measures: overtaking rate, mean speed, percent of vehicle traveling in platoons and lane length used to disperse the platoons. The results of the platoons dispersion study show that the auxiliary lanes improve the level of service not only in the direction of they are constructed, but also in the opposing flow. It\'s verified that around 70 to 75% of the flow in the analyzed direction diverge to auxiliary lanes, providing a greater percentage of gaps suitable to platoon dispersion in the opposing flow.

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi propor um método capaz de estabelecer a sequência de implantação de um conjunto de faixas adicionais que maximize os benefícios do investimento nos aclives das rodovias de pista simples. O método proposto consiste em: (i) definir os aclives mais longos que o comprimento crítico; (ii) definir os aclives que satisfazem os critérios técnico-econômicos para implantação das faixas adicionais no horizonte de projeto; (iii) determinar as faixas adicionais que devem ser implantadas a cada ano do projeto, em função do crescimento do tráfego; e (iv) determinar a sequência ótima para implantação das faixas, em função do benefício global e do valor disponível para investimento a cada ano. Dentre os critérios técnicos que indicam a necessidade de faixa adicional, optou-se por utilizar a adaptação das diretrizes da AASHTO para as condições das rodovias brasileiras proposta por Melo e Setti (2003). Para quantificar os benefícios proporcionados pelas reduções dos custos operacionais e dos tempos de viagem, optou-se por utilizar modelos desenvolvidos por pesquisas nacionais; para quantificar os benefícios da redução dos acidentes, foi utilizado o modelo do HDM-4. Custos típicos de construção por quilômetro de faixa adicional (serviços de terraplenagem, pavimentação, drenagem e sinalização) foram obtidos da tabela do DER-SP. Um estudo de caso demonstrou que a sequência de implantação estabelecida pelo método proposto é mais eficiente, pelos pontos de vista econômico e social, do que a sequência determinada usando-se os critérios atuais. / The objective of this research was to propose a methodology able to establish the sequence of deployment that would maximize the benefits from climbing lanes on two-lane highways. The proposed method consists of: (i) find the set of grades that are longer than the critical length; (ii) choose, among these grades, those that satisfy the technical and economic criteria to warrant the construction of climbing lanes within the project service life; (iii) find which climbing lanes should be built in each year, given the traffic growth forecast; and (iv) find the best construction sequence, considering the global benefits from the climbing lanes and the annual budget. The criteria to justify climbing lanes adopted are the adaptation to Brazil of the AASHTO criteria proposed by Melo and Setti (2003). The quantification of benefits from the reduction of vehicle operating costs and travel time uses several models proposed in the literature in Portuguese; HDM-4 models were used to quantify the benefits from the reduction in accident number and severity. Typical construction costs for climbing lanes (including earth-moving, paving, drainage and signage) were derived from data published by DER-SP. A case study demonstrated that the application of the proposed method results in a more efficient use of the available resources (both from the economic and social viewpoints) than the results obtained by the use of the current criteria.

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi propor um método capaz de estabelecer a sequência de implantação de um conjunto de faixas adicionais que maximize os benefícios do investimento nos aclives das rodovias de pista simples. O método proposto consiste em: (i) definir os aclives mais longos que o comprimento crítico; (ii) definir os aclives que satisfazem os critérios técnico-econômicos para implantação das faixas adicionais no horizonte de projeto; (iii) determinar as faixas adicionais que devem ser implantadas a cada ano do projeto, em função do crescimento do tráfego; e (iv) determinar a sequência ótima para implantação das faixas, em função do benefício global e do valor disponível para investimento a cada ano. Dentre os critérios técnicos que indicam a necessidade de faixa adicional, optou-se por utilizar a adaptação das diretrizes da AASHTO para as condições das rodovias brasileiras proposta por Melo e Setti (2003). Para quantificar os benefícios proporcionados pelas reduções dos custos operacionais e dos tempos de viagem, optou-se por utilizar modelos desenvolvidos por pesquisas nacionais; para quantificar os benefícios da redução dos acidentes, foi utilizado o modelo do HDM-4. Custos típicos de construção por quilômetro de faixa adicional (serviços de terraplenagem, pavimentação, drenagem e sinalização) foram obtidos da tabela do DER-SP. Um estudo de caso demonstrou que a sequência de implantação estabelecida pelo método proposto é mais eficiente, pelos pontos de vista econômico e social, do que a sequência determinada usando-se os critérios atuais. / The objective of this research was to propose a methodology able to establish the sequence of deployment that would maximize the benefits from climbing lanes on two-lane highways. The proposed method consists of: (i) find the set of grades that are longer than the critical length; (ii) choose, among these grades, those that satisfy the technical and economic criteria to warrant the construction of climbing lanes within the project service life; (iii) find which climbing lanes should be built in each year, given the traffic growth forecast; and (iv) find the best construction sequence, considering the global benefits from the climbing lanes and the annual budget. The criteria to justify climbing lanes adopted are the adaptation to Brazil of the AASHTO criteria proposed by Melo and Setti (2003). The quantification of benefits from the reduction of vehicle operating costs and travel time uses several models proposed in the literature in Portuguese; HDM-4 models were used to quantify the benefits from the reduction in accident number and severity. Typical construction costs for climbing lanes (including earth-moving, paving, drainage and signage) were derived from data published by DER-SP. A case study demonstrated that the application of the proposed method results in a more efficient use of the available resources (both from the economic and social viewpoints) than the results obtained by the use of the current criteria.