Research

Roundabout I. - Modeling Traffic Flows and Conflicts at Roundabouts. MBTC FR - 1099

Project Team:
Dr. E. R. Russell, P.E.,
Dr. M. Rys,
G. Luttrell, P.E. - Assistant Professor, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, former PhD student at KSU

 

Roundabout II. - Studies of Modern Roundabout Traffic Patterns.

Funded by the Kansas Department of Transportation, this project is currently in operation. The research team is examining 'before' traffic patterns at intersections before modern roundabouts were constructed in Newton, Lawrence, Olathe and Paola, Kansas. The 'after' traffic analysis is being performed at the same intersections in Newton, Olathe and Lawrence, Kansas after constructing the roundabouts. (Expect the draft project report in Spring 2001.)

Project Team:
Dr. E. R. Russell, P.E. - KSU,
Dr. M. Rys - KSU,
G. Luttrell, P.E. - Assistant Professor, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, former PhD student at KSU,
Steve King, P.E. - KDOT

 

Roundabout III. - Operational Evaluation of Modern Roundabout Intersections.

This study is funded by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (1005 N. Glebe Road., Arlington, VA 22201 - 4751). It examines the operation during the 'before' and 'after' periods at three modern roundabout sites. Study sites are located in Hartford County MD, Reno NV and Hutchinson KS. Evaluation of the intersection operation via SIDRA and the HCS will provide evidence of the benefit of this type of intersection control. (Expect draft project report Spring 2001.)

Project Team:
Dr. E. R. Russell, P.E. - KSU,
G. Luttrell, P.E. - Assistant Professor, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, former PhD student at KSU,
Richard Retting, P.E. - IIHS

 

Road Diet. - Operational effects of converting a four-lane facility to a three-lane facility.

Funded by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (1005 N. Glebe Road., Arlington, VA 22201 - 4751), this research examines the convertion in road cross-section from 4-lanes to 3-lanes. The study site is located in University place, Washington and was restriped in the fall of 2000. 'Before' and 'after' videotape of the site has allowed researchers to evaluate traffic delays and conflicts. Evaluation of the 'before' and 'after' operation is expected to be complete by Spring 2001.

Project Team:
Dr. E. R. Russell, P.E. - KSU,
G. Luttrell, P.E. - Assistant Professor, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, former PhD student at KSU,
Srinivas Mandavilli, Graduate Student- KSU,
Richard Retting, P.E. - IIHS

 

Roundabout Studies in Kansas(doc) (pdf)

ABSTRACT: The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) became interested in roundabouts in 1998 and started designing and building roundabouts on state highways in Kansas (KS). They sponsored three research projects to get before and after data at several Kansas roundabout locations. These studies are still on going at Kansas State University (KSU). Concurrently, the traffic engineer in the City of Manhattan, (City) when confronted with a high crash rate at the intersection of two residential collector streets with two-way stop control, chose a roundabout over other options. The City co-sponsored a project with Mack Blackwell Transportation Center (MBTC) to compare the traffic operations of the roundabout with other option. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) funded an additional project to get before and after data and analyze operation of roundabouts in Hartford County, MD, Hutchinson, KS and Reno, NV. The paper will review the data collection and analysis techniques and present results of several comparisons of roundabouts to other types of traffic control that show that the roundabout is superior to almost every other type of traffic control based on the MOEs used. The authors will present the results of their analysis that lead them to conclude that roundabouts are the safest and most effective type of intersection traffic control available today. The paper will also present a brief review of some, irrational public opposition.

Project Team:
Dr. E. R. Russell, P.E. - KSU,
G. Luttrell, P.E. - Assistant Professor, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, former PhD student at KSU,
Richard Retting, P.E. - IIHS

 

Exploration of the Effects of Operational and Physical Characteristics on Operating Speeds at Modern Roundabouts (doc)

Submitted by Greg Luttrell for partial fulfillment of the requirements for his Ph.D from the Department of Civil Engineering in the College of Engineering at KSU

Project Team:
G. Luttrell, P.E. - Assistant Professor, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, former PhD student at KSU

 

Evaluation of the Road Diet Concept and Comparison to the Operational Performance Of a Single-Lane Modern Roundabout and a Traffic Signal (pdf)

Submitted by Srinivas Mandavilli for partial fulfillment of the requirements for his Masters from the Department of Civil Engineering in the College of Engineering at KSU.

 

Further Studies Of Roundabouts:Hutchinson,Kansas Study

This research was funded by Mac-Blackwell National Rural Transportation Study Center and covers an indepth study of the Hutchinson,Ks