WSDOT - 2007-2009 Funded Research Projects

Project Index

Project Delivery Right of way Environment Materials Bridge & Structures Construction	Operations Maintenance Traffic & Intelligent Transportation Systems Preservation Safety Security
Information and Finance Information & Data Programming Other	Multimodal Transportation Transportation Demand Management Pedestrian Planning Freight

Project Delivery

RIGHT OF WAY

Improving Right of Way Estimates

Funding: $50,000
Technical Monitor: Shirley Hughes
Principal Investigator: Glenn Crellin, WSU
Research Manager: Rhonda Brooks

Various methods have been used to estimate the effects of transportation improvements on real estate values. Understanding the dynamics of property pricing and acquisition will assist in the reliability of estimating right of way costs.

What We Hope to Accomplish: This research will provide WSDOT right of way appraisers with an analysis of parcels that have been purchased in specific project corridors to better understand how practices influence the purchase price.

ENVIRONMENT

Influence of Pile Driving Operations on Sound

Funding: $100,000
Technical Monitor: Marion Carey
Principal Investigator: TBD
Research Manager: Rhonda Brooks

Impact driving of large steel piles generates underwater sound and energy effects that may adversely affect salmonids, other fish species, marine mammals and diving sea birds. Recent studies have indicated that the impact sound is heavily influenced by hammer operator’s procedures. WSDOT seeks to test various operational procedures to reduce noise levels and possible harmful impacts. Very little information exists to help WSDOT and regulatory agencies accurately predict impact levels and to determine methods to avoid or reduce impacts.

What We Hope to Accomplish: This research will build upon previous research and develop a more realistic assessment of sound and energy impacts so that field instructions for pile driving can be developed.

Lighting Under Docks for Fish Movement

Funding: $140,000
Technical Monitor: Ellie Ziegler
Principal Investigator: Charles “Si” Simensted, UW
Research Manager: Rhonda Brooks

Previous studies have indicated that over water structures, such as ferry terminals, docks, etc. cast a shadow line that alters the movements and behavior of juvenile salmon. This research will place unique fiber optic lighting under the Port Townsend Ferry Terminal and assess the response of juvenile fish to the lighting application. Read more about this study.

What We Hope to Accomplish: This research will provide further data to understand impacts of over water structures and identify potential new technologies to minimize the impacts.

Connecting Habitats and Improving Safety

Funding: $75,000
Technical Monitor: Kelly McAllister
Principal Investigator: Yinhai Wang, UW
Research Manager: Rhonda Brooks

Approximately 3,000 collisions occur yearly with deer and elk on state highways, some resulting in serious injuries and fatalities. Such accidents are also a significant source of wildlife mortality and may restrict animal movements through habitats thereby reducing local population sizes. This research will analyze
collision data on Washington State highways and identify high risk locations for animal-vehicle collisions.

What We Hope to Accomplish: This research will assist with identifying and prioritizing locations that require attention to wildlife habitat connectivity on the statewide highway system.

Steep Slopes Natural Dispersion in Western Washington

Funding: $152,000
Technical Monitor: David Batts
Principal Investigator: Herrera Environmental Consultants
Research Manager: Rhonda Brooks

Roadside embankments exist along hundreds of miles of Washington highways, yet little is known about their infiltration capacity given different soils, physical properties such as slope and length and precipitation characteristics. This research will set up monitoring sites at several different locations to test infiltration rates so that there is a better understanding of the dynamics of highway water runoff in areas where there are steep slopes.

What We Hope to Accomplish: In the short term, this research will provide data to improve the accuracy of existing hydrologic models. In the long term, this data, along with other information, will be used to document overall stormwater treatment benefits of highway embankments with the ultimate goal of demonstrating that these areas are a viable Low Impact Development (LID) treatment option for highway runoff.

Highway Runoff Treatment System Performance

Funding: $300,000
Technical Monitor: David Batts
Principal Investigator: TBD
Research Manager: Rhonda Brooks

Highway stormwater management is a complex task that involves a number of constraints and regulatory drivers. It involves the science of hydraulics, hydrology, and geology and water quality. The linear nature of highways often poses siting constraints for conventional stormwater management approaches. This research will be scoped to refine the design criteria for natural dispersion practices, including quantifying the flow attenuation capabilities of certain best management practices (BMP’s); quantifying stormwater treatment and flow attenuation capabilities of soil amendments and vegetative restoration methods. The precise scoping for this research will commence following the stormwater research and monitoring described below.

What We Hope to Accomplish: To protect water quality by developing highway stormwater treatment methods that is cost effective and also performs reliably.

MATERIALS

Determination of Optimum HMA Density Based on Pavement
Performance

Funding: $100,000
Technical Monitor: Linda Pierce
Principal Investigator: Steve Muench and Joe Mahoney, UW
Research Manager: Kim Willoughby

WSDOT has used a quality assurance (QA) process for hot mix asphalt (HMA) pavements for over 25 years. The quality assurance data, specifically aggregate gradation, binder content, and density data, is contained within the QA Spec/SAM databases. WSDOT has also collected pavement condition data since the late 1960’s and has maintained a pavement management system since the 1980’s. With the implementation of the Superpave mix design procedure and the asphalt binder specifications there is concern (confirmed in Florida and other states) that there are issues related to HMA permeability, which can be offset by ensuring adequate density. With the quality assurance and pavement management data, WSDOT has the information available to determine how HMA density impacts pavement performance, but more specifically, we hope to determine what HMA density is necessary to provide long-lived HMA pavements (specifically the wearing surface). In addition, there may be the potential to determine how the use of the QA specification has impacted pavement performance over time. The current WSDOT HMA density specification is based on historical data (HMA designs based on the Hveem mix design procedure) and may not meet current best practices.

What We Hope To Accomplish: The pavement preservation budget has been dwindling over the last several biennia and does not have a favorable outlook over the next several biennia. Therefore it is imperative that WSDOT construct HMA pavements to achieve the longest possible pavement performance life. Though there are many aspects of HMA design and construction that can affect pavement life, one of the most significant is density. If changes in the density specification result in added pavement life without significant added construction costs, WSDOT may realize millions of dollars in annual savings.

Concrete Performance Using Low Degradation Aggregate

Funding: $80,000
Technical Monitor: Jim Walter, Mike Polodna
Principal Investigators: Pizhong Qiao and David McLean, WSU
Research Manager: Kim Willoughby

Aggregate degradation of marine basalt materials, particularly Eocene Basalts, has been a recognized problem in the State of Washington since a published report by Carl Minor in 1959. As the low degradation materials are removed from the source and subjected to water, the interstitial basaltic glass that was created during formation becomes altered to a magnesium-saturated montmorillonite clay. Specification requirements for degradation of aggregates have been established for HMA and most aggregate products, but have not been established for concrete aggregate.

What We Hope to Accomplish: Establish a long-term or accelerated testing evaluation program to study the effect of low degradation aggregate relating to the detrimental effect on concrete and implement a degradation specification for concrete aggregates.

