Details:

Creators:
Schrock, Steven D. ; Patil, Shivraj S. ; Fitzsimmons, Eric J. ; Sarikonda, Vishal R.
Schrock, Steven D. ; Patil, Shivraj S. ; Fitzsimmons, Eric J. ; Sarikonda, Vishal R. Less -
Corporate Creators:
University of Kansas. Dept. of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering
Corporate Contributors:
Kansas. Dept. of Transportation. Bureau of Research
Subject/TRT Terms:
[+]
Flaggers Pilot Car Operations Portable Equipment Portable Traffic Signals Red Light Running Traffic Signals Work Zones Work Zone Traffic Control
Publication/ Report Number:
KS-16-02
Resource Type:
Tech Report
Geographical Coverage:
Kansas
Corporate Publisher:
Kansas. Dept. of Transportation. Bureau of Research
Abstract:
The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the use of Portable Traffic Signal (PTS) systems at long, rural

two-lane work zones and to compare three different conditions for controlling one-lane traffic in conjunction with pilot car

operations: flagging only, a PTS system with the presence of a flagger, and a PTS system without the presence of a flagger.

The primary measures of effectiveness were determined as Red Light Running (RLR) violation percentages, vehicle delay

estimates, queue lengths, signal timing operations, and general field operations. Data were collected three days per week

over a period of four weeks from August 5, 2014, to August 28, 2014, at four different temporary work zones in Kansas.

Two PTS units were used for the purpose of the study in conjunction with pilot car operations.

It was found that the percentage of violations for the flagger only, PTS with a flagger, and PTS without a flagger

were 1.1, 1.3, and 3.1 percent, respectively. A test of proportions conducted on the three samples at a 0.05 level of

significance indicated that there was a statistically significant difference in the number of violations when a PTS was used

with a flagger and without a flagger, as compared to when flagging only operations were used. Similarly, there was a

statistically significant difference in the number of violations when a PTS was used with a flagger and when a PTS was used

without a flagger. It was also found that there was no statistically significant difference between the number of RLR vehicles

that followed an already departed queue for the PTS with a flagger and PTS without a flagger conditions. It was found that

there was a statistically significant difference in the number of RLR vehicles that left the stopped queue and the number of

vehicles that disregarded the PTS control for both the conditions.

An exploratory delay analysis indicated that the presence of a flagger reduced the total delay by approximately 5

percent of the delay that could have occurred during the normal operations when flaggers waved the vehicles through the red

light. Finally, equations were developed to determine the volume thresholds at which the PTS system would fail and the

appropriate green intervals needed to serve a certain queue length. It was found that based on the existing KDOT policy of a

maximum pilot car roundtrip time of 15 minutes, the PTS system would fail at an annual average daily traffic (AADT) of

approximately 7,083 vehicles per day and at a corresponding maximum green time of approximately 446 seconds.

In conclusion, it was recommended to use a PTS unit without a flagger in conjunction with pilot car operations at

long, rural two-lane work zones but other measures were suggested, such as engineering studies to more accurately estimate

queue lengths, installation of static signs indicating the expected wait time, and regular inspections of the PTS units by site

supervisors or crew members to mitigate excessive delays and monitor for RLR vehicles.


Format:
PDF
Funding:
C1979
Collection(s):
US Transportation Collection
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:1203aa3977e8197e19f3396c783ef2cba3e62ac783589d0d377f83d2b9dd2c29
Download URL:
https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/30782/dot_30782_DS1.pdf
File Type:

Supporting Files

• No Additional Files

More +