Maintenance Operations, Research

New Clear Roads Research: Dashboards for Improving Winter Operations

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From Clear Roads, March 5, 2025

Transportation agencies collect vast amounts of data about their winter operations. Dashboards can help to summarize the information, measure performance, inform decision-making during winter weather events and improve planning for future storms.

This Clear Roads project examined the use of dashboards among transportation agencies to assess current strategies and identify innovative and effective practices. The results offer guidance to transportation agencies that are considering implementing or expanding their dashboard use to enhance winter maintenance operations.

Download the final report and two-page brief: CR 22-05 – Use of Dashboards for Winter Operations, December 2024.

Research, Traffic and Safety

New Project: Roundabouts, J-Turns, etc. – Understanding Their Economic Impacts

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Roundabouts and J-turns have consistently shown significant improvements in safety and traffic flow in Minnesota and across the U.S. Still, some community residents and businesses oppose replacing traditional intersections with alternative intersections like roundabouts or J-turns.

Continue reading New Project: Roundabouts, J-Turns, etc. – Understanding Their Economic Impacts →
Research, Traffic and Safety

New Smartphone App Uses GPS Technology to Warn Drivers of Lane Departures

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Preventing vehicles from drifting out of traffic lanes is a top safety priority for transportation officials. An ongoing research project has produced a smartphone app that alerts drivers when their vehicles drift from a lane. The current phase of the project improved upon earlier versions of the app by adding GPS and significantly increasing the effectiveness of lane departure detection.

Continue reading New Smartphone App Uses GPS Technology to Warn Drivers of Lane Departures →
Traffic and Safety

Designing Channelized Right-Turn Lanes to Increase Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety

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The use of channelized right-turn (CRT) lanes at intersections can improve driver safety and traffic mobility but can be challenging for bicyclists and pedestrians, particularly those with sight or other impairments. This project examines the current practice of CRTs to identify design solutions and mitigation strategies to better accommodate the safety and accessibility needs of all road users.

Continue reading Designing Channelized Right-Turn Lanes to Increase Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety →
Environment

Reusing Local By-Products to Create Sustainable Roadside Soil 

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Vegetated roadsides in Minnesota help control stormwater quantity and pollutant levels before the water reaches lakes, streams and communities. Because leftover soil from road construction generally does not support filtration and plant growth, MnDOT and local engineers have continued research to identify organically rich, locally available industrial by-products to amend the soil. Engineered soil mixes with materials such as dredge sand, coarse street sweepings and ash sawdust show high potential for providing a sustainable, efficient solution. 

Continue reading Reusing Local By-Products to Create Sustainable Roadside Soil  →
Policy and Planning, Public Transit, Research

In rural Minnesota, transit planning apps could boost ridership

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Reprinted from CTS News, February 11, 2025

Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) transit planning apps provide a simple, convenient way for transit users to plan trips, make payments, and book on-demand rides—enhancing the user experience and encouraging more transit use. While prevalent in urban areas, these apps are uncommon in rural settings.

Continue reading In rural Minnesota, transit planning apps could boost ridership →
Policy and Planning, Research

New Project: Best Practice for Oversized/Overweight Vehicles

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As hauling practices change for waste collection, mining and other industries, local transportation agencies are receiving more permit requests for oversize or overweight trucks. These larger vehicles can have significantly greater impacts on pavements than passenger vehicles.

Continue reading New Project: Best Practice for Oversized/Overweight Vehicles →
Research, Traffic and Safety

New Project: User Understanding of Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon Operation

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Pedestrian hybrid beacons (PHBs) are one tool to help pedestrians safely cross roads. PHBs provide red-signal control for vehicular traffic when needed at lower installation costs and reduced traffic delays than full traffic signals.

Continue reading New Project: User Understanding of Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon Operation →
Automated Vehicle Technology, Traffic and Safety

Safety Considerations Associated with Driverless Shuttles

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Driverless vehicles present an enticing opportunity for increased traffic safety and reduced labor costs. However, technical issues and concerns remain regarding the interaction between driverless vehicles and human drivers. This project included observing and analyzing the interactions of a driverless shuttle and other road users in a pedestrian-heavy area to develop strategies for decreasing potential threats. Increasing the speed of the driverless shuttle and displaying clearer electronic messaging on the back of the shuttle could improve safety challenges.

Continue reading Safety Considerations Associated with Driverless Shuttles →

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