Rapid Portland Cement Concrete Pavement Construction and Long-Term Performance

Funding: $180,000
Technical Monitor: Linda Pierce
Principal Investigator: Steve Muench, UW
Research Manager: Kim Willoughby

Rehabilitation of pavements in high traffic/urban areas requires concrete mixtures that can achieve necessary strengths for opening in 24-48 hours. These mixtures must be durable, yet must also be able to be placed by normal construction crews using conventional equipment. Guidelines must be developed for specifying and achieving robust, durable concrete mixtures that reach necessary early strengths. These mixtures should also match or exceed the long-term performance characteristics of existing WSDOT concrete.

What We Hope to Accomplish: The research will enable WSDOT to make the best choice of concrete mixes for upcoming projects in the Puget Sound urban area.

Evaluation of Dowel Bar Retrofit for Long-Term Life

Funding: $80,000
Technical Monitor: Tom Baker, Jeff Uhlmeyer
Principal Investigator: Joe Mahoney, UW
Research Manager: Kim Willoughby

For more than ten years, WSDOT has been rehabilitating its aged concrete pavements by retrofitting the transverse joints with dowel bars. WSDOT has found that this procedure is a cost-effective option for rehabilitating concrete pavements; however, there are many unknown design aspects. Such as, what pavements are most appropriate for dowel bar retrofit; what is the long-term performance (extension of pavement life); and once a pavement has been dowel bar retrofitted, what is the most likely method of failure?

What We Hope to Accomplish: Our goal is to develop a complete design package for dowel bar retrofit projects that would include the proper selection of suitable candidates for rehabilitation and a prediction of expected pavement life extension as a result of the retrofit.

Development of Bituminous Surface Treatment Protocols

Funding: $50,000
Technical Monitor: Linda Pierce
Principal Investigator: Joe Mahoney, UW
Research Manager: Kim Willoughby

Dwindling budgets for the pavement preservation program are necessitating that we look at an increase in the use of pavement preservations techniques that are less costly. There is a significant annualized cost difference in BST ($2,500/lane mile/year assuming a 6 year life and $15,000/lane mile cost) versus hot mix asphalt (HMA) ($10,000/lane mile/year assuming 15 year life and $150,000/lane mile cost).

What We Hope to Accomplish: We want to optimize the use of rehabilitation funding by revisiting the appropriateness of the current BST protocol in light of the improved construction practices and materials since these criteria were set. Choices for the rehabilitation strategy can then be optimized for the climate and traffic using the best combination of asphalt binder and aggregate.

Development of EverStressFE Software for 3D Finite-Element Analysis of Flexible Pavement Structures

Funding: $100,000
Technical Monitor: Linda Pierce
Principal Investigator: Bill Davids, University of Maine
Research Manager: Kim Willoughby

Mechanistic-empirical (M-E) methods for the design of flexible pavement structures are becoming more prevalent and sophisticated. The effective use of M-E design methods requires the development and implementation of sophisticated strategies for assessing pavement layer strains and displacements under highway axle loads, hence finite-element analysis (FEA). With FEA, complex boundaries and loading can be considered, as can inter-layer slip and materially nonlinear response.

What We Hope to Accomplish: The objective of the work proposed here is to develop a 3D FEA package for the analysis of asphalt pavement structures that is suitable for use in a broad range of analysis and design situations. A tool which can handle analyses ranging from simple to highly complex is envisioned.

I-5 Seattle Corridor – Pavement Deterioration Study (CSR)

Funding: $188,300
Technical Monitor: Carol Hunter
Principal Investigators: George Turkiyyah and Joe Mahoney, UW
Research Manager: Kim Willoughby

In the 1960s, WSDOT designed and constructed the PCC pavements on I-5 through the Seattle area to provide 20 years of service, which was the standard required for federal funding at the time. Forty years later, and billions of vehicle trips, those concrete pavements are still in place, still handling the highest daily traffic in the state, though the quality of that service is steadily declining. The concrete paving performed better and has lasted longer than any of the original pavement life estimates from 1960; but longer than expected performance is not forever. The PCCP constructed on I-5 are among a very small group of pavements nationwide that were built as part of the original Interstate Highway System that are in service today that have not been rehabilitated or completely reconstructed.

What We Hope to Accomplish: The results will aid the decisions needed to make critical timing decisions relative to I-5 rehabilitation/reconstruction plans within the corridor.

Subsurface Drainage for Landslide and Slope Stabilization (TPF-5(151))

Technical Monitor: Tom Badger
Research Manager: Kim Willoughby
Partners: CA, MD, MS, MT, NH, NY, OH, PA, TX, WA

The objectives of this research are to provide best practices and guidance for subsurface drainage applications for slope stabilization, including subsurface investigation and testing, groundwater-flow characterization, analysis, drain configurations and design, installation methods, monitoring, and maintenance. This project will evaluate new applications of existing materials and technologies, such as trenchless technologies (horizontal directional drilling, micro tunneling, guided boring, etc.) and other innovative technologies and materials, for stabilizing slopes using subsurface drainage.

Tire/Pavement Noise Research Consortium (TPF-5(135))

Technical Monitor: Linda Pierce
Research Manager: Kim Willoughby
Partners: CA, KS, MN, MT, NC, OH, TX, WA, FHWA

Research on low-noise pavement treatments and materials is beginning in earnest in a variety of states. This consortium will coordinate the sharing of research development, evaluation techniques, and study results, which is critical to reduce overall costs for key research pieces, reduce redundancy of effort, focus funding in the most needed areas, and find viable solutions that can be implemented expeditiously for the highest number of states.

Pavement Tools Consortium (PTC) (TPF-5(090))

Technical Monitor: Tom Baker
Research Manager: Kim Willoughby
Partners: CA, FL, ID, IL, KS, MD, MN, TX, WA, FHWA

The Pavement Tools Consortium fosters the continued development and implementation of computer-based paving tools, such as: Pavement Guide, Virtual Superpave Laboratory, Media Library, HMAView, PMSView, Stockpile Blender, XPactor, and EverFE. The major focus of the pavement tools is the enhancement of pavement-related training and construction operations.

Pavement Research and Technology (SPTC) (SPR-3(074))

Technical Monitor: Tom Baker
Research Manager: Kim Willoughby
Partners: CA, MN, TX, WA

Under this project, each state will create funding to allow technical staff and university researchers to participate in a series of project meetings focused on sharing information, identifying critical issues of mutual interest, developing plans for joint research and testing, and educating transportation professionals on the latest developments in the design, construction, reconstruction and maintenance of highway pavements.

Strength and Deformation Analysis of MSE Walls at Working Loads (SPR-3(072))

Technical Monitor: Tony Allen
Research Manager: Kim Willoughby
Partners: AK, AZ, CA, CO, ID, MN, MO, ND, NY, OR, WA, WI, WY

The work performed under this pooled fund study has developed an improved method for internal stability design of Mechanically-Stabilized Earth (MSE) retaining walls, the K-Stiffness method. This method appears to produce a more cost-effective design for MSE walls as compared to the AASHTO Simplified Method. The K-Stiffness method has only been developed and validated for high quality sandy backfill soils. The next two phases will extend the K-Stiffness method to 1) marginal quality backfill materials and 2) full-scale field walls that will be monitored for validation. The validation of the K-Stiffness method for marginal quality backfill materials and monitoring full-scale walls is necessary to incorporate this method into the AASHTO Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) specifications.

