Researchers at the University of Utah have developed performance-based processes for establishing highway design criteria that would allow designers to consider and balance the accommodation of driver and vehicle operating characteristics, safety, design, and construction costs in any given context. More specifically, the applications described for assessing probability of compliance of a design, the expected level of service given a number of lanes on a freeway segment, and the effect of ramp spacing and the presence of an auxiliary lane will provide clear paths for utilization of these methods and improve reliability of performance estimates at design stages. Such a performance-based design approach would be a significant contribution to achieving performance objectives and making well-informed design decisions.
Researchers at the University of Utah have developed performance-based processes for establishing highway design criteria that would allow designers to consider and balance the accommodation of driver and vehicle operating characteristics, safety, design, and construction costs in any given context. More specifically, the applications described for assessing probability of compliance of a design, the expected level of service given a number of lanes on a freeway segment, and the effect of ramp spacing and the presence of an auxiliary lane will provide clear paths for utilization of these methods and improve reliability of performance estimates at design stages. Such a performance-based design approach would be a significant contribution to achieving performance objectives and making well-informed design decisions.