Applying a protective surface—or chip seal—to existing asphalt on relatively low-traffic roads is a pavement preservation method used by many transportation agencies. Yet despite its popularity, chip seals can cause various issues. Some agencies have found that applying a fog seal following a chip seal is a cost-effective strategy for improving asphalt performance and public satisfaction.
Continue reading Putting Research Into Practice: Fog Sealing Chip Sealed Roads Can Improve Performance
Talking about Winter Road Maintenance
AASHTO’s SICOP Talks Winter Ops podcast tackles a variety of topics about winter road maintenance in four recent podcasts. Listen to conversations with experts and practitioners who have real-life experience maintaining roads under snow and ice.
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Effective Placement of High-Tension Cable Median Barriers
While cable median barriers have drastically reduced fatal and other serious crashes, the barrier’s distance from the road may impact its safety effectiveness. MnDOT has a new method to estimate the change in the frequency of crashes based on this distance, facilitating informed decisions about installing or moving cable median barriers.
Continue reading Effective Placement of High-Tension Cable Median Barriers
Wearable technology for highway worker’s safety
This article was originally posted on Catalyst, January 2023.
Wearable technology could improve work-zone safety, but are highway workers on board?
Despite ongoing safety efforts, highway maintenance and operations workers have dangerous jobs. According to the Federal Highway Administration, an average of 135 highway workers loses their lives each year because of traffic incursions and limited space for maneuvering. Wearable technology embedded in work gear offers the promise of preventing injuries and deaths—and is already being used successfully in other construction fields. The big question: Would highway workers accept this technology?
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Paving the way for smarter and safer AVs
This article was originally posted on Catalyst, January 2023.
There’s been a lot of progress toward self-driving cars in recent years, but we still have a long way to go before the system runs like a well-oiled machine. Even with all the advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning, automated vehicles (AVs) are still not well-equipped to handle crashes, bad weather, poor visibility, and other unexpected situations on the road.
Continue reading Paving the way for smarter and safer AVs
Could an alternative to monthly parking contracts promote more sustainable mobility?
This article was originally posted on Catalyst, January 2023.
Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in both the US and the Twin Cities, and commuting trips are a major contributor to these emissions. To meet its emission-reduction mandates, Minnesota needs strategies to reduce auto trips—especially driver-only trips without passengers.
A recent U of M project aimed to leverage existing transportation infrastructure and systems to provide more flexible, multimodal transportation options for parking contract holders at Minneapolis’ ABC Ramps—thereby reducing the number of solo trips.
Continue reading Could an alternative to monthly parking contracts promote more sustainable mobility?
Investigating Max-Pressure Traffic Signal Timing
Inadequately timed traffic signals at intersections are a major contributor to traffic congestion and increased travel times. Adaptive signal timing can detect and respond to real-time vehicle queues, resulting in more efficient vehicle movement through a corridor than traditional traffic signals. A revised max-pressure traffic signal controller could decrease delays and increase vehicle throughput at intersections.
Continue reading Investigating Max-Pressure Traffic Signal Timing
New Project: Update of Stormwater Management Best Practices Manual
The Local Road Research Board published the Stormwater Best Management Practice (BMP) Maintenance Resource Guide in 2009, and best practices for stormwater management have since evolved. Much has been learned about the benefits and limitations and inspection and maintenance activities of stormwater ponds, bioretention facilities, underground treatment devices, underground detention, and infiltration. Regulatory requirements have also changed as indicated in the Minnesota Stormwater Manual.
Continue reading New Project: Update of Stormwater Management Best Practices Manual
New Project: Red Light Running Warning System
Red-light violations at traffic signals are a major contributor to crashes and fatalities. Right-angle type crashes typically account for the most serious of these collisions, and most of them are caused by vehicles running red lights. This research will explore technology that could be used to warn drivers when they are about to run a red light.
Continue reading New Project: Red Light Running Warning System
Scholars reflect on critical transportation topics in new Future of Mobility series
What’s next in transportation? CTS’s new Future of Mobility series collects the perspectives of top University of Minnesota researchers and other national experts.
In 17 articles, the authors scan the horizon and reflect on critical transportation topics ranging from rural transportation to automated vehicles to equity for users. The future of transportation will be a complex, interconnected set of practices and technologies, and this series brings bold thinking together in one place.
Continue reading Scholars reflect on critical transportation topics in new Future of Mobility series
Crossroads 