BACKGROUND
Access management techniques and design considerations for transportation networks and sites served by trucks have been developed over the years, but have not been specifically compiled or consolidated into guidelines useable by transportation practitioners. It is difficult for practitioners to incorporate these techniques and considerations, or to identify gaps in the knowledge base. A single resource is needed covering the design and operations of truck routes through urban and rural areas, as well as truck-focused intersection and driveway design guidelines.
Various safety and operational issues may occur in relation to ingress versus egress and require different solutions. From an operational perspective, there appears to be a critical point at which a small increase in trucks can create a major failure in operations. Research is needed to provide state transportation agencies and local governments with a single resource for state-of-the-practice access management and design strategies for truck freight routes (e.g., turn-lane design, access location, access spacing, driveway and site circulation design, parking, and corridor issues), and to identify where additional guidance is needed.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this research is to provide guidelines for transportation practitioners on (1) access management and design for truck routes and site layout to facilitate truck movement that can be directly incorporated into planning processes, and (2) design specifications for local governments and state transportation agencies to improve truck safety and operations.
The guidelines should address a broad range of issues related to access management and design for truck routes and site layout such as, but not limited to the following:
- Land use and zoning impacts on truck movement;
- Understanding truck freight needs and design requirements by identifying access-related issues and problems;
- Strategies for efficient movement and delivery of goods;
- Strategies for assessing cost-benefit differentials in providing truck accommodations;
- Model access management guidelines, policies and strategies for designating and developing truck freight routes and networks;
- Geometric design and operations policies and practices to accommodate trucks at access points and along corridors, including innovative intersections and interchanges;
- Establishing operational requirements for truck accommodations (e.g., enforcement, services, parking);
- Balancing truck needs with other modes (e.g., pedestrians, bicycles, transit);
- Site operation impacts on the adjacent transportation network (e.g., parking, overflow queues, turning radius, throat widths, internal circulation, sidewalks);
- Over-size and overweight load routing considerations;
- Recommendations for revisions or supplements to the TRB Access Management Manual; and
- Model language for incorporating the findings into local land use decision-making processes.
RESEARCH PLAN
A kick-off teleconference of the research team and NCHRP shall be scheduled within 1 month of the contract’s execution. The work plan proposed must be divided into three phases with tasks, with each task described in detail. Phase 1 must not exceed $100,000. There must be an interim report documenting the Phase 1 tasks and a face-to-face meeting scheduled with NCHRP to discuss the interim report, an outline of the guidelines, and a list of proposed attendees for a peer exchange to obtain feedback on the draft guidelines. No work will be performed on Phase 2 without NCHRP approval. Phase 2 will include a peer exchange at the Beckman Center in Irvine, CA, to review and critique the draft guidelines. The NCHRP panel is seeking insights of proposers on how they will manage the peer exchange and the expected outcomes. Phase 3 will include a revision of the draft guidelines and submission of the draft final deliverables. The final deliverables will include (1) guidelines for transportation practitioners on (a) access management and design for truck routes and site layout to facilitate truck movement and deliveries that can be directly incorporated into planning processes, and (b) design specifications for local governments and state transportation agencies to improve truck safety and operations; (2) a final report documenting the entire project, incorporating all other specified deliverable products of the research; (3) a stand-alone executive summary that outlines the research results; (4) a PowerPoint presentation of the guidance that can be tailored for specific audiences; (5) recommendations on needs and priorities for additional research; (6) recommendations for revisions or supplements to the TRB Access Management Manual; (7) model language for incorporating the findings into local land use decision-making processes; and (8) a stand-alone technical memorandum titled “Implementation of Research Findings and Products”.
