AASHTO Domestic Scan Proposal Form

AASHTO is soliciting topic proposals for a US Domestic Scan Program, loosely modeled after the existing FHWA/AASHTO/NCHRP International Technology Scanning Program. Each selected scan topic will be investigated through site visits to three to six locations over a one or two week period, conducted by a group of eight to 12 transportation professionals with expertise in the selected topic area. Proposed topics should meet the following criteria:

·  Address an important and timely need for information by transportation agencies;

·  Are of interest to a broad national spectrum of people and agencies;

·  Are complex and also “hands-on,” meaning they lend themselves particularly well to exploration through on-site visits; and

·  Are sufficiently focused that the tour participants are able to investigate and understand key issues in the limited time available on the tour.

Proposals should be returned to no later than August 26, 2005.

Proposal Contact Information
Name: Paul Ahlenius, P.E.
Title: Statewide Bicycle & Pedestrian Coordinator
Address: Kansas Department of Transportation
700 SW Harrison
Topeka, Kansas 66603
E-mail:
Telephone number: 785.296.7448
Date of submission:
Title of Proposed Scan
Best Practices for Reconstruction and Maintenance of Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities and the Inclusion of Facilities with motor vehicle traffic on the existing transportation network.
Problem Statement (What topic is to be examined? What drives the need for the scan? Why now?)
Since the passage of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991, non-motorized transportation facilities have flourished across the country. These facilities are approaching fifteen years of age (and older for pre-ISTEA facilities). Most roadway pavements have a design life of fifteen to twenty years and undergo significant maintenance after ten years. With the passage of SAFETEA-LU (the third transportation bill to include funding for these facilities), consideration needs to be given to the maintenance of these pavements to better maximize funds and avoid discouraging facility users at a time when, considering the rising cost of fuel, their popularity may be expanding.
Also, the increase in funding has had an intended effect of increasing bicycle ridership. With more roadways reaching full capacity and air quality problems associated with that, communities are looking to increase non-motorized transportation as a way to combat air quality problems. Increases in bicycles on roadways also increase the need to accommodate them on the existing transportation facilities. This means an increase of bicycles at intersections. This scan will review the current state of the practice regarding treatments of bicycles at intersections. The scan will also look at innovative practices and how they are interacting with motor vehicle traffic.
Cyclists often bemoan that a detriment or hazard of cycling on the roadway is the lack of acknowledgement by motorists and those who design roadways. This leads to an attitude of the rules don't pertain to the cyclists because accommodation isn't made for them. Developing a methodology or technology that detects cyclists at intersections would take a large step forward towards acknowledging the other users that use the roadway.
Scan Scope (What specific subject areas are to be examined? Which cities and states might be visited? Which agencies/organizations (including specific departments or types of staff if applicable)?
This scan proposes to examine the methodologies and practices used to rehabilitate non-motorized facilities. This could be as minor as sealing the pavement,. overlaying the pavement or as major as reconstructing the pavement. This scan will look at the analyses that determined the best methodology used and the primary reasons for the choice made. The reasons may be environmental, such as adjacent landscaping; traffic engineering, such as leaving open to traffic or detouring; or material, such as replacing one pavement material for another material. The Cape Cod Rail-Trail in Massachusetts is being reconstructed in segments to avoid shutting down a popular facility for tourists in the area. The City of Lawrence, Kansas is replacing their bituminous Clinton Parkway path with concrete for a better life cycle. The City of Overland Park, Kansas is shutting down part of their Indian Creek Trail as part of an Interstate highway reconstruction and detouring users.
Intersections that specifically detect bicyclists in their traffic coordination are few. However, much of the current technology used for motor vehicles can also be used for bicycles. Several communities use electro-magnetic loops in bicycle lanes and a newer technology of video detection can be adapted to detect cyclists. Davis California has moved signal actuators similar to ones used for pedestrians closer to the curb so that cyclists using the bicycle lanes can alert the traffic signals of their presence.
Scan Objectives (What key information is to be gained? What information is to be shared after the scan? Who would the audience be for this information?)
This scan will analyze methodologies used to determine the best method for rehabilitation. Rehabilitation practices will be examined to determine how rehabilitation is conducted and how these practices can be used in other jurisdictions. Also, this scan will show how detecting bicycles on roadway work and develop a "best practices" scenario for other communities to use. Coordination with the various communities with bicycle detection already in place will allow traffic engineers and transportation planners in other communities to develop systems that will best fill the local needs.This information will be compiled and disseminated to state and local governments to use on the facilities in their jurisdictions.
Benefits Expected (Including potential impacts on current technology or procedures)
Benefits from this scan would include an clearinghouse of information that local agencies can adapt for local use. Methodologies and practices used can be applied to other parts of the country and adapted, if not improved, to fit local jurisdictions.
With the rising cost of gasoline, detection technology will help traffic engineers and transportation planners to incorporate bicycles in to their modal planning of local roads. This in turn will assist communities with air quality issues to better manage air quality by increasing non-motorizes modal share on local roadways. This scan will look at the existing technology and develop an analysis that will allow local transportation professionals to develop technologies and methodologies that work best for their communities. This scan can develop a synthesis with existing technologies to develop a more efficient methodology for incorporation of bicycle detection in roadway intersection planning and design.

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