BRIDGE & STRUCTURES

Seismic Assessment and Retrofit of WSDOT Bridges

Funding: $150,000
Technical Monitor: Bijan Khaleghi
Principal Investigators: Bill Cofer and Mohamed ElGawady, WSU
Research Manager: Kim Willoughby

WSDOT has developed a seismic retrofit program for its bridges. While many bridges have been retrofit already, there are types of bridges that have not been addressed yet and those include multiple column bents and precast/prestressed hollow core concrete piles. A structural analysis is required to evaluate the seismic vulnerability of these types of bridges and to evaluate potential retrofit techniques.

What We Hope to Accomplish: Through the structural analyses, determine the vulnerability of these types of bridges to seismic failure and recommend retrofit strategies.

Precast Systems for Rapid Construction of Bridges – Experimental Verification

Funding: $200,000
Technical Monitor: Jugesh Kapur, Bijan Khaleghi
Principal Investigators: John Stanton and Marc Eberhard, UW Research Manager: Kim Willoughby

Bridge construction can dramatically increase traffic delays and congestion, particularly in urban areas with heavy traffic volumes. Traffic disruption could be reduced significantly if reinforced concrete columns and cross-beams could be precast offsite, and then rapidly assembled together at the bridge site. Such systems have been used successfully to construct bridges in states with low seismic activity (e.g., Texas), but the systems used in those states are not suitable for the level of seismicity in Western Washington State.

What We Hope to Accomplish: This project will experimentally verify that precast systems can be constructed that will pass our rigorous seismic standards.

Blast Testing of Full-Scale, Precast, Prestressed, Concrete Girder Bridges (TPF-5(115))

Technical Monitor: Ron Lewis
Research Manager: Kim Willoughby
Partners: CA, FL, NY, OR, PA, TX, WA, WI, FHWA

The objectives of this research are: (1) to assess the damage done to precast, prestressed girder bridges from a blast generated below the girders, (2) to compare this damage with a blast generated on top of the bridge deck, and (3) to develop recommendations for possible mitigation measures that would harden this type of bridge blast damage.

Testing was performed during the summer of 2007. Evaluation and analyses are ongoing. A report is expected in mid-2008.

CONSTRUCTION

LRFD Procedures for Geotechnical Seismic Design – Phase I

Funding: $100,000
Technical Monitor: Tony Allen
Principal Investigators: Steve Kramer (UW) and Jack Baker (Stanford)
Research Manager: Kim Willoughby

Design of foundations, walls, and other geotechnical elements of transportation infrastructure have migrated to LRFD basis using concepts of reliability analysis. This transformation has allowed more uniformity of failure risk, thereby producing more efficient use of design, construction, and maintenance funds. Current procedures for seismic design of geotechnical elements are not LRFD- or reliability-based. The objective of the proposed research would be to develop a framework for computing load and resistance factors for the seismic design of geotechnical elements of transportation infrastructure.

What We Hope to Accomplish: This framework would allow determination of load and resistance factors that would, accounting for uncertainties in earthquake occurrence and effects, produce designs with reliabilities consistent with those achieved by LRFD procedures for high-probability loading conditions.

New Quality Assurance Test Method to Detect Drilled Shaft Defects

Funding: $100,000
Technical Monitor: Mohammad Sheikhizadeh
Principal Investigator: Gray Mullins, University of South Florida
Research Manager: Kim Willoughby

WSDOT constructs drilled shafts using the wet method and typically accepts them based on the successful results of the Cross Sonic Log testing. This method of Quality Assurance testing can only verify the quality of concrete inside the shaft core and does not provide for verification of the quality or adequacy of the concrete cover on the outside of the shaft rebar cage. There is a lack of reliable test methods to verify the quality of concrete throughout the entire drilled shaft (including the concrete on the outside of the rebar cage), so we are interested in a new test method to determine the quality and adequacy of the concrete.

What We Hope to Accomplish: This research will develop a reliable, practical, innovative, safe, and cost-effective testing method that can verify shaft core concrete quality as well as presence of adequate concrete cover outside the shaft rebar cage.

Pavement Reconstruction Scheduling Software (SPR-3(098))

Technical Monitor: Linda Pierce
Research Manager: Kim Willoughby
Partners: CA, MN, TX, WA, FHWA

This consortium was formed through the State Pavement Technology Consortium (SPTC) to develop a software simulation tool which can be used to consider pavement design options along with construction scheduling, resource constraints, traffic management, and user-delays. The CA4PRS software is a construction and scheduling analysis tool to make sound construction project management decisions at each stage of the highway rehabilitation project: planning, design, and construction. CA4PRS can estimate how much pavement can be rehabilitated or reconstructed under different traffic closure strategies with given project constraints of: pavement design, lane closure tactics, schedule interfaces, and contractor logistics and resources.

Other TPF Projects to Which Washington Contributes but doesn’t Lead

Right of Way
• Electronic Appraisal Development Study – Phase 1
Environment
• FHWA Traffic Noise Model: Version 3.0 Software and Training
• Structural Acoustic Analysis of Piles
Materials
• Design and Construction Guidelines for Thermally Insulated Concrete Pavements
• PCC Surface Characteristics: Tire-Pavement Noise Program Part 3- Innovative Solutions/Current Practices
• Self-Consolidating Concrete – Applications for slip form Paving
• Transportation Curriculum Coordination Council Training Management and Development
• Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) Calibration Center and Operational Improvements
• Structural Improvements of Flexible Pavements Using Geosynthetics for Base Course Reinforcements
• Investigation of Low Temperature Cracking in Asphalt Pavements
Bridge & Structures
• Validation of Numerical Modeling and Analysis of Steel Bridge Towers Subjected to Blast Loadings
• Long-term Maintenance of Load and Resistance Factor Design Specifications
• Updating a Guide to Standardized Highway Lighting Pole Hardware
Construction
• Engineers Estimate for Design-Build Projects
• Western Alliance for Quality Transportation Construction (WAQTC)

OPERATIONS

MAINTENANCE

Deicer Interaction with Portland Cement Concrete Pavements and Bridge Decks

Funding: $35,000
Technical Monitor: Jim Walter and Masha Wilson
Principal Investigator: Xianming Shi, WTI, MSU
Research Manager: Kim Willoughby

Some de-icing chemicals used for snow and ice control on roads and bridges may cause deterioration of Portland cement concrete. This deterioration is a complex process that involves both physical and chemical alterations in the cement paste and aggregates and is affected by the deicer chemistry, cement ingredients, aggregate reactivity, concrete quality, and environmental conditions. The long-term effect is the potential degradation of concrete pavements and bridge decks.

What We Hope To Accomplish: It is critical to determine how the deicer chemicals are affecting the integrity of our concrete pavements and bridge decks so that we can prevent further deterioration and take the necessary steps to preserve our infrastructure.

Long-Term Corrosion Impacts from Highway Snow and Ice Control Chemicals

Funding: $170,000
Technical Monitor: Rico Baroga
Principal Investigator: Xianming Shi, Western Transportation Institute
Research Manager: Kim Willoughby

Several different types of snow and ice control chemicals are available for WSDOT maintenance to use to improve safety of roads under winter conditions. While the short-term operational costs of using different chemicals are fairly easy to identify, there is a lack of information regarding the long term costs of corrosion from chemical use. Corrosion impacts to motor vehicles, bridge structures, and steel rebar in pavements and bridge decks are of particular concern.

