Research Project Statement

Research Project Statement Fiscal Year 2003

Project Number: 0-4566 Modification? Yes No

Title: Criteria for Truck Lane Demonstration

RMC Number: 2

Developed By:

Project Statement Date: 1-4-2002 TxDOT Project Name Office Area Code/Phone Email Fax Number Personnel Number Program Coordinator (PC) Meg Moore TRF 512-416-3122 [email protected] 512-416-3161 Project Director (PD) Stuart Corder HOU 713-802-5831 [email protected] 713-802-5186 Project Monitoring Committee (PMC) John Obr WAC 254-754-8087 [email protected] 254-754-8107 (Project Advisors Optional) Duration (# of years): Total Budget: $ Budget by year: First Year FY Other Funding Available? Yes No Second Year FY Additional FYs $ Project Objective: Tools for evaluating needs for special truck facilities, development of a truck route system, and Description: recommendations for demonstration of a pilot system. Description: The number of trucks on many highways in Texas and across the nation has increased to the point that special or unique treatments may be warranted. Increases in truck traffic have resulted from a robust economy, increases in time-sensitive freight (e.g., just-in-time deliveries), and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The recently completed I-35 corridor study called for separate truck lanes from Laredo to Dallas. TxDOT engineers need a means to address truck-related congestion, a transition plan to integrate such improvements into an overall system, and the right tools to evaluate truck lane needs.

This research needs to first consider a variety of concepts for movement of freight by truck, then develop a menu of ideas for the development of a truck route system and phased implementation of that system. Of particular significance is the fact that current traffic simulation software does not consider a facility with 100 percent truck use as might be found on a special truck roadway.

A synthesis of previous related research will allow the research team and TxDOT to have the benefit of all previous analyses and concepts that relate to the current issue. Project 0-4364, Truck Accommodation Design Guidance, is a two-year RMC 3 project, which began in September 2001. The project work plan for the first year includes a characterization of the truck fleet and major truck corridors in Texas and identification of critical issues for trucks. Critical issues extend beyond design issues such as economic and political considerations, public acceptance, motor carrier acceptance, environmental issues, enforcement, and legal issues. In addition, there have been numerous studies conducted over the last 10-15 years by the Center for Transportation Research, TTI, and others that have addressed related issues, such as truck lanes, super corridors, freight facilities, intercity mobility, and the impact of freight on freeway operations. The proposed study would build on these previous efforts.

This proposed research project would rely heavily on Project 0-4364 findings during the first year and the first five months of the second year. Another related multi-year project is 0-4160, Operating Freeways with Managed Lanes. The objective of the project is to investigate the complex and interrelated issues surrounding the safe and efficient operation of managed lanes and to develop a managed lanes manual to help TxDOT make informed planning, design, and operational decisions when considering implementation of these facilities. Trucks are included as one element of this project, but the scope of the subject study will not interfere with nor duplicate the managed lane study.

Tasks will include:

RMC 2 Project 0-4566 Page 1 of 3 1. Review recently completed major corridor studies regarding truck traffic, and evaluate special truck facilities implemented outside of Texas,

2. Establish criteria for each level of truck roadway (e.g., lanes designated as trucks-only vs no-trucks vs trucks- preferred, congestion level not to be exceeded),

3. Develop a plan for and evaluate a system of truck-only roadways, including a hierarchical ranking or categorizing of routes based on current and projected truck volumes, locations of major truck traffic generators, non-truck volumes, and a design truck “level of service” for each truck facility category.

4. Establish criteria using the Highway Capacity Software or simulation techniques to evaluate levels of service (e.g., with and without trucks),

5. Develop an evaluation plan to measure success of truck improvements,

6. Identify 3 to 5 candidate corridors or sites for improvements,

7. Investigate ITS or other technology solutions that could expedite the movement of trucks through the state of Texas on either mixed flow lanes or special truck lanes. These may extend to other appropriate technologically intense public or private applications not currently thought of as ITS. These initiatives should be consistent with the Texas ITS/CVO Business Plan.

8. Develop information for marketing truck improvements to decision-makers, and

9. Develop an action plan for implementation.

Deliverable Products 1. P1: A Truck Roadway Manual that documents a procedure for the methodological selection of And Reports: segments of roadway for improvement. 2. P2: Truck Roadway software that establishes a methodology for evaluating roadway level of service under selected scenarios of truck treatments. 3. Research report that provides detailed documentation of all research performed, methods used, and that fully supports the recommendations and conclusions contained therein. 4. Project Summary Report. The project director will require monthly email updates on progress. At least two project meeting will be scheduled, around October and April. In addition, project kickoff and wrap-up meetings may be scheduled.

Implementation: One outcome would be definitive recommendations for immediate implementation of one or more truck lane demonstration projects that alleviate existing truck-related congestion and provide excellent test cases for evaluating the success of truck lanes. The Truck Roadway Handbook and software will provide TxDOT engineers with better tools to methodically evaluate a variety of truck treatments.

Pre-Proposal Meeting: Yes No

Sole-Source Project: Yes No

Project Rating & Justification: Mandated Critical Important Desirable

Additional Information: Schedule of Activities should include a column next to the Task/Description that shows estimated percentages of the total project budget for each task. This information will be used to help the PC/PD more completely understand the level of effort that is planned for each task.

1. All individuals interested in proposing are encouraged to contact the PC or PD by Deadlines (for RTI use only): February 15, 2002. 2. Proposals are due to RTI by 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 27, 2002. RMC 2 Project 0-4566 Page 2 of 3 All proposals from researchers should be sent directly to your university Research Liaison’s office for final submission to RTI. The Research Liaison is TxDOT’s official point of contact with the university

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