Signalized Intersections: Informational Guide
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Table of Contents
FOREWORD
This report complements the American association of State Highway and Transportation Officials' (AASHTO) Strategic Highway Safety Plan to develop guidance on safety of nonsignalized and signalized intersections. The goal is to reduce the annual number of highway deaths. This guide is a comprehensive document that contains methods for evaluating the safety and operations of signalized intersections and tools to remedy deficiencies. The treatments in this guide range from low-cost measures such as improvements to signal timing and signage, to high-cost measures such as intersection reconstruction or grade separation. Topics covered include fundamental principles of user needs, geometric design, and traffic design and operation; safety and operational analysis techniques; and a wide variety of treatments to address existing or projected problems, including individual movements and approaches, pedestrian and bicycle treatments, and corridor techniques. It also includes coverage of alternative intersection forms that improve intersection performance through the use of indirect left turns and other treatments. Each treatment includes a discussion of safety, operational performance, multimodal issues, and physical and economic factors that the practitioner should consider. Although the guide has considerable focus on high-volume signalized intersections, many treatments also are applicable for lower volume intersections. The information contained in this guide is based on the latest research on available treatments and best practices in use by jurisdictions across the United States. Additional resources and references are highlighted for the student, practitioner, researcher, or decisionmaker who wishes to learn more about a particular subject.
Copies of this report may be obtained from the Research and technology Report Center, 9701 Philadelphia Court, Unit Q, Lanham, MD 20706; telephone: 301–577–0818; fax: 301–577–1421; or the National Technical Information Service (NTIS), 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161; telephone: 703–487–4650; fax: 703–321–8547.
Michael F. Trentacoste
Director
Office of Safety Research and Development
Notice
This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the
U.S. Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The
U.S. Government assumes no liability for the use of the information contained in this document.
The
U.S. Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trademarks or manufacturers' names appear in this report only because they are considered essential to the objective of the document.
Quality Assurance Statement
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provides high-quality information to serve Government, industry, and the public in a manner that promotes public understanding. Standards and policies are used to ensure and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of its information. FHWA periodically reviews quality issues and adjusts its programs and processes to ensure continuous quality improvement.
Technical Report Documentation Page
1. Report No.
FHWA-HRT-04-091
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2. Government accession No.
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3. Recipient's Catalog No.
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4. Title and Subtitle
Signalized Intersections: Informational Guide
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5. Report Date
August 2004
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6. Performing Organization Code
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7. Author(s)
Principal Investigator: Lee A. Rodegerdts
Co-Investigators: Brandon Nevers, Bruce Robinson
Co-Authors: John Ringert, Peter Koonce, Justin Bansen, Tina Nguyen, John McGill, Del Stewart, Jeff Suggett, Tim Neuman, Nick Antonucci, Kelly Hardy, Ken Courage
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8. Performing Organization Report No.
Project 4770
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9. Performing Organization Name and Address
Kittelson & Associates, Inc.
610 SW Alder Street, Suite 700
Portland, OR 97205
Subconsultants: Synectics transportation Consultants, Inc.; CH2M Hill, Inc.; and Ken Courage
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10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS)
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11. Contract or Grant No.
Contract No. DTFH61-98-C-00075,
Task Order No. B98C75-009
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12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address
Federal Highway Administration
Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center
6300 Georgetown Pike, HSR 20, Room No. T301
McLean, VA 22101
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13. Type of Report and Period Covered
Informational Guide Book
October 2001 to June 2004
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14. Sponsoring Agency Code
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15. Supplementary Notes
Joe G. Bared (Joe.Bared@fhwa.dot.gov) at the turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/research/tfhrc/) was the technical Representative for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Project focus group members contributed significantly to document organization, content, and exhibits: Tom Hicks, Maryland State Highway Administration; Nick Kalivoda, Louisiana Department of Transportation; Nazir Lalani, Ventura County (California); John Mason, Pennsylvania State University; and brian Walsh, Washington State Department of Transportation. In addition, many FHWA staff members participated as focus group members and/or provided comments throughout the project, including Carl Andersen, David Gibson, Hari Kalla, Ray Krammes, Barbara McMillen, Bill Prosser, fred Ranck, Tamara Redmon, Essie Wagner, and Scott Wainwright.
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16. Abstract
This guide provides a single, comprehensive document with methods for evaluating the safety and operations of signalized intersections and tools to remedy deficiencies. The treatments in this guide range from low-cost measures such as improvements to signal timing and signage, to high-cost measures such as intersection reconstruction or grade separation. Topics covered include fundamental principles of user needs, geometric design, and traffic design and operation; safety and operational analysis techniques; and a wide variety of treatments to address existing or projected problems, including individual movements and approaches, pedestrian and bicycle treatments, and corridor techniques. It also covers alternative intersection forms that improve intersection performance through the use of indirect left turns and other treatments. Each treatment includes a discussion of safety, operational performance, multimodal issues, and physical and economic factors that the practitioner should consider. Although the guide focuses primarily on high-volume signalized intersections, many treatments are applicable for lower volume intersections as well. The information contained in this guide is based on the latest research available on treatments and best practices in use by jurisdictions across the United States. Additional resources and references are highlighted for the student, practitioner, researcher, or decisionmaker who wishes to learn more about a particular subject.
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17. Key words
Signalized Intersections, Intersection Safety, Intersection Design, Intersection performance, Intersection Treatments
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18. Distribution Statement
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19. Security Classif. (of this report)
Unclassified
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20. Security Classif. (of this page)
Unclassified
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21. No. of Pages
371
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Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page authorized
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