What We Hope to Accomplish: Additional information is needed to make the best choices on selecting snow and ice chemicals that will be cost-effective in the short-term as well as the long-term from an asset management perspective.

Remotely Operated Aircraft (ROA) Test Flight (CSR & QR Funds)

Budget: $47,636
Technical Monitor: Traffic, Maintenance, & Aviation offices
Principal Investigator: Georgia Tech
Research Manager: Kim Willoughby

Remotely operated aircraft, or ROA’s can be used for avalanche control and search and rescue operations. This project is testing the ROA’s ability to carry cameras, operate in mountainous weather, and locate individuals in mountainous terrain. The flight operation, which took place on September 11, 2007, will demonstrate the performance on a specific ROA in mountainous terrain (Cascade Mountains adjacent to SR20).

What We Hope to Accomplish: Determine the ability of a ROA to carry cameras and remotely operate them, locate individuals (for search and rescue operations), and to operate in mountainous terrain and weather.

Pacific Northwest Snowfighters (TPF-5(035))

Technical Monitor: Monty Mills
Research Manager: Kim Willoughby
Partners: CO, ID, IN, MN, MT, ND, OR, UT, VA, WA, British Columbia, Ontario Ministry of Transportation

The Pacific Northwest Snowfighters (PNS) Association strives to serve the traveling public by evaluating and establishing specifications for products used in winter maintenance that emphasize safety, environmental preservation, infrastructure protection, cost-effectiveness and performance. The consortium is dedicated to the creation and maintenance of specifications for winter maintenance chemicals and the optimization of their application on the roadway.

TRAFFIC & INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS

Efficient Incident Response Program Operations

Budget: $75,000
Technical Monitor: Bill Legg
Principal Investigator: Mark Hallenbeck, UW
Research Manager: Doug Brodin

The Incident Response (IR) program includes: State operated incident response and service patrols in all regions; WSP service patrols in two regions; Tow Service Patrols in two regions; and, Contracted private media service patrol in one region. The total biennial costs for these four operational elements are over $6 million. This research will develop a needs-based process for deploying these IR resources.

What We Hope to Accomplish: This research builds on previous work to evaluate the IR Program This project will establish a needs based system to guide the department on how to select and deploy the proper IR program elements based on desired costs and service levels in order to provide the highest level of service at the most efficient cost.

Electronic Container Seal Expansion(CSR)

Funding: $300,000
Technical Monitor: Ted Trepanier
Principal Investigator: Ed McCormick, UW
Research Project Manager: Doug Brodin

The purpose of this project is to expand the field operation test of a transponder door seal system for marine cargo containers transported by trucks to enable tracking of shipping containers and monitoring of their security.

What We Hope to Accomplish: This project will test these seals as tools for reducing roadway congestion at ports and borders, for increasing the security of containerized cargo movements and for tracking shipping containers both in ports and along roadways.

HOV Lane Analysis and Monitoring: Phase 9

Funding: $450,000
Technical Monitor: Ted Trepanier
Principal Investigator: Mark Hallenbeck, UW
Research Project Manager: Doug Brodin

The WSDOT has requested that UW TRAC continue to collect performance data on the Puget Sound area’s high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane system.

What We Hope to Accomplish: This project will provide information to evaluate the effectiveness of HOV lanes in the Puget Sound area. The monitoring effort will be as multifaceted as budgetary constraints allow. This monitoring effort will cover HOV lane usage (occupancy), violations, person throughput, enforcement issues, and public opinion.

Quantifying Incident Induced Travel Delays on Freeways Using Traffic Sensor Data (Phase 2)

Budget: $75,000
Technical Monitor: Bill Legg
Principal Investigator: Yinhai Wang, UW
Research Manager: Doug Brodin

From a combination of recent studies and analytical work, it is estimated that more than 50% of freeway congestion results from incidents. Understanding the estimated travel delay induced by each type of incident can help the WSDOT understand incident impacts on travel time, estimate incident cost, and identify effective countermeasures against non-recurrent congestion on freeways. Previous research developed a queuing-diagram based algorithm and implemented in a prototype system. Over 200 incident cases were applied to test the algorithm and favorable results were obtained from the tests. However, incident data used for the Phase I study were manually processed and not large enough to cover desired analyses on incident impacts. Also, speed variations along a freeway segment were not considered in travel time calculation. To reduce errors introduced by these factors, a systematic analysis on freeway incidents and an improved method for travel-time calculation are needed to make the queuing-diagram-based algorithm a reliable method for incident-induced delay estimation and the computerized system a practical tool for predicting incident impacts on freeway travels.

What We Hope to Accomplish: Final objectives for this Phase II research are to develop a queuing-theory based algorithm for estimating incident-induced delay and a computerized system for automating the calculation process and predicating incident impacts on freeway travels in real time. These deliverables are expected to assist freeway incident management and traffic operations.

Development of a Consistent and Reliable Statewide Traffic Datamart Based on Customers Needs and Expectations

Budget: $200,000
Technical Monitor: Ted Trepanier
Principal Investigator: Mark Hallenbeck, UW
Research Manager: Doug Brodin

The objective of this project is not to deliver a new operations-data collection, analysis and archiving system, called an operations data mart. Such a deliverable is beyond the available financial resources of this project. Instead, this project will:

Provide the functional specifications for the required system. These will state in plain, non-technical language what data the system will archive, what performance measures the system is expected to generate, what statistical analyses the system is expected to perform and what existing and emerging data sources it can accommodate now and/or in future updates.
Map the capabilities of WSDOT’s PeMS (Eastern Region) and Oregon DOT’s PORTAL system (SW Region) to these functional specifications to obtain an assessment of how well PeMS and PORTAL meet WSDOT’s needs. The strengths and deficiencies of these systems will be assessed.
Based on this assessment, provide recommendations on whether to proceed with either PeMS or PORTAL as the statewide data mart. If enhancements to the version of PeMS that WSDOT owns are needed or if a new version of PeMS is needed, TRAC would help develop the information and material required to request the funding necessary for this. If a different system is recommended, TRAC would help develop the material to request funding for that system and an RFP to procure the system.
Develop guidance that assists WSDOT with the use of PeMS or Portal, assuming it is adequate, to obtain the performance measures that it needs.
Provide a roadmap for improving existing data and collecting data that are expected to be available in the future, such as data from toll tags or commercial vehicle probes. This step would be coordinated with work funded by WSDOT and TransNow to improve the quality of loop data.

What We Hope to Accomplish: The outcome of this complete effort (which extends beyond this specific funded research project) will be a decision support system that allows WSDOT management to report on the performance of state highways throughout the state and the effectiveness of specific traffic management actions undertaken by the Department.

A Technical Advisory Committee meeting held on April 8, 2008 centered discussion development of a “white paper” for the WSDOT 2009-11 budget process. This white paper has been submitted to department executive and outlines funding options for the actual development of an operations data mart.

Puget Sound In-Vehicle Traffic Map Demonstration (CSR)
Continuing Federal Earmark

Budget: $675,000
Technical Monitor: Ted Trepanier
Principal Investigator: Mark Hallenbeck, UW
Research Manager: Doug Brodin

Traveler information is an Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) technology considered to have benefit to both travelers and transportation agencies. Intellectually, the benefits of in-vehicle traveler information seem obvious. However, documentation of these benefits is difficult.

