IDOT develops safety project webinar series based on research conducted by ICT
2/1/2017
Findings from three safety-related research projects conducted by the Illinois Center for Transportation (ICT) on behalf of the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) have been implemented as a technology deployment webinar series geared to IDOT and local agency staff, as well as consultants, designers, and contractors who are involved with roadway construction and maintenance in Illinois.
The webinars were recorded and are available for viewing online (links provided below).
Modified Right-Turn Lane Design
A webinar on the why, where, and how of modified right-turn lane design at intersections was presented on October 25, 2016. It was based on the findings of an ICT/IDOT project R27-111, which were published in a report titled “Effectiveness Evaluation of a Modified Right-Turn Lane Design at Intersections.” The webinar was presented by Sean Coyle, Safety Technology Engineer for CH2M; and Kerrie Schattler, professor in the Department of Civil Engineering and Construction at Bradley University. Topics addressed included the following:
- What are the benefits of a modified right-turn approach angle?
- Which types of intersection would benefit the most from the modification?
- How is an approach angle modified?
- What are the costs?
- Is a proposed change in design within IDOT’s design policy?
A feature article about the original study was recently published on ICT’s website. The study was led by an IDOT Technical Review Panel (TRP) chaired by Dan Mlacnik, Policy Engineer in IDOT’s Bureau of Design and Environment. Kerrie Schattler was the principal investigator.
The right-turn lane design webinar from October 2016 was recorded and is available for online viewing here.
Flashing Yellow Arrows at Intersections
A webinar on the use of flashing yellow arrows (FYAs) at intersections was presented on November 29, 2016. Among the questions addressed during the presentation were the following:
- What are the benefits of FYAs?
- What types of intersection would benefit the most from installation of FYAs?
- How are FYAs installed, what equipment is needed, and what are the signal head placement and programming requirements?
- What public outreach options are recommended to inform drivers about how to respond to an FYA?
The webinar was presented by IDOT District 4 staff members Randall Laninga, Traffic Engineer; Paul Grant, Traffic Signal Technician; and Brian Williamsen, Spokesperson.
The ICT/IDOT research project that forms the basis for the webinar was “Evaluation of Flashing Yellow Arrows (FYA) for Protected/Permissive Left Turn (PPLT) Control” (R27-097). Three reports were published in connection with that study:
- State-of-the-Art Literature Review on Permissive/Protected Left-Turn Control
- Driver Comprehension and Operations Evaluation of Flashing Yellow Arrows
- Safety Evaluation of Flashing Yellow Arrows for Protected/Permissive Left-Turn Control
More information about the original research project is available on ICT’s website. Laninga served as TRP chair for the project. Kerrie Schattler, who was the principal investigator on the right-turn lane design project, led the project’s research team.
Ryan Culton, Research Implementation Engineer in the IDOT Bureau of Research’s Technical Research Coordination Unit, says “The webinar will be of great use to IDOT in informing designers about why, where, and how to install flashing yellow arrows at the appropriate intersection corridors. In addition, IDOT is encouraging local jurisdiction participation in the webinar to disseminate a current state of practice as FYAs become more prevalent throughout the nation, which greatly improves safety at signalized intersections.”
The FYA webinar from November 2016 was recorded and is available for online viewing here.
Pavement Marking Selection and Installation Inspection
On December 12, 2016, Kyle Armstrong, IDOT Engineering and Standards Unit Chief; and Anna Ghidina, IDOT District 4 Acting Traffic Operations Engineer, presented a webinar on IDOT’s pavement marking policy and pavement marking selection guide. The IDOT policy and selection guide were developed as part of an ICT/IDOT project, “Evaluating Pavement Markings on Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) and Various Asphalt Surfaces” (R27-077).
The webinar introduced the various types of pavement marking materials available and how to select the optimal marking material based on pavement type and traffic volume. It also included instruction on how to inspect the installation of markings and provide guidance on basic inspection tools and how to assemble a toolkit for the field.
Kelly Morse, Chief Chemist at IDOT’s Bureau of Materials, was the TRP chair for the study that investigated pavement markings. Carmine Dwyer of Applied Research Associates, Inc. was principal investigator.
Morse says, “This webinar provides us with the ability to reach the construction and maintenance personnel that could best utilize this information. Due to the various field assignments, job locations and range of experience, webinars are an excellent resource to disseminate policy, best practices, and useful tools to improve the overall condition and quality of pavement markings. Pavement markings are a low-cost safety improvement that—if done properly—can keep the traveling public on the roadway and to their destinations safely.”
The pavement markings webinar from December 2016 was recorded and is available for online viewing here.
For more information about the webinar series, contact IDOT at DOT.BMPR.Research@illinois.gov.