Sometimes quality is in the eye of the beholder: highway users and other stakeholders share their views on what makes a successful road project

Public Roads, May-June, 2004 by Kathleen A. Bergeron

Darrin Roth (ATA): "Average operating costs for a truck on a poor road surface versus a good surface is 12 cents per mile [7 cents per kilometer]. In addition, poor surfaces can damage cargo and contribute to crashes."

Val Riva (ACPA): "Good long-term performance is affected by pavement smoothness, which should not be confused with texture. Smooth pavements do not experience the dynamic loads of rough pavements, which means less wear-and-tear on vehicles and the pavement. There are tangible benefits in terms of reduced costs to road users and agencies, and, of course, the taxpaying public."

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How Important Is Overall Traffic Flow?

Strategies to improve or maintain efficient traffic flow range from expanding roadway capacity to enhancing the operation of existing facilities. DOTs are deploying a growing variety of intelligent transportation system (ITS) technologies that monitor and manage flow, such as electronic toll payment systems, video surveillance, weather information services, and weigh-in-motion technologies. These approaches can help keep traffic moving and reduce the impact of factors like construction, weather, and crashes that inhibit mobility. Interviewees stressed the importance of improving traffic flow to the economy and personal travel.

Darrin Roth (ATA): "Just-in-time [JIT] delivery saves the U.S. economy around $700 billion per year through lower transportation costs and reduced inventories. JIT has enabled retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers to reduce their inventories substantially, reducing freight transportation and logistics costs from 16 percent of the gross domestic product in 1980 to 10 percent today. JIT is only possible with reliable deliveries, and predictable traffic flow is critical to reliable deliveries."

Val Riva (ACPA): "We have developed some innovative solutions to improve work zone safety and minimize traffic disruptions, such as a comprehensive guide and ongoing training in traffic management during construction, as well as fast-track methods of construction."

Kathleen Marvaso (AAA): "AAA members would measure success by the improved mobility and safety they see as road improvements are made. What does that mean? Fewer crashes and reliable travel times. Well-designed and maintained roads reduce the frequency of crashes. Are the driving lanes and shoulder areas wider? Are roadside hazards a safe distance from the travel lanes? Infrastructure improvements should be aimed at accommodating, rather than stifling, projected growth in travel demand."

How Important Is Traffic Flow in Work Zones?

Work zones account for nearly 24 percent of nonrecurring congestion, or 482 million vehicle-hours of delay per year. ITS technologies are a key tool in maintaining traffic flow in work zones. Dynamic lane-merge systems, for example, facilitate efficient and safe traffic merging as vehicles approach closed lanes in a work zone. And real-time data gathered through ITS technologies can be synthesized and reported to motorists through variable message signs, Web sites, and traveler advisory radio. Constituents consistently reported that communication is essential to improving mobility in work zones.