What We Hope to Accomplish: This project will test the effects of in-vehicle traffic information and measure the benefits accruing from those devices. It will involve two different sets of analysis, one dealing with the benefits perceived by the traveler actually using the devices and the second dealing with changes in roadway performance occurring as travelers use the devices.

Preliminary Investigation of Luminaire and Traffic Signal Pole Lifespan

Budget: $45,000
Technical Monitor: Matt Neeley
Principal Investigator: Jeffrey Berman, UW
Research Manager: Doug Brodin

WSDOT has installed thousands of luminaires and over 1,000 traffic signals, each with several poles, around the state. Those steel poles were projected to have a 25-year design life and over half of them are approaching that milestone. Some luminaires on I-5 have not been replaced since they were installed as part of the construction of I-5 in the 1960s. AASHTO guidelines, published in 2001, now specify a 50-year design standard. WSDOT would like to know whether there is an urgent need to replace these luminaire and signal poles that are reaching their design life. Some method of setting priorities is needed to allocate limited funding for replacement so that the risk of failure is reduced and public safety is ensured.

What We Hope to Accomplish: The research will be used to formulate a strategy and/or program for the replacement of luminaires and traffic signal poles. As stated above, additional research may be necessary to properly characterize the remaining life of these poles.

Congestion Analysis and WSDOT Support (CSR)

Budget: $409,387
Technical Monitor: Ted Trepanier
Principal Investigator: Mark Hallenbeck, UW
Research Manager: Doug Brodin

This project will enable UW TRAC assistance to various WSDOT offices to support their analytical requirements for freeway performance monitoring data.

What We Hope to Accomplish: This assistance will take the form of analytical output produced by TRAC (data, graphs, reports, presentation materials), enhancements to the TRAC FLOW software and technical support to WSDOT users of the software. Potential partners/clients will include (but are not limited to) WSDOT's NW Region, Urban Planning Office, HQ/Traffic, Transportation Data Office, and Urban Corridors Office.

TSMC Intern Program (CSR)

Budget: $389,568
Technical Monitor: Morgan Balogh
Principal Investigator: Scott Rutherford, UW
Research Manager: Doug Brodin

The purpose of this agreement is to enable the UW and WSDOT to cooperatively provide professional experience, training and research opportunities to UW students at WSDOT’s Traffic Systems Management Center (TSMC) and other WSDOT facilities. These students, under the supervision of WSDOT engineers, will operate the FLOW system and conduct research and analysis tasks as requested.

What We Hope to Accomplish:
The objectives of this project are to:
1) provide technical expertise to the WSDOT and TSMC for operations, analysis, and research;
2) provide an environment in which students can further their education;
3) provide financial assistance for civil engineering students.

TMC Design(CSR)

Budget: $35,000
Technical Monitor: Morgan Balogh
Principal Investigator: Pete Briglia, UW
Research Project Manager: Doug Brodin

The agreement is to work with WSDOT traffic and Consultant Services Offices to develop a Request for Proposals (RFP) to hire a consultant to perform 30% design of a new NW Region Traffic Management Center (TMC).

What We Hope to Accomplish: Issues related to building a new TMC, including collocating with the Washington State patrol will be investigated. Efforts will be coordinated with NW Region and the Urban Corridors Office. Technical guidance in the consultant selection process will be provided.

South Snohomish - Transit Signal Priority (CSR)

Budget: $184,489
Technical Monitor: Community Transit
Principal Investigator: Yinhai Wang, UW
Research Manager: Kathy Lindquist

The Transit Signal Priority project is to determine the feasibility and design features of a TSP system in collaboration with Community Transit in Snohomish County. The project has been making steady progress. To date, TSP detection hardware has been installed at 37 intersections in south Snohomish County, and TSP operations have been implemented at 18 of those intersections. The 32 locations include 9 County and WSDOT intersections. Plans include one more construction phase to be conducted by the City of Lynnwood that will add TSP hardware to 12 more intersections. Implementation has been delayed due to ongoing problems with communication within the TSP subsystem. The design is nearing completion, except for some minor documentation adjustments and to publish the plans for the single remaining contract.

What We Hope to Accomplish: TSP has been implemented in Snohomish County and it appears that TSP operations do not adversely affect overall traffic operations. The goal is to develop and implement a TSP system that improves traffic flow in Snohomish County and the reliability of the Community Transit system.

Transportation Applications of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (CSR)

Budget: $70,000
Technical Monitor: Ted Trepanier
Principal Investigator: Ed McCormick, UW
Research Project Manager: Doug Brodin

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are becoming smaller and less expensive. These aircraft are small enough to be launched from a pickup truck but still large enough to be equipped with cameras and sensors that can provide low-cost aerial information. This situation holds considerable promise for WSDOT since a UAV could be used for data collection and aerial surveillance in areas where geographic locations of potential transportation-related problems are only crudely known.

What We Hope to Accomplish: This project has two objectives. The first is to explore the utility of UAV for enhancing the avalanche control and search and rescue operations undertaken by WSDOT. The second objective is to explore the larger institutional issues behind the use of a UAV by WSDOT. The operational experience gained with UAVs will help all agencies involved (including WSDOT, FAA and USDOT) develop usable UAV policies for public transportation agencies. These policies will become increasingly necessary as UAV technology advances and more non-military organizations push to use UAVs.

PRESERVATION

Determine Longevity and Cost-Effectiveness of Corrosion Inhibitors and Deicer Performance

Funding: $100,000
Technical Monitor: Tom Root
Principal Investigator: Xianming Shi, Western Transportation Institute
Research Manager: Kim Willoughby

Public agencies utilize deicing and anti-icing chemicals to achieve safe winter driving conditions. Some of these chemicals have a corrosion inhibitor included, which is intended to minimize the corrosivity of the chemical. Extensive laboratory testing has been done to ensure these chemicals meet specifications, but field verification is needed.

What We Hope to Accomplish: This project is intended to evaluate the longevity and cost-effectiveness of the corrosion inhibitors that are added to deicing/anti-icing chemicals and determine the field performance of the deicer/anti-icer.

Bridge Deck Shrinkage Cracking

Funding: $100,000
Technical Monitor: Mohammad Sheikhizadeh
Principal Investigators: Pizhong Qiao and David McLean, WSU
Research Manager: Kim Willoughby

In recent years, virtually all newly-constructed bridge decks are developing shrinkage cracks in the concrete. The presence of early-age cracking in concrete bridge decks increases the effects of freeze-thaw damage, spalling due to sulfate and chloride penetration, and corrosion of steel reinforcement, thus resulting in premature deterioration and structural deficiency of the bridges.

What We Hope to Accomplish: There is an urgent need to identify the causes of the early-age cracking in the decks and to develop appropriate strategies to prevent or minimize this cracking.

Investigation of Quieter Pavements (CSR)

Funding: $125,632
Technical Monitor: Linda Pierce
Principal Investigator: Newt Jackson, Nichols Consulting Enginers
Research Manager: Kim Willoughby

This research will evaluate the performance of quieter pavements in use in the US and Europe with specific emphasis on collecting information on the performance of these pavements in California, Arizona, Georgia, Florida, and Texas. In addition, the report will offer recommendations on the potential use of quieter pavements technology in Washington State, with an emphasis on use in urban, Western Washington.

