Factors Contributing to Operating Speeds on Arterial Roads by Context Classifications
Publication: Journal of Transportation Engineering, Part A: Systems
Volume 147, Issue 8
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate and identify the factors influencing operating speed considering context classification. The study focused on three context classifications: C3R–Suburban Residential, C3C–Suburban Commercial, and C4–Urban General. Tobit models were proposed and developed using big data, including traffic and roadway characteristics, land-use attributes, and sociodemographic information. Three years of INRIX speed data were obtained to calculate the 85th-percentile speed. The study proposed an approach to adjust the 85th-percentile speed from INRIX data, given that traffic flow on arterials could be disrupted by signalized intersections. Afterward, empirical analysis was conducted by developing three Tobit models: Generic, C3C/C3R, and C4 models using the adjusted 85th-percentile speed. For the three developed models, several variables [e.g., inside shoulder width, speed limit, and number of signalized intersections per mile (1.609 km)] were found to have significant influence on the 85th-percentile speed. The analysis also revealed potential speed management countermeasures that have significant impact on the 85th-percentile speed which, when implemented, could reduce speed-related crashes and enhance the safety of vulnerable road users.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code used during the study were provided by a third party. Direct request for these materials may be made to the provider as indicated in the Acknowledgments.
Acknowledgments
The research discussed in this paper was funded by FDOT. The data used in this work were provided from FDOT and INRIX. This paper and its contents, including conclusions and results, are solely those of the authors; they do not represent opinions or policies of the funding agency.
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Published In
Journal of Transportation Engineering, Part A: Systems
Volume 147 • Issue 8 • August 2021
Copyright
© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Oct 21, 2020
Accepted: Mar 2, 2021
Published online: Jun 1, 2021
Published in print: Aug 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Nov 1, 2021
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