Truck Accommodation Design Guidance

259 Pages·2004·8.23 MB·English

by  Texas Transportation Institute

Technical Report Documentation Page

1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient’s Catalog No.
FHWA/TX-04/0-4364-1

4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date
TRUCK ACCOMMODATION DESIGN GUIDANCE: FINAL October 2003

REPORT
6. Performing Organization Code

7. Author(s) 8. Performing Organization Report No.
Dan Middleton, Alan Clayton, Cesar Quiroga, and Debbie Jasek Report 0-4364-1

9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS)
Texas Transportation Institute

The Texas A&M University System
11. Contract or Grant No.
College Station, Texas 77843-3135 Project No. 0-4364

12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 13. Type of Report and Period Covered
Texas Department of Transportation Research:
Research and Technology Implementation Office September 2001-August 2003

P. O. Box 5080

14. Sponsoring Agency Code
Austin, Texas 78763-5080

15. Supplementary Notes
Research performed in cooperation with the Texas Department of Transportation and the U.S.
Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration.
Research Project Title: Truck Accommodation Design Guidance

16. Abstract
The number of trucks on many highways in Texas and across the nation has increased to the point that
special or unique roadway design treatments may be warranted. Increases in truck traffic have resulted
from increases in time-sensitive freight (e.g., just-in-time deliveries), the North American Free Trade
Agreement (NAFTA), and until recently a robust economy. As particular corridors have become
increasingly dominated by truck traffic, or in locations where truck traffic might reasonably be
segregated, questions have arisen regarding accommodations and treatments to address issues caused by
truck traffic that may be appropriate for those corridors. This research investigated the sensitivity of
current Texas design practice to the unique operating characteristics of large commercial vehicles and
determined threshold conditions under which design should reflect these larger vehicles. Findings of this
study indicate that serious consideration needs to be given trucks when the average annual daily truck
traffic (AADTT) reaches 5000 trucks per day during the design period. When the design AADTT
reaches 25,000 trucks per day, there may be justification for considering separated truck roadways with a
minimum of two lanes in each direction. This research recommends that the Texas Department of
Transportation (TxDOT) consider changes in the following design parameters in its TxDOT Roadway
Design Manual (and/or other appropriate documents): stopping sight distance, intersection and
channelization, lane width, shoulder width and composition, sideslopes and drainage features, traffic
barriers, passive signs, and acceleration lanes.

17. Key Words 18. Distribution Statement
Trucks, Commercial Vehicles, Truck Roadways, No restrictions. This document is available to
Truck Lane Restrictions, Geometric Design, the public through NTIS:
Roadside Safety Features National Technical Information Service
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, Virginia 22161

19. Security Classif.(of this report) 20. Security Classif.(of this page) 21. No. of Pages 22. Price
Unclassified Unclassified 258
Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page authorized

TRUCK ACCOMMODATION DESIGN GUIDANCE
FINAL REPORT

by

Dan Middleton, P.E.
Program Manager
Texas Transportation Institute

Alan Clayton, P.Eng.
Professor of Civil Engineering
University of Manitoba

Cesar Quiroga
Associate Research Engineer
Texas Transportation Institute

and

Debbie Jasek
Assistant Research Specialist
Texas Transportation Institute

Report 4364-1
Project Number 0-4364
Research Project Title: Truck Accommodation Design Guidance

Sponsored by
Texas Department of Transportation
In Cooperation with the
U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration

October 2003

TEXAS TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE
The Texas A&M University System
College Station, Texas 77843-3135

DISCLAIMER

The contents of this report reflect the views of the authors, who are solely responsible
for the facts and accuracy of the data, the opinions, and the conclusions presented herein. The
contents do not necessarily reflect the official view or policies of the Texas Department of
Transportation (TxDOT), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Texas A&M
University System, or the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI). This report does not
constitute a standard or regulation, and its contents are not intended for construction, bidding,
or permit purposes. The use of names or specific products or manufacturers listed herein does
not imply endorsement of those products or manufacturers. The engineer in charge of the
project was Dan Middleton, P.E. # 60764.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This project was conducted in cooperation with the Texas Department of
Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. The authors wish to gratefully
acknowledge the contributions of several persons who made the successful completion of this
research possible. This especially includes the Program Coordinator, Mr. Rick Collins, and
the Project Director, Mr. Gus Lopez. Special thanks are also extended to Mr. Charles Koonce
and Ms. Carol Davis, who served as Technical Advisors, and to Mr. Larry Baird, Mr. Tom
Beeman, Mr. Ray Belk, Ms. Maria Burke, Mr. Chris Hehr, Ms. Elizabeth Hilton, and Mr.
Cecil Johnson for their participation in the project.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

LIST OF FIGURES.................................................................................................................xi
LIST OF TABLES............................................................................................................... xiv

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY......................................................................................................1

1.0 BACKGROUND..........................................................................................................5
1.1 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................5
1.2 PROJECT OBJECTIVES................................................................................6
1.3 ORGANIZATION OF THE REPORT............................................................6