What We Hope to Accomplish: This project will evaluate the performance of quieter pavements in use in the USA and Europe and how that compares with typical hot-mix asphalt in Washington state. It will also provide recommendations on the potential use in Washington State, specifically urban, western Washington.

Western Pavement Preservation Partnership (WPPP) (TPF-5(137))

Technical Monitor: Linda Pierce
Research Manager: Kim Willoughby
Partners: CA, HI, NV, WA

The purpose of the WPPP is to provide a partnering forum for promoting effective pavement preservation strategies. This pooled fund will host a multi-day annual workshop for discussion and exchange of information and knowledge about each state's pavement preservation program, provide a means to define, support and share technology of mutual interest, and conduct special studies, investigations, research, and training.

SAFETY

Crash Testing Concrete Barriers with Large Scuppers

Funding: $95,000
Technical Monitor: Rod Erickson
Principal Investigator: TBD
Research Manager: Rhonda Brooks

Precast concrete barriers are regularly used along highways to reduce accidents. The location of the barrier can affect roadway drainage, resulting in a need for complex collection and dispersion systems that require treatment of the water prior to its discharge. Openings in the barriers or “scuppers” allow the drainage to sheet-flow off the roadway, which allows for the water to be filtered through roadside vegetation. However, there is uncertainty as to whether this type of scupper design may impact the barrier’s performance.

What We Hope to Accomplish: Crash testing will be conducted on barriers with scuppers to confirm their performance. The desired result is a barrier design that allows for highway water runoff to sheet flow and also protects the public from roadside hazards.

Roadside Safety Research Program (TPF-5(114))

Funding: $100,000
Technical Monitors: Dick Albin, Dave Olson
Principal Investigator: Texas Transportation Institute
Research Manager: Rhonda Brooks

Washington is one of seven states that contribute money to a pool for roadside safety research. This approach allows states to leverage their research funding by cooperatively identifying projects for crash testing and analysis and pooling their financial resources to address the highest priorities. Washington Department of Transportation is the lead state for the program, which has raised almost $1 million in research funding for safety.

What We Hope to Accomplish: Ongoing research is conducted to improve the design of highway structures so that accident damage can be minimized. This includes specific analysis, testing, and evaluation of all crashworthy structures. Research is also carried out to address the influence of highway features such as driveways, slopes, ditches, shoulders, medians, and curbs to identify problems by conducting in–service performance evaluations, computer simulations, and full-scale crash testing.

To get research reports and results of testing various roadside safety features visit the Roadside Safety Research Program Pooled Fund Study.

SECURITY

Quantitative Security Risk and Resource Allocation Model

Funding: $100,000
Technical Monitor: Scott Davis
Principal Investigator: William Peterson, Pacific Northwest Laboratories
Research Manager: Rhonda Brooks

Current and evolving security performance goals for Washington State Ferries requires a method to optimize available funding so that resources are used to best reduce the risk of a security incident. This research will establish a quantitative means by which relative risk reductions can be calculated so that a systematic method of deploying security measures can be funded.

What We Hope to Accomplish: This project will provide a quantitative tool that will be useful to Washington State Ferries, Washington State Patrol and the U.S. Coast Guard to make informed asset/resource allocation decisions and balance the localized risk between various routes, while optimizing systemic risk reduction.

Other TPF Projects to Which Washington Contributes but doesn’t Lead

Maintenance
• Western Maintenance Partnership
Traffic/Intelligent Transportation Systems
• High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Systems Pooled Fund Study
• Urban Mobility Study
• Enterprise
• Northwest Passage (1-90 Corridor)
Safety
• Safety Hardware Crash Tested to NCHRP Report 350
• Testing to Roadside Safety Systems

MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION

TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT

Measuring Employer-based Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Strategies

Funding: $90,000
Technical Monitor: Ed Hillsman
Principal Investigator: Phillip White, University of Southern Florida
Research Manager: Kathy Lindquist

This research seeks to develop a process for estimating how implementing a particular TDM strategy or mix of strategies affects the travel time, delay, and speed in specific corridors. The proposed research will use employer data from the CTR program and employee mode choice data collected by the CTR program to estimate the impacts of the TDM strategies. This information will be combined with data such as infrastructure for alternative modes collected by WSDOT, transit agencies and Census data to estimate changes in trip generation and mode split between home and workplace.

What We Hope to Accomplish: The end result will be a data format or interface for use by MPOs and RTPOs as part of their transportation system planning models used in the region to allow the estimation of TDM’s impacts on travel time, delay, and speed in specific corridors through those existing models. The Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) at the University of South Florida will produce the final report and hold a streaming media presentation on the project.

PEDESTRIAN

Safe Routes to Schools (TPF-5(172))

Technical Monitor: Charlotte Claybrooke
Principal Investigator: TBD
Partners: FL, TX, WA

This project will serve the development of programs to ensure safe school-related travel and help prioritize and select safety enhancement projects around schools. In recent years, the rate of active transport to schools has declined dramatically. Traffic volumes and speed associated with school environments have worsened over the past decades. Increasing numbers of children being driven to schools by their caretakers has contributed to worsening traffic congestion and increases in obesity and respiratory diseases related to poor air quality.

Consensus is developing across the nation to reverse these trends by allowing children to walk and bike to and from school. While the proportion of children and young adults involved in fatal or injury producing collisions has decreased over the past decade, little is known about the relative safety of the children’s commute to school.

What We Hope To Accomplish: The objectives of this project are 1) to provide future school route safety enhancement programs and Safe Routes to School programs guidance to assess the risk of collisions and thereby address unsafe conditions on a proactive basis; and 2) to ensure safe, effective, and healthy travel for children and young adults attending schools.

PLANNING

State Highways as Mainstreets – A Study in Community Design and Visioning (SPR)

Funding: $ 25,000
Technical Monitor: Paula Reeves
Principal Investigator: Jim Nichols, UW
Research Manager: Kathy Lindquist and Rhonda Brooks

In conjunction with WSDOT's Community Design Assistance Branch,
UW architecture students will provide technical assistance to communities working to make improvements to their downtown corridors (state highways serving as main streets). The goals of this program include:

helping local agencies improve their grant applications to WSDOT,
exploring new methods for collaboration and problem solving when state highways serve as local mainstreets,
determining successful approaches to meet the federal requirements for visioning set forth in SAFETEA-LU [23USC135(f)(3)(B)(ii)],
translating context sensitive design guidance into practice, and
supporting staff and organizational development efforts by connecting architecture and transportation engineering professions.

provide a review of other organizations’ assessments of the vulnerability of Washington’s freight transportation system
develop a geographic information system with the transportation network depicting, quantifying, and inventorying the major freight flows in the State of Washington
create a map of freight flows by major industry sectors that utilize different aspects of the geographic transportation network
develop two specific case studies that consider the economic consequences of a disruption to the transportation network
specify the requirement of a statewide freight resiliency simulation.

