Three-Dimensional Model for Stop-Control Intersection Sight Distance
Publication: Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 130, Issue 2
Abstract
Intersection sight distance (ISD) is the sight distance to be provided at intersections between a minor road and a major road. Current AASHTO policy provides an equation and charts for the required at-grade ISD so that a driver on the minor road can depart (crossing, turning left, or turning right) safely, even though an approaching vehicle on the major road comes into view as the stopped vehicle begins to depart. The AASHTO model is based on two assumptions: (1) both minor and major roads are assumed to be straight without any vertical or horizontal curvature; and (2) the intersection angle is assumed to be 90°. In many practical situations, however, sight distance is required to be checked for an existing or proposed 3D intersection alignment where vertical curves (crest or sag) and horizontal curves overlap. This paper presents a new mathematical model for the analysis of stop-controlled ISD on 3D highway alignments that allows the major road to have vertical and horizontal curves with skewed angle, and the minor road to have a longitudinal grade. Design aids are developed to determine the available ISD for different geometric alignment variables (e.g., radius of horizontal curve, lane width, number of lanes, and vertical curve parameters). Application of the methodology is illustrated using numerical examples.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
AASHTO. (1984). A policy on geometric design of highways and streets, Washington, D.C.
AASHTO. (1990). A policy on geometric design of highways and streets, Washington, D.C.
AASHTO. (2001). A policy on geometric design of highways and streets, Washington, D.C.
Easa, S. M.(1993). “Should vehicle 15-percentile speed be used in railroad grade crossing design?” ITE J., 63(8), 37–46.
Easa, S. M.(1998). “Model for sight distance analysis of at-grade uncontrolled intersections.” J. Transp. Eng., 124(2), 156–162.
Easa, S. M. (2000). “Reliability approach to intersection sight distance design.” Transportation Research Record 1701, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, Washington, D.C., 42–52.
Fitzpatrick, K., Lienau, T., and Fambro, D. (1998). “Driver eye and vehicle heights for use in geometric design.” Transportation Research Record 1612, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, Washington, D.C., 1–9.
Fitzpatrick, K., Mason, J., and Harwood, D. (1990). “Comparisons of sight distance procedures for turning vehicles from a stop-controlled approach.” Transportation Research Record 1385, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, Washington, D.C., 1–11.
Fitzpatrick, K., and Wooldridge, M. (2001). “Recent geometric design research for improved safety and operations.” NCHRP Synthesis 299, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, Washington, D.C.
Gattis, J. L. (1992). “Sight-distance design for curved roadways with tangential intersections.” Transportation Research Record 1356, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, Washington, D.C., 20–27.
Gattis, J. L., and Low, S. (1998). “Intersection angle geometry and the driver’s field of view.” Transportation Research Record 1612, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, Washington, D.C., 10–16.
Harwood, D., Mason, J., and Brydia, R. (2000). “Sight distance for stop-controlled intersections based on gap acceptance.” Transportation Research Record 1701, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, Washington, D.C., 32–41.
Harwood, D., Mason, J., Brydia, R., Pietrucha, and Gittings, G. L. (1996). “Intersection sight distance.” NCHRP 383, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, Washington, D.C.
Hassan, Y., Easa, S., and Halim, A. O. (1997). “Analytical model for sight distance analysis on 3D highway alignments.” Transportation Research Record 1523, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, Washington, D.C., 1–10.
Mason, J. M., Jr., Fitzpatrick, K., and Harwood, D. W. (1989). “Intersection sight distance requirements for large trucks.” Transportation Research Record 1208, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, Washington, D.C., 47–58.
McGee, H. W., Rizzo, R. S., and Tustin, B. (1984). “Highway design and operations standards affected by vehicle characteristics.” Rep. FHWA-RD-86-044, Federal Highway Administration, Washington, D.C.
Transportation Association of Canada (TAC). (1999). Geometric design guide for Canadian roads, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 130 • Issue 2 • March 2004
Pages: 261 - 270
Copyright
Copyright © 2004 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 5, 2002
Accepted: Jan 13, 2003
Published online: Feb 19, 2004
Published in print: Mar 2004
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.