Tangent-to-Curve Transition on Two-Lane Rural Roads Based on Continuous Speed Profiles
Publication: Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 139, Issue 11
Abstract
In the road geometric design process, speed variation along the road segment is one of the most popular criteria to evaluate road consistency, hence the importance of estimating operating speed and its variations. Most of the estimation models are based on speed spot data collection, usually assuming some hypotheses like operating speed remains constant at curves and speed variations take place entirely at preceding tangent. This paper presents the results of the study of the deceleration phenomenon using a new methodology based on data collection by global positioning system devices. By means of this new methodology, not only new and more accurate models can be developed, but also the previous hypotheses can be checked and new studies can be carried out. Tangent-to-curve speed variations have been evaluated, comparing the 85th percentile speed differential () and the differential of the 85th percentile operating speed (), analyzing the percentage of deceleration length that takes place at curves, and developing two deceleration models with radius of horizontal curve and parameter of transition curve as explanatory variables.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank Center for Studies and Experimentation of Public Works (CEDEX) of the Spanish Ministry of Public Works that partially subsidizes the research. We also wish to thank the Infrastructure and Transportation Department, General Directorate of Public Works, Valencian Government, Spain, Valencian Provincial Council, and the Ministry of the Interior, General Directorate of Traffic, Spain, for their cooperation in field data gathering.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 139 • Issue 11 • November 2013
Pages: 1048 - 1057
Copyright
© 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Dec 15, 2011
Accepted: May 28, 2013
Published online: Jun 8, 2013
Published in print: Nov 1, 2013
Discussion open until: Nov 8, 2013
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