Strategic Freight Transportation Analysis (SFTA)

Continuing Federal Earmark
Funding: $1,338,742
Technical Monitor: Jerry Lenzi
Principal Investigator: Ken Casavant, WSU
Research Project Manager: Doug Brodin

SFTA's desired outcome is improved freight mobility for economic vitality. To achieve this, the SFTA research and implementation project, with its collaborative partnerships and integrated dynamic freight data warehouse, will aid in strategic infrastructure investment choices, including transportation support for economic development, responding to NAFTA impacts, and other emergent issues.

What We Hope to Accomplish: The overall purpose of the Strategic Freight Transportation Analysis (SFTA) is to strategically maximize the efficiencies and benefits available from the multimodal transportation system, within Washington, in moving freight. The study includes assessments of: freight corridors by vehicle volume, type and commodity; selected ports, roadways, rail and barges; mode cost structure and competitive mode share trends; economic development opportunities pertaining to the l multimodal transportation system; public and private investments; and, opportunities for public/private partnership investments.

Forest Products Use of Roadways and Transload Facilities in Washington (CSR)

Funding: $12,000
Technical Monitor: Barbara Ivanov
Principal Investigator: John Perez-Garcia, UW
Research Project Manager: Doug Brodin

Washington’s forest products sector has changed dramatically over the past several decades and with it the movement of timber and forest products. Recent studies suggest a forest sector that will continue to evolve as demands on forestlands respond to changes in various end-use markets, regulations that increasingly control land uses and environmental factors that impact raw material availability. Other studies have projected lumber manufacturing demand, future timber harvest levels and log flows across western Washington. These findings have implications for the transportation sector.

What We Hope to Accomplish: The aforementioned studies provide useful information to characterize forest products sector use of roadways and transload facilities in the state of Washington. This research will use findings of these recent studies and other published data to project current and future needs of the forest sector to move its inputs and products to market.

Truck Performance Measures (CSR)

Funding: $448,000
Technical Monitor: Barbara Ivanov
Principal Investigator: Ed McCormick, UW
Research Project Manager: Doug Brodin

This project is a legislative line-item appropriation for development of a freight database.
What We Hope to Accomplish: The purpose of the database is to help guide freight investment decisions and track project effectiveness. The database will be based on truck movement tracked through geographic information systems technology.

INFORMATION AND FINANCE

INFORMATION & DATA

State Highways as Mainstreets – A Study in Community Design and Visioning (SPR)

Funding: $ 25,000
Technical Monitor: Paula Reeves
Principal Investigator: Jim Nichols, UW
Research Manager: Kathy Lindquist and Rhonda Brooks

In conjunction with WSDOT's Community Design Assistance Branch,
UW architecture students will provide technical assistance to communities working to make improvements to their downtown corridors (state highways serving as main streets). The goals of this program include:

helping local agencies improve their grant applications to WSDOT,
exploring new methods for collaboration and problem solving when state highways Serve as local mainstreets,
determining successful approaches to meet the federal requirements for visioning set forth in SAFETEA-LU [23USC135(f)(3)(B)(ii)],
translating context sensitive design guidance into practice, and
supporting staff and organizational development efforts by connecting architecture and transportation engineering professions.

Technical assistance may include developing images or visions of the corridor using new tools and techniques and developing guidelines that address building scale, form, exterior features and materials, major landscape elements, and other relevant characteristics and elements that define the character of the districts.

What We Hope To Accomplish: This project was proposed as a student study project but because of the demand for the involvement of students in a number of communities, the existing program did not have the resources to fully support it. The payoff to WSDOT will be a series of work products produced by the students that will be helpful to the communities in making grant applications. Information developed will be useful in making refinements to increase success in designing and implementing transportation projects that are acceptable to communities across the state. WSDOT works with small communities that need this assistance and this project will provide a bridge to expertise and work force at the UW School of Architecture and Urban Planning.

Assisting Implementation of Multimodal Concurrancy in Local
Jurisdictions (SPR)

Funding: $ 20,000
Technical Monitor: Elizabeth Robbins
Principal Investigator: Mark Hallenbeck, Anne Vernez Moudon, and Dan Carlson, UW
Research Manager: Kathy Lindquist

At the request of the 2005 legislature, WSDOT reviewed the multimodal
aspects of current transportation concurrency procedures. The resulting report to the legislature, Options for Making Concurrency More Multimodal, drew interest both in revising concurrency procedures and in more effectively linking land use planning and the entire, multimodal transportation system. What is lacking now is actual implementation of the research by local jurisdictions and transportation agencies that are interested in revising their current concurrency or joint land use/transportation planning processes or both. Without this implementation, an opportunity may be missed to improve the integration of land use and multimodal transportation. This project proposes to provide funding to do a pilot study in one or two communities and evaluate actual implementation of multimodal concurrency.

What We Hope To Accomplish: Local agencies will be better prepared to revise local ordinances to meet GMA concurrency requirements and assist WSDOT in multimodal transportation planning efforts.

Identification Needs in Developing, Documenting and Indexing
WSDOT Photographs (SPR)

Funding: $ 25,000
Technical Monitor: Jim Culp
Principal Investigator: Dr. Barbara Endicott-Popovosky, UW
Research Manager: Kathy Lindquist

WSDOT has tens of thousands of photos representing all aspects of the work we do, the system infrastructure and the transportation system in use. The collections include both current and historical images. These images are used for a variety of activities such as project design, public relations, documentation, and program descriptions. However, they are not easy to find and retrieve for use.

The lack of organization results in substantial effort to find images, the need to take new, possibly duplicative photos, and an increased burden on server space for storage of duplicative images.

There is a need to make the photos more widely available within the agency by subject, location, date, or other common descriptors. The intent is for a photo repository available to employees through online access and easy retrieval of images by keyword searching. A prototype off the shelf digital repository software package would facilitate indexing digitized photos with a controlled vocabulary.

This project will: 1) survey and identify all WSDOT user needs and requirements for photo indexing, storage and retrieval and, 2) survey all the existing software WSDOT to determine if it meets our enterprise needs and requirements. A phase two is needed to investigate recommended solutions. .

What We Hope To Accomplish: The collection of WSDOT photographs is a valuable, but underutilized collection. This project will identify requirements for WSDOT’s historical collection of photos to be organized, indexed, and made easily available and retrievable for both public and private use. The project payoff is savings in staff effort and frustration, reduced storage space needs, and improved management of photo resources for the intended audiences and purposes.

The Impacts of Tolling on Low-income Populations in
Washington State (SPR)

Funding: $ 39,000
Technical Monitor: Kathleen McKinney
Principal Investigator: Robert D. Plotnick and Jennifer Romich, UW
Research Manager: Kathy Lindquist

Some environmental documents under review are weak due to lack of data on the users of transportation facilities. This information is important for projects proposing tolling as we lack adequate data on how tolling would affect the users. This is a statewide issue and not specific to any project. It is a larger need looking at the broader socio-economic effects of tolling on low-income and minority populations. The development of a regional methodology and supportive data sources will assist in individual and Urban Partnerships projects.

Lack of data makes it difficult to determine the effects that tolling will have on users, particularly minority and low-income users as required under Presidential Executive Order 12898 and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The study has been requested by Jodi Petersen, Civil Rights manager, FHWA Washington Division Office, Olympia, WA.

