Level of Service for Michigan Rest Areas and Welcome Centers Considering Safety and Economic Factors Final Report ORBP Reference Number: OR10‐045
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Evaluating the Appropriate Level of Service for Michigan Rest Areas and Welcome Centers Considering Safety and Economic Factors Final Report ORBP Reference Number: OR10‐045 Prepared For: Michigan Department of Transportation Office of Research and Best Practices 425 West Ottawa Lansing, MI 48933 Prepared By: Wayne State University Transportation Research Group 5050 Anthony Wayne Drive Detroit, MI 48202 Authors: Timothy J. Gates, Ph.D., P.E . Peter T. Savolainen, Ph. D., P.E . Tapan K. Datta, Ph.D., P.E . Ryan G. Todd, and Stephanie Boileau April 30, 2012 Evaluating the Appropriate Level of Service for Michigan Rest Areas and Welcome Centers Considering Safety and Economic Factors MDOT ORBP Project Number: OR10-045 FINAL REPORT By Timothy J. Gates, Ph.D., P.E., Peter T. Savolainen, Ph.D., P.E., Tapan K. Datta, Ph.D., P.E., Ryan G. Todd, and Stephanie Boileau Wayne State University - Transportation Research Group April 30, 2012 1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. MDOT Project Manager RC-1570 N/A Lynn Lynwood 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date Evaluating the Appropriate Level of Service for Michigan Rest April 30, 2012 Areas and Welcome Centers Considering Safety and Economic 6. Performing Organization Code Factors N/A 7. Author(s) 8. Performing Org. Report No. Timothy J. Gates, Peter T. Savolainen, Tapan K. Datta, Ryan G. N/A Todd, and Stephanie Boileau 9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS) Wayne State University-Transportation Research Group N/A Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering 11. Contract No. 5050 Anthony Wayne Drive, Room #0504 2010-0298 Detroit, MI 48202 11(a). Authorization No. Z1 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 13. Type of Report & Period Covered Michigan Department of Transportation Final Report Research Administration 5/2/2011 to 4/30/2012 425 West Ottawa Street Lansing MI 48933 14. Sponsoring Agency Code N/A 15. Supplementary Notes None 16. Abstract Research was performed to determine the value of public rest areas in Michigan, including welcome centers. A benefit/cost (B/C) economic analysis procedure was utilized to assess rest areas both individually and as a system. The benefits associated with rest areas included: travel diversion cost savings, comfort and convenience benefits, increased tourism spending (welcome centers only), and crash reductions. The costs associated with rest areas included amortized construction costs, operating costs, and routine maintenance costs. The results of the economic analysis showed that nearly all MDOT rest areas currently possess B/C ratios that exceed 1.0. The systemwide B/C ratio was estimated at 4.56 with individual values for the 81 facilities ranging between 0.78 and 11.66. A majority of the benefits originated from a combination of comfort/convenience (i.e., the “value” to users), reduction of targeted fatigue-related crashes (estimated at 3.37 crashes per facility per year) and tourism benefits (welcome centers only). The facilities with the highest B/C ratios included heavily utilized facilities located on major limited-access freeways in the lower peninsula of Michigan. The facilities with the lowest B/C ratios were underutilized facilities with high operation and maintenance costs – particularly facilities located in northern Michigan and especially those that are closed during winter months. A value index for overall prioritization of rest area facilities was computed for each facility considering the B/C ratio along with several non-economic functional factors. To provide flexibility for future forecasting and planning, a software tool was developed to allow for estimation of the impacts associated with the removal of an existing facility or addition of a new facility to the network. 17. Key Words 18. Distribution Statement Rest Areas, Welcome Centers, Economics, B/C Ratio, No restrictions. This document is available Functional Values to the public through the Michigan Department of Transportation 19. Security Classification - report 20. Security Classification - page 21. No. of Pages 22. Price Unclassified Unclassified 132 N/A TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................... vi CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 1 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM ............................................................................................... 2 STUDY GOAL AND OBJECTIVES ...................................................................................... 3 SUMMARY OF TASKS ....................................................................................................... 3 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW .........................................................................................5 NATIONWIDE STATUS OF REST AREA CLOSURES .........................................................5 NON-PUBLIC FUNDING STRATEGIES AND PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS ............6 SAFETY IMPACTS .............................................................................................................11 TOURISM SUPPORT ..........................................................................................................12 REST AREA DEMAND AND USAGE CHARACTERISTICS ..............................................13 COMMERCIAL VEHICLE OPERATOR SUPPORT .............................................................14 LITERATURE SUMMARY .................................................................................................17 CHAPTER 3: INVENTORY DATA FOR REST AREAS AND COMMERCIAL SERVICE FACILITIES.....................................................................................................22 CHAPTER 4: SURVEYS OF REST AREA AND COMMERCIAL TRUCK STOP USERS .....27 REST AREA USER SURVEY METHODOLOGY ................................................................27 RESULTS ............................................................................................................................32 Demographic and Trip Information for Rest Area Users ..............................................32 Vehicular Occupancy Characteristics .........................................................................34 Trip Origins and Destinations ....................................................................................35 Reasons for Stopping at Rest Areas ...........................................................................36 Preference for Rest Areas vs. Commercial Service Facilities .......................................37 Overall Satisfaction with Michigan Rest Areas ...........................................................38 Value of Services Provided to Rest Area Users ...........................................................39 COMPARISON OF PREFERENCES BETWEEN REST AREA AND COMMERCIAL TRUCK STOP PATRONS ....................................................................................................40 CHAPTER 5: NIGHTTIME TRUCK PARKING UTILIZATION AND CAPACITY ASSESSMENT ............................................................................................46 i SURVEY OF TRUCK STOP OPERATORS ..........................................................................46 NIGHTTIME UTILIZATION OF REST AREA TRUCK PARKING ......................................48 Data Collection ........................................................................................................49 Results .....................................................................................................................50 CHAPTER 6: REST AREA UTILIZATION ................................................................................52 DATA COLLECTION .........................................................................................................52 RESULTS ............................................................................................................................53 Day-of-Week Trends ................................................................................................53 Time of Day Trends ..................................................................................................54 Seasonal Trends .......................................................................................................55 Usage by Region and Route ......................................................................................56 Facility Traffic and Visitor Volume Estimates and Turn-in Rates .................................58 CHAPTER 7: SAFETY BENEFITS PROVIDED BY REST AREAS .........................................62 METHODOLOGY ...............................................................................................................62 PREDICTION MODELING OF FATIGUE-RELATED CRASHES ........................................66 RESULTS ............................................................................................................................67 CHAPTER 8: ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF REST AREAS .......................................................69 GENERAL BENEFIT/COST METHODOLOGY ...................................................................69 BENEFITS PROVIDED BY MDOT REST AREAS AND WELCOME CENTERS .................70 Reduction in Excess Travel .......................................................................................72 Vehicle Operating Cost Benefits ....................................................................75 Travel Time Cost Benefits .............................................................................77