2005-21 Final Report Trucks and Twin Cities Traffic Management Technical Report Documentation Page 1. Report No. 2. 3. Recipients Accession No. MN/RC-2005-21 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date Trucks and Twin Cities Traffic Management June 2005 6. 7. Author(s) 8. Performing Organization Report No. T.H. Maze, Dennis Kroeger, and Mark Berndt (WSA) 9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Project/Task/Work Unit No. Center for Transportation Research and Education Iowa State University 11. Contract (C) or Grant (G) No. 2901 South Loop Driver, Suite 3100 (c) 82617 (wo) 5 Ames, Iowa 50010 12. Sponsoring Organization Name and Address 13. Type of Report and Period Covered Minnesota Department of Transportation Final Report Research Services Section 14. Sponsoring Agency Code 395 John Ireland Boulevard Mail Stop 330 St. Paul, Minnesota 55155 15. Supplementary Notes http://www.lrrb.org/pdf/200521.pdf 16. Abstract (Limit: 200 words) The purpose of this project, “Trucks and Twin Cities Traffic Management,” is to identify strategies that will reduce congestion for trucks traveling within and through the Twin Cities. The planning and development of most highway facilities focuses on the general needs of the majority of traffic in the traffic stream. However, the performance, function, and purpose of heavy trucks are dissimilar to those of the majority of the vehicles in the traffic stream. It is for this reason that the National Cooperative Highway Research synthesis report 314 identified a number of improvements that state transportation agencies have implemented, or are planning to implement, that focus on the unique needs of trucks to better accommodate truck-borne freight traffic. Additionally, to help reduce delays and congestion a number of urban areas have conducted studies of the unique issues trucks face. The study first identified an exhaustive list of potentially feasible strategies and then through iterative steps narrowed these down to the most promising. Five strategies were ultimately selected. The report focuses on issues related to the five strategies and their implementation. 17. Document Analysis/Descriptors 18. Availability Statement Truck traffic Truck congestion No restrictions. Document available from: Traffic Management Quick Clearance National Technical Information Services, Truck Parking Springfield, Virginia 22161 19. Security Class (this report) 20. Security Class (this page) 21. No. of Pages 22. Price Unclassified Unclassified 181 Twin Cities Truck Traffic Management Final Report Prepared by: T.H. Maze Dennis Kroeger Mark J. Berndt Department of Civil Engineering Iowa State University & Wilbur Smith Associate June 2005 Published by: Minnesota Department of Transportation Research Services Section 395 John Ireland Boulevard, MS 330 St. Paul, Minnesota 55155-1899 This report represents the results of research conducted by the authors and does not necessarily represent the views or policies of the Minnesota Department of Transportation and/or the Center for Transportation Studies. This report does not contain a standard or specified technique. The authors and the Minnesota Department of Transportation and/or Center for Transportation Studies do not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade or manufacturers’ names appear herein solely because they are considered essential to this report. Table of Contents Chapter 1............................................................................................................................. 1 Project Objectives ........................................................................................................... 1 Research Steps ................................................................................................................ 2 Report Organization........................................................................................................ 7 Chapter 2............................................................................................................................. 8 Outline of Minnesota Guidance for Planning, Designing, Specifying, and Maintaining Transportation Facilities around Heavy Truck Traffic Generators............................... 11 Relationship to Mn/DOT Performance Measures and Goals ....................................... 13 Relationship to Mn/DOT and Mn/DOT Partners ......................................................... 13 Implementation Strategy............................................................................................... 13 Chapter 3........................................................................................................................... 15 Description.................................................................................................................... 15 Importance of Unexpected Delay ................................................................................. 15 Legislation Enabling Quick Clearance ......................................................................... 17 Driver Stop Law........................................................................................................ 18 Driver Removal Law................................................................................................. 19 Authority Removal Law ........................................................................................... 19 Authority Tow Law................................................................................................... 20 Unique Aspects of Implementing a Strategy in the Twin Cities .............................. 21 Relationship to Agency Performance Measures....................................................... 21 Relationship to On–going Mn/DOT Programs......................................................... 21 Implementation ............................................................................................................. 22 Benefits ..................................................................................................................... 22 Costs.......................................................................................................................... 22 Recommendations......................................................................................................... 22 Chapter 4........................................................................................................................... 24 Description.................................................................................................................... 24 Characterizing the Issues .............................................................................................. 24 Experiences in Other States .......................................................................................... 25 Unique Aspects of Increasing Truck Parking in the Twin Cities ................................. 28 Parking Location and Quality....................................................................................... 30 Relationship to Performance Measures and Goal......................................................... 33 Relationship to Ongoing Mn/DOT Programs............................................................... 34 Implementation Plan..................................................................................................... 34 Benefits of Providing Additional Truck Parking.......................................................... 35 Costs.............................................................................................................................. 36 Institutional, Political, and Policy Issues...................................................................... 37 Chapter 5........................................................................................................................... 38 Description.................................................................................................................... 38 Unique Aspects of the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area ................................................ 38 Relationships to Ongoing Mn/DOT Programs ............................................................. 41 Other Experience with Guide Signs.............................................................................. 43 Benefits ......................................................................................................................... 43 Costs.............................................................................................................................. 43 Institution and Policy Issues ......................................................................................... 43 Chapter 6........................................................................................................................... 44 Description.................................................................................................................... 44 Deceleration Lanes ....................................................................................................... 44 Relationships to Ongoing Mn/DOT Programs ............................................................. 50 Implementation ............................................................................................................. 50 Cost............................................................................................................................... 50 Benefits ........................................................................................................................