What We Hope To Accomplish: Although none of our documents have yet been declared legally insufficient for this reason, staff at the FHWA local division has expressed concern about the lack of data for a thorough analysis. This is a growing problem for central Puget Sound projects, primarily the I-405 projects. Currently one of the I-405 projects (proposing express toll lanes) is suffering from lack of data in this area. The development of a regional methodology and data set would support more than just these projects. As tolling is explored to fund projects, this research will benefit the Urban Partnerships and other future projects.

Feasibility of Creating a Vehicle Length Classification Scheme (TPF)

Technical Monitor: John Rosen
Research Manager: Kathy Lindquist
Partners: Not yet solicited

WSDOT created a vehicle classification scheme about 10 years ago that is based on vehicle length. The current scheme categorizes vehicles into 13 distinct classifications. It is hoped this study will verify that the traffic data WSDOT has collected and reported on to date is approximately equal to the final classification scheme resulting from this study.
This research will be used to update WSDOT’s current length classification scheme. The current scheme was based on a study done by Barbara Hertzog and with vehicle characteristics changing over the last 10 years may need to be updated.

What We Hope To Accomplish: The results of this study will be used to update our eprom chips in the traffic counters we use and will result in a nationally approved length based classification schematic.

Indian Reservation Road (IRR) GIS Layer Pilot on Colville Reservation (Quick Response)

Funding: $12,500 (Plus $12,500 from Federal Lands for $25,000 total)
Technical Monitors: Colleen Jollie, WSDOT Tribal Liaison; Kyle Kitchel, FHWA/Western Federal Lands
Principal Investigator: Dick Winchell, Eastern Washington University
Research Manager: Kathy Lindquist

The purpose of this project is to create a GIS framework to identify particular routes on the Confederated Tribes of Colville Reservation that can generate funding from federal funds and allow multiple jurisdictions to benefit. These roads are of interest to WSDOT, the counties of Okanogan and Pend Oreilles, the U.S, Forest Service Counties, the County Road Administration Board (CRAB), the Transportation Improvement Board (TIB), the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the National Park Service.
The particular routes of interest are those routes which qualify as an Indian Reservation Road (IRR). IRR routes are public roads which provide access to and within Indian reservations, Indian trust land, restricted Indian land, and other selected areas. The project will focus on the Colville Reservation as a Pilot Project and include the development of a GIS map of all Roads that lead to or are within the boundaries of the Reservation that include IRR roads that qualify for federal funding and will be accessible to WSDOT, tribes and others.

What We Hope to Accomplish: This information will be valuable as capacity planning and the inventory is critical for future funding improvement opportunities.

GIS Data Coding (CSR)
Project Completed

Funding: $30,000
Technical Monitor: Matthew Enders
Principal Investigators: Mark Hallenbeck and Anne Vernez-Moudon, UW
Research Manager: Kathy Lindquist

Collision data for county roads (3,906 records) and for city streets (5,005 records) will be transferred from and Excel spreadsheet into a GIS format. All available location information for counties and cities will be collected including: county name, county number, road number, road milepost, intersecting road number, and intersecting road milepost, city name, city number, primary traffic way name, intersecting traffic way name, reference street name, miles/feet distance indicator, distance value, compass direction, block number, cross street 1 name, and cross street 2 name. The work will be complete when all records have coordinates coded in an Excel file (excluding those records that lacked enough location information to generate coordinates).

What We Hope to Accomplish: GIS coordinates will be known for all the available city and county roads for future planning and funding purposes.

Development of a Consistent and Reliable Statewide Traffic Datamart Based on Customers Needs and Expectations

Budget: $200,000
Technical Monitor: Morgan Balogh
Principal Investigator: Mark Hallenbeck, UW
Research Project Manager: Doug Brodin

This research targets improvements to data, data collection, and data management that will make WSDOT traffic data across the state better and more consistent. There are thousands of loop data sights in Washington State that are used for operations but not used for planning purposes because the accuracy does not meet the needed threshold. It is essential to improve loop data accuracy to make better use of existing loop detectors. Better data collection will improve operations and performance measurement. Being able to use all data stations will provide a wealth of information for better planning, project scoping, and it will also prevent the need for duplicate equipment, construction, and maintenance. This was funded by two RACs.

What We Hope to Accomplish: This research will identify the data tool that provides the best service to data users. An online analysis tool for identifying the operational state of data stations and potential uses of data collected by the stations will be developed with this data tool. This project will also develop a method for loop data quality control and create a consistent or “platinum” data set based on customers’ requirements. Once the assessment and analysis are completed an implementation strategy will be defined. Overall, this effort will provide an easy method to prioritize repairs and maintenance of data stations.

PROGRAMMING

Passenger Demand and Lost Revenue Analysis

Funding: $50,000
Technical Monitor: Melissa Johnson
Principal Investigator: Scott Rutherford, UW
Research Manager: Rhonda Brooks

One way tolling in the eastbound direction on the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge presents an opportunity for some walk on travelers on some Washington State Ferry routes to escape the ferry fares. This research will estimate the passenger demand for certain ferry routes and the potential revenue loss due to fare avoidance.

What We Hope to Accomplish: This analysis will address the policy options to modify/improve fare collections to ensure that all WSF service is provided by paying customers.

OTHER

Pedestrian Safety Treatments

Funding: $150,000
Technical Monitor: Paula Reeves
Principal Investigator: Mark Hallenbeck, UW
Research Manager: Kathy Lindquist

Pedestrian safety treatments & countermeasures need to be monitored, tested and analyzed for effectiveness on various types of roadways to ensure the best investment of limited safety resources. Additional research is needed to examine how pedestrians and motorists react to specific pedestrian safety treatments, so that the most effective safety treatments can be implemented by WSDOT and guidance can be provided to cities and counties. New video image detection techniques will be used to accurately measure both pedestrian and vehicle behaviors.

What We Hope to Accomplish: WSDOT, cities and counties will gain a better understanding of how pedestrians and motorists react in specific conditions so that facilities can be designed to improve pedestrian safety.

Software Tools for Sharing and Integrating GIS Data (TPF-5(108))

Technical Monitors: Tami Griffin and Michael Leierer
Research Manager: Kathy Lindquist
Partners: NE, OH, OR, TN, WA

WSDOT established a consortia of public and private entities for the purpose of developing computer based tools that facilitates geo-spatial transportation data sharing and integration for a variety of purposes and uses. The Geo-spatial Integration and Sharing Data Consortium (GISDC) will be funded via a Pooled Fund arrangement and managed by WSDOT. The goal of the consortia is to continue developing, implementing and providing a variety of tools for sharing and integrating of geo-spatial transportation data.

What We Hope to Accomplish: Increased data exchange and use among WSDOT and our partners. For example it will give WSDOT and our partners the ability to have real-time data on all collisions, by location on the entire system. This will enable better decision-making on strategic investments to increase safety. In emergency situations, it would provide real-time information to emergency responders about facility shutdowns and re-route traffic to other facilities.

Other TPF Projects to Which Washington Contributes but doesn’t Lead

Information & Finance
• Transportation Library Connectivity
• WASHTO-X Technology Transfer Initiative

Current WSDOT Research Projects

2007-2009 Funded Research Projects

Project Index

Project Delivery

Operations

Information and Finance

Multimodal Transportation

Project Delivery

OPERATIONS

MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION

INFORMATION AND FINANCE