TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS: GETTING THE MOST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK!

GPA Fall Conference 2013Garth Lynch, PE, AICP

HNTB CorporationOctober 10, 2013

Agenda• Overview of study• Identification of bottlenecks• Potential operational strategies• Project prioritization• Next steps

Metro Atlanta OPS

OVERVIEW OF STUDY

Study Area• All limited access

facilities in metro Atlanta

• Emphasis on improving the Interstate mainline

Objectives• Identify bottleneck

areas • Identify and evaluate

potential low-cost improvements

• Quick implementation – 6 months to 5 years

• Document a prioritized list of operational projects

Metro Atlanta OPS

IDENTIFICATION OF BOTTLENECKS

Identification of Bottleneck LocationsData Inputs User Inputs

Speeds & counts Bus drivers

Aerial congestion survey Unit operators

GPS speeds & duration of congestion

GDOT TMC staff

Stakeholders

HERO

Causes of Bottlenecks• High volumes• Weaving• Lane drops/additions• Last minute decision making• Lack of storage on ramps and/or high turn volumes• Tight turning radii and/or steep grade on ramps• Frontage road access• Limited access facility terminates at signalized

intersection• Suspected drainage issues

Identified Bottleneck Locations

Metro Atlanta OPS

POTENTIAL STRATEGIES

Potential Strategies• Added Corridor

Capacity (MLIP)• Improved Design

Geometrics• Intelligent

Transportation Systems• Freight• Demand Management

& Policy Considerations

System-wide Strategies for Consideration1) Expand ITS2) Advanced queue warning signs 3) Variable speed limits 4) Dynamically shoulder usage5) Upgrade CCTV cameras / traffic flow monitoring6) Increase crash investigation sites7) Modify ramp meters to permit 2 cars per green8) Expand quick response incident clearance9) Expand HERO units10) Modify truck lane restrictions

Types of Location-Specific Strategies for Consideration

1) Variable / dynamic ramp closures (closed to all vehicles v. closed to unauthorized vehicles)

2) Auxiliary lanes (new or using shoulder)3) Collector / distributor roads4) Modifications to frontage road access5) Channelization6) Re-striping7) Interchange reconfigurations (Diverging Diamond

Interchanges, etc.)

Types of Location-Specific Strategies for Consideration

8) Turning prohibitions

9) Additional ramp meters

10) Modify existing ramp meter operations

11) Modify ramp geometrics, with a focus to better accommodate trucks

12) Automated truck rollover warning systems

13) Ramp meter bypass lanes for transit and vanpools

Potential Strategies

Potential Solutions:

71 operational strategies(13 types)

at 45 locations

Active Traffic Management (ATM)

Source: FHWA Best Practices for Road Weather Management: Minnesota DOT I-35W Smart Lanes: Active Traffic Management. Located at: http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop12046/rwm17_minnesota1.htm

Lane Control Signals During an Incident

Source: Washington State Department of Transportation Smarter Highways: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/smarterhighways/

ATM Sign Example

Variable Speed Limit Sign Example

Active Traffic Management (ATM)

Ramp Meter Bypass Lane for Transit

Innovative InterchangeReconfiguration Options

Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) Partial DDI

Modified DisplacedLeft Turn

I-75 / I-85 (Downtown Connector)at Williams St

N

Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd

Will

iam

s St.

W Peachtree Pl

FromTo

Will

iam

s St.

Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd

W Peachtree Pl

Option 1: Left turns would shift to W Peachtree Pl

Option 1: Prohibit left turn at Ivan Allen Jr Blvd

Option 2: Provide SB right turn arrow & re-

stripe taper

Source: Google

Option 3: Add 2nd right turn lane from Ivan Allen Jr Blvd to Williams St

Option 4: Allow 2nd right turn/thru lane

Strategies Being Considered by Cost Range

• OPS projects being input into project prioritization process– 71 projects totaling

approximately $159 M

39 projects20 projects

11 projects

1 project

Number of Projects Being Considered by Cost Range<$1m $1m-$5m $5-$10m >$10m

Metro Atlanta OPS

PROJECT PRIORITIZATION

Project Prioritization Structure Goals

National & State Goals

Local Goals

Project Prioritization Structure

Preliminary Project Prioritization StructureNo. Themes Performance Measures

1 Transportation mobility

Vehicle throughput

Changes in travel speeds or travel time savings

Reduction of vehicle delay

Facilitation of transit options

2 Financial feasibilityCost

Benefit/cost ratio

3 SafetyAnticipated reduction of crashes

Anticipated reduction of incident response time

4 Connectivity and economic growth

Facilitation of current major freight movement

Connectivity to current major employment centers

5 System preservation and environmental sustainability

System preservation

Level of environmental impacts

6 Project support and readinessProject readiness

General constructability and schedule

Metro Atlanta OPS

NEXT STEPS

Next Steps

www.dot.ga.gov\MLIPKyle Mote

GDOT Office of Planning(404) 631-1987

kmote@dot.ga.gov

SR 400 at Holcomb Bridge Rd (SR 140)

Holcomb Bridge Rd.

SB O

ff-Ramp

Dogwood Rd.

Added Thru Lane

Added Right Turn Lane

N

Source: Google

Thru Lane

Option 1: Add right turn lane and one thru lane

I-85 North at Hamilton Mill Rd

N

Source: GA GIS Clearinghouse

Braselton Hwy.Braselton Hwy.

Hamilton M

ill Rd.

Existing Proposed

Step 1: Create indirect left turn intersection and eliminate SB left turn

Step 2: Eliminate one SB lane and add NB lane

Step 3: Create free flow right turn lane

SR 124SR 124

Source: Google

Hamilton M

ill Rd.

I-285 S at I-85 S Interchange

N

Source: Google

US 29

Option 1a: Widen and restripe existing merge from I-85 NB to

create two-lane on-ramp

Option 1b: Restripe Old National Hwy. On-ramp

Old National C/D

I-85 NB

I-285 W / I-20 W

Source: GA GIS Clearinghouse

N

Option 1: Add 2 mainline lanes on I-20 WB from I-285 SB/NB

Option 2: Create new C/D road and continue ramps onto new bridge over I-285

Option 1: Drop mainline lane on I-20 WB to I-285 SB