2.0 INPUT FROM STAKEHOLDERS.............................................................................7
2.1 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................7
2.2 METHODOLOGY...........................................................................................7
2.3 FINDINGS BASED ON STAKEHOLDER INPUT.......................................8
2.3.1 TxDOT Survey Findings......................................................................8
2.3.2 DPS Office Meeting and Survey........................................................11
2.3.3 TxDOT Research and Technology Implementation (RTI)
Survey Findings..................................................................................14
2.3.4 TxDOT Office Interviews..................................................................18
2.3.5 Motor Carrier Interviews....................................................................29

3.0 TEXAS TRUCK FLEET...........................................................................................37
3.1 INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................37
3.2 METHODOLOGY.........................................................................................37
3.3 DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT FLEET..............................................37
3.3.1 Size and Makeup of the Texas Truck Fleet........................................37
3.3.2 Trucks Allowed by Oversize/Overweight Permitting........................40
3.3.3 Semitrailers Longer than 53 Feet.......................................................41
3.3.4 Truck Length and Width Exclusive Devices......................................43

4.0 MAJOR TRUCK CORRIDORS IN TEXAS.............................................................45
4.1 INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................45
4.2 METHODOLOGY.........................................................................................45
4.2.1 GIS-T Platform...................................................................................45
4.2.2 Road Network....................................................................................46
4.3 CURRENT LEVELS OF TRUCK ACTIVITY.............................................47
4.3.1 Commodity Flows and Derived Truck Movements...........................47
4.3.2 Truck Flows........................................................................................62
4.4 ANTICIPATED CHANGES IN TRUCK TRAFFIC....................................80
4.4.1 Truck Forecasts for Specific Corridor Proposals...............................80

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TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued)

Page

5.0 TRUCK DESIGN IMPROVEMENTS IMPLEMENTED ELSEWHERE................91
5.1 INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................91
5.2 METHODOLOGY.........................................................................................91
5.3 RESULTS OF LITERATURE SEARCH......................................................91
5.3.1 Strategies for Truck Accommodation................................................93
5.4 RESULTS OF FOLLOW-UP CONTACTS................................................106
5.4.1 New Jersey Turnpike........................................................................106
5.4.2 Caltrans Truck Facilities..................................................................119

6.0 CRITICAL NON-GEOMETRIC DESIGN ISSUES...............................................129
6.1 INTRODUCTION........................................................................................129
6.2 METHODOLOGY.......................................................................................129
6.3 CRITICAL NON-GEOMETRIC DESIGN ISSUES...................................129
6.3.1 Operational, Capacity, and Safety Issues ........................................129
6.3.2 Legal and Policy Issues ...................................................................131
6.3.3 Social and Public Opinion Issues.....................................................132
6.3.4 Compliance and Enforcement Issues...............................................132
6.3.5 Financial and Public Opinion Issues ...............................................132
6.3.6 Environmental Issues.......................................................................133
6.4 ITS AND ROADSIDE PARKING..............................................................134
6.4.1 Intelligent Transportation Systems ..................................................134
6.4.2 Commercial Vehicle Parking...........................................................139

7.0 TRUCK DESIGN THRESHOLDS..........................................................................141
7.1 INTRODUCTION........................................................................................141
7.2 METHODOLOGY.......................................................................................141
7.3 STRATEGIES/REASONS FOR SEPARATING TRUCKS.......................141
7.3.1 Thresholds for Truck Accommodation............................................143
7.3.2 Summary..........................................................................................159

8.0 DESIGN GUIDELINES..........................................................................................161
8.1 INTRODUCTION........................................................................................161
8.2 METHODOLOGY.......................................................................................161
8.3 DESIGN ELEMENTS.................................................................................161
8.3.1 Sight Distance .................................................................................161
8.3.2 Horizontal Alignment.......................................................................165
8.3.3 Vertical Alignment...........................................................................168
8.3.4 Cross-Section Elements....................................................................169
8.3.5 Summary..........................................................................................176

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TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued)

Page

REFERENCES.....................................................................................................................181

APPENDIX A. TTI SURVEY FORM SENT TO TXDOT DISTRICTS ...........................189

APPENDIX B. DPS SURVEY FORM...............................................................................193

APPENDIX C. MONTHLY TRUCK BORDER CROSSING ACTIVITY
CLASS 7 AND UP....................................................................................197

APPENDIX D. NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE TRAFFIC VOLUME BY
VEHICLE CLASS AND SEGMENT.......................................................209

APPENDIX E. NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE SELECTED SPECIFICATIONS.................213

APPENDIX F. CALTRANS TRAFFIC VOLUME AND CRASH DATA
FOR THE I-5 TRUCK ROADWAY.........................................................221

APPENDIX G. HOURLY VEHICLE CLASSIFICATION COUNTS
FROM SEVEN TXDOT SITES...............................................................227

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