Abstract
In a recent project for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC), researchers were tasked with developing a method to objectively evaluate the access for large trucks between intermodal or other truck traffic generating sites and the National Highway System (NHS). The routes evaluated were the actual roadway segments used by large volumes of trucks traveling between the intermodal or other facilities and the NHS. This choice to evaluate specific heavily used roadway segments, as opposed to evaluating an entire highway or roadway corridor was based on the recommendation of the state-wide Intermodal Advisory Panel which advised the Cabinet on intermodal issues. This allowed researchers to identify and focus on the actual problems being experienced by the truck traffic, even when the routes included segments of many different highways and jurisdictions. Part of this study included the development of objective measures that could be used for comparing and prioritizing problem sections. This paper documents the methodology that was developed and is currently being used to evaluate routes to 50 truck trip generators throughout Kentucky. The procedure begins with a telephone survey with site operators/managers to identify problems along the route. Each route is evaluated with respect to three types of features: subjective, point and continuous. The rankings of each point and continuous element into the categories of"preferred", "adequate", and "less than adequate" is converted to a relative urgency rating by assigning relative weights for truck volume and section length. Point and subjective features are identified for spot improvements where appropriate. Finally, the research team grades the overall route on a subjective scale of 1 to 10.
Report Date
7-1998
Report Number
KTC-98-14
Digital Object Identifier
http://dx.doi.org/10.13023/KTC.RR.1998.14
Repository Citation
Aultman-Hall, Lisa; Hill, Michael; and Agent, Kenneth R., "A Methodology for Evaluating Large Truck Access to Intermodal and Other Facilities" (1998). Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report. 329.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/ktc_researchreports/329
Notes
The contents of this report reflect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the facts and accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the University of Kentucky, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, or the Federal Highway Administration. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation.