Barrier Systems Inc
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Overview of Key Concerns in Traffic and Congestion Management
National Traffic Management and Work Zone Safety Conference
Owen S. Denman, PE
President and CEO
Barrier Systems, Inc.
October 10,2007
Broward County-Fort Lauderdale Convention Center
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Overview of Key Concerns in Traffic and Congestion Management
State and local transportation agencies are increasingly challenged by growing congestion, shrinking budgets, an aging motorist population, and vocal motorist demands for an efficient roadway system. In this session government officials and industry leaders will share their views of how America will meet these demands over the next ten years
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CONGESTION: #1 PRIORITY
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Congestion Comes in Many Forms
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Congestion and the Economy
- 72% of $7 Trillion Goods Shipped by Truck
- $54B Road Investment Produces $308B in Benefits
- GDP Increased 86% - Highway Travel up 76%
- Traffic Delays Increased 236% - Costing $78B
Source: The Road Information Program (TRIP) 5-01
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Congestion: Scope of the Problem
Source: American Highway Users Alliance (AHUA), 2-99
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Scope of the Problem
- Time commuters spend stalled in traffic has quadrupled!
- Congestion growing worse – 11% annually
- 6 billion gallons of fuel wasted annually
- 50% of nations urban freeways at or above capacity
- Delays cost businesses/individuals over $120+B annually
Source: Texas Transportation Institute, 12-98 and “Public Roads”, 8/9-2007
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Curbing Congestion
Source: Source: Texas Transportation Institute, 12-98
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Public Private Partnerships (PPPs)
Private Funds to Improve Capacity and Safety
Exchanged for Long Term Use Fees (Tolls)
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Toll Booth Congestion Can Also Be Improved
By Free Flow Toll Collection Systems
Removes Toll Booths – Improves Capacity
...and driver training/counseling programs.
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In some situations congestion is the
result of poor capacity utilization.
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Utilizing Off-Peak side capacity
may be a solution in many cases.
Contraflow HOV Lane – Honolulu, HI
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The Primary Forms of Moveable Barrier Technology
Permanent QMB Applications
Construction QMB Applications
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Return Lanes In Off-Peak Periods
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Installing Reversible Lane
Variable Capacity w/Barrier Separation
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Moveable Median Application
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Reversible Lanes In Action
Puerto Rico System – 2 Lane Transfer
Shifting Between Contra-flow and Moveable Median
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North I-15 Corridor
HOV/Managed Lanes Design
Issues
- Need to ensure free-flow conditions for BRT
- Desire to extend Fastrak value pricing program
- Ability to respond to traffic emergencies
- Design for long-term needs
Conclusions
- Pursue 4-lane managed lanes facility with moveable barrier
- Extend FasTrak value pricing program
- Incorporate direct access ramps and BRT stations as integral part of project
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I-15 Rancho Bernardo
Direct Access Ramp & Station
Project budget includes funding of BRT stations and transit vehicles
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“Managed Lanes”
Advanced Concepts for Reducing Congestion, Safely
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Other “Managed Lane” Concepts
- Building Multi Level Corridors
- Elevated sections over existing overly congested sections
- Tunneling under existing sections
- Below grade exposed overhead sections
- Implementing ITS Flow Strategies
- Interactive road / vehicle
- Variable Speed Limits (UK Strategy)
- Harden shoulders and use during peak periods
- Safety shoulder during off-peak
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Work Zones Add to Congestion
In Highest Traveled Corridors
- Infrastructure Rapid Deterioration
- Reduced Funding in Past
- Higher Demand
- Cannot Close to Repair
- Shifting Work to Nights
- Closing one side to work on the other side
- Faster Repair Methods to Reduce Repair Time
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WZ Safety - Scope of the Problem
- Labor Dept. Census Cites Most Hazardous Occupations:
Const. is Most “Deadly” with 1,154 Deaths
Source: (8-01 ATSSA) - Const. Workers Inches Away from 60 mph 3000 Lb Vehicles
- 700+ killed / 37,000 injured, Cost = $4.1 B
Source: (6-2000 Safety and Health) - 2000 WZ Fatalities Increased 26% up to 1,093
Source: (11-01 TTI) - Need More Emphasis on WZ Traffic Control
Source: (6-01 NIOSH/EMR)
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New Federal Work Zone Safety
and Mobility Rule Effective October 2007
- Implement Long-Range Planning to Better Manage Work Zone Impacts on Traffic and Safety
- Move traffic through the work zone more smoothly
- Complete the work faster
- Positive Barrier Separation
- Between opposing directions
- Between work zone and traffic
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Construction Analysis for
Pavement Rehabilitation Strategies (CA4PRS)
- An Analytical Tool to Assess Various Construction Strategies to Maximize Traffic Flow and Minimize Construction Time and Cost Scenarios
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WZ Safety Strategies That Work!
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Open All Lanes for Peak Traffic Periods
Open Work Space During Off-Peak
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Open Work Space During Off-Peak
Return the Lane During Peak Periods
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St. Croix Bridge, Wisconsin/Minnesota
Last Year’s Award Winner Using Moveable Barrier System
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Maximizing Traffic Flow and Construction Space/Efficiency
AM – 3 Lanes In, 2 Lanes Out
PM – 2 Lanes In, 3 Lanes Out
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Bridge Rehabilitation Safety and Mobility Award
- Originally Scheduled for Two Construction Seasons
- Completed in One Season with No Effect on Peak Direction Traffic
- Direct Savings of “Several Million Dollars” by using QMB
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Positive Protection and Adjustable Flow
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Positive Protection and Adjustable Flow (continued)
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Positive Protection and Adjustable Flow (continued)
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I–15 Devore Project - Caltrans
- Rapid Rehab Case Study
- Project Completed in Less Than 9 Weeks
- Originally Scheduled for 10 months
- Net Savings >$6mm
- Caltrans Applauded by Local Citizens Council for Lessened Disruption of Traffic
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The definition of “Insanity” is continuing to do the same thing and expecting a different result.
Albert Einstein
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Recommendations / Conclusions
- Identify and prioritize corridors that are so congested that “innovative solutions” are warranted and worth funding
- Obtain a national commitment to implement and fund the correction of congestion in the top candidates in these corridors
- Remove obstacles of “multi sourcing” if it is in the best interest of the public on these projects
- Use “RSAP”, CA4PERs and other similar technologies to be able to provide comparative evaluation of available technologies to ensure solutions acceptably address congestion and safety.
- Challenge the Infrastructure Industry to solve these serious congestion and safety problems with incentives of funding pilot programs, research programs, etc. and be willing to fund the final solutions that demonstrate that they provide SOLUTIONS
- Recognize that we are in this for the “long haul” – it is not a short term answer
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Categories: Work Zone Conferences
