Economic Effect of Restricted Crossing U-Turn Intersections in Louisiana

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Economic Effect of Restricted Crossing U-Turn Intersections in Louisiana Louisiana Transportation Research Center Final Report 617 Economic Effect of Restricted Crossing U-Turn Intersections in Louisiana by Helmut Schneider Stephen Barnes Emily Pfetzer Cory Hutchinson Highway Safety Research Group Economics & Policy Research Group LSU 4101 Gourrier Avenue | Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70808 (225) 767-9131 | (225) 767-9108 fax | www.ltrc.lsu.edu TECHNICAL REPORT STANDARD PAGE 1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient's Catalog No. FHWA/LA.17/617 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date Economic Effect of Restricted Crossing U-Turn November 2019 Intersections in Louisiana 6. Performing Organization Code LTRC Project Number: 18-1SA SIO Number: DOTLT1000213 7. Author(s) 8. Performing Organization Report No. Helmut Schneider, Stephen Barnes, Emily Pfetzer, Cory Hutchinson 9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit No. Highways Safety Research Group 11. Contract or Grant No. Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, LA 70803 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 13. Type of Report and Period Covered Louisiana Department of Transportation and Final Report Development July 2017-April 2019 P.O. Box 94245 Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9245 14. Sponsoring Agency Code 15. Supplementary Notes Conducted in Cooperation with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration 16. Abstract The RCUT, aka J-turn intersection, is an innovative alternative intersection design that displaces left- turn and through movements from the minor street. There is sufficient evidence that these designs reduce severe injury crashes and the FHWA hence added them to their list of “Proven Safety Countermeasures.” However, there is often resistance from businesses located near planned J-turns because of potential loss of business due to a perceived reduced ease of access of customers to their business. This report analyzes sales data surrounding ten completed J-turn projects in four study locations in Louisiana for a time period of two years before and two years after the completion of the projects. Analysis of aggregated sales data show an overall increase in sales after the completion of the projects. A parish-by-parish analysis of sales data also shows that there is no evidence of a decline in sales, but rather an increase. One parish that has been undergoing considerable growth in the state appeared to have mixed findings: looking at only businesses that existed before and after the J-turns were completed, some showed a slight decline in sales while the overall sales volume of all businesses around the J-turns increased. The decline at some isolated locations was likely due to increased competition from a number of new businesses near the J-turns. Overall, these findings suggest the construction of J-turns is associated with an increase in sales among businesses in their vicinity. Results from the business and patron surveys provide some insight into perceptions of access in these locations. Perceptions of access appear to coincide with primary concerns about congestion, traffic/backups, and perceptions of ongoing construction impacts. 17. Key Words 18. Distribution Statement J-Turn, Access management, RCUT Unrestricted. This document is available through the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 21161. 19. Security Classif. (of this report) 20. Security Classif. (of this page) 21. No. of Pages 22. Price Project Review Committee Each research project will have an advisory committee appointed by the LTRC Director. The Project Review Committee is responsible for assisting the LTRC Administrator or Manager in the development of acceptable research problem statements, requests for proposals, review of research proposals, oversight of approved research projects, and implementation of findings. LTRC appreciates the dedication of the following Project Review Committee Members in guiding this research study to fruition. LTRC Administrator/Manager Kirk Zeringue Special Studies Research Administrator Elisabeta Mitran Project Manager Members Adriane McRae Jody Colvin Christopher Ewing Chad Vosburg Connie Betts John Broemmelsiek Trey Jesclard Bryan Peters Directorate Implementation Sponsor Christopher P. Knotts, P.E. DOTD Chief Engineer Economic Effect of Restricted Crossing U-Turn Intersections in Louisiana by Helmut Schneider Stephen Barnes Emily Pfetzer Cory Hutchinson Highway Safety Research Group Economics & Policy Research Group Business Education Complex 4067 Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, La 70803 LTRC Project No. 18-1SA SIO No. DOTLT1000213 conducted for Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Louisiana Transportation Research Center The contents of this report reflect the views of the author/principal investigator who is responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development or the Louisiana Transportation Research Center. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. November 2019 ABSTRACT The Restricted Crossing U-Turn (RCUT), also known as a J-turn intersection, is an innovative alternative intersection design that displaces left-turn and through movements from the minor street. There is sufficient evidence that these designs reduce severe injury crashes and the FHWA hence added them to their list of “Proven Safety Countermeasures.” However, there is often resistance from businesses located near planned J-turns because of potential loss of business due to a perceived reduced ease of access of customers to their business. This report analyzes sales data surrounding 10 completed J-turn projects in four study locations in Louisiana for a time period of two years before and two years after the completion of the projects. An analysis of aggregated sales data shows an overall increase in sales after the completion of the projects. A parish-by-parish analysis of sales data also shows that there is no evidence of a decline in sales, but rather an increase. One parish that has been undergoing considerable growth in the state appeared to have mixed findings: looking at only businesses that existed before and after the J-turns were completed, some showed a slight decline in sales while the overall sales volume of all businesses around the J- turns increased. The decline at some isolated locations was likely due to increased competition from a number of new businesses near the J-turns. Overall, these findings suggest the construction of J-turns is associated with an increase in sales among businesses in their vicinity. Results from the business and patron surveys provide some insight into perceptions of access in these locations. Perceptions of access appear to coincide with primary concerns about congestion, traffic/backups, and perceptions of ongoing construction impacts. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The research team would like to thank the advisory committee for their guidance with this project. Specifically, we thank the Department of Revenue for providing valuable data for this research. v IMPLEMENTATION STATEMENT The report will provide support for an improved public understanding of implications of J- turn construction. The analysis finds that there is, on average, no reduction in business sales after construction of the J-turns. Also, the public is primarily concerned about congestion. These findings should be used in communications and outreach to the public/stakeholders for projects involving the construction of J-turns. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT .............................................................................................................................III ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ........................................................................................................ V IMPLEMENTATION STATEMENT ................................................................................... VII TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................................ IX LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................................. XI LIST OF FIGURES .............................................................................................................. XIII INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................................1 OBJECTIVE ..............................................................................................................................3 SCOPE .......................................................................................................................................5 METHODOLOGY ....................................................................................................................6 A Basic Overview of Access Management .................................................................. 6 Background: Transportation & Land Use ......................................................... 7 Evolution of Access Management .................................................................. 11 Impacts of Access Management ................................................................................. 13 Safety and Operational Impacts ...................................................................... 13 Barriers to Implementation ............................................................................. 24 Business & Economic Impacts ......................................................................
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