Long-Term Maintenance Needs and Costs of Green-Colored Pavement Markings and Flexible Post Delineators

Details

• Creators:
  Brown, Janna I. ; Ohlms, Peter B. ; Chen, T. Donna
• Corporate Creators:
  Virginia Transportation Research Council (VTRC)
• Corporate Contributors:
  Virginia. Department of Transportation ; United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Road markings
  • Highway delineators
  • Needs assessment
  • Costs
  • Bicycle lanes
  • Safety
  • Maintenance
  • Infrastructure
  • Pedestrians
  • Case studies
  More +
• Publication/ Report Number:
  FHWA/VTRC 27-R07
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States ; Virginia
• Edition:
  Final Report
• Corporate Publisher:
  Virginia. Department of Transportation
• Description:
  In recent years, Virginia localities have expressed interest in installing two specific bicycle infrastructure elements: green-colored pavement markings (GCPMs) on bicycle facilities and flexible post delineators (referred to as flexposts) along separated bike lanes to improve conspicuity and safety. In some cases, these elements were pursued as part of quick-build safety improvements. Flexposts, in particular, were often incorporated into quick-build interim treatments that could remain in place for many years. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) lacked information on the long-term maintenance costs for these infrastructure elements. Using examples from Virginia, this study investigated the long-term maintenance costs and needs of both GCPMs on bicycle facilities and flexposts used for separated bicycle lanes or pedestrian facilities. The study included a screening survey to identify locations of either infrastructure element on both VDOT-maintained and non-VDOT-maintained roads, in-depth interviews regarding the materials used, maintenance costs and frequency, and labor and equipment needs. Case studies present specific cost information for the infrastructure elements of interest. Of the 57 agencies that responded to the screening survey, 16 reported having GCPMs, 10 reported having flexposts for bicycle applications, and 12 reported having flexposts for pedestrian applications. In-depth interviews regarding maintenance were conducted with 11 agencies with GCPMs and 11 agencies with flexposts. Overall, interviewees indicated that the presence of GCPMs did not affect sweeping or snowplowing operations and that more frequent replacement was required for GCPMs in areas with high vehicular traffic, within the wheel path for turning movements, exposed to higher rates of heavy-vehicle traffic, and extended through intersections. Actual or anticipated GCPM replacement timelines were 7 years for thermoplastic, 5 to 7 years for methyl methacrylate, and 2 years for traffic paint. For bicycle and pedestrian facilities with flexposts, sweeping and snow removal were not major issues due to the ability to use equipment the agency already owned and the relative infrequency of snowfall within Virginia. Flexpost replacement frequency varied but was generally less than twice per year. Four case studies were examined to provide additional support to the survey findings. These case studies include a bicycle lane in Danville with preformed thermoplastic GCPMs at the beginning of each block, a flexpost-separated bicycle and pedestrian lane in Front Royal, a flexpost-separated pedestrian lane in Halifax County, and a flexpost-separated bicycle lane with preformed thermoplastic GCPMs in Arlington County. Overall, localities did not report incurring annual maintenance costs from GCPMs. For flexpost-separated lanes, the estimated cost of maintenance activities in the first year ranged from approximately 3% to 27% of the installation costs. Transportation agencies can use this information in planning for maintenance needs. This report recommends that VDOT include attributes indicating the presence of flexposts and GCPMs in its active transportation facility inventory, consider maintenance implications when incorporating GCPMs and flexposts into agency procedures and guidance materials, and explore partnerships to maintain flexpost-related infrastructure. The benefits of taking these actions are roughly $600,000 during a 5-year period.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  126298
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/93570/dot_93570_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 7.48 MB]
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:fb3597092265022d9fe12c91044a8bc8e0708e4fa1e4165a5de531046067de113fd69b6e22bd2e2513b796beed40efdf2ac6fe1900757657f8317f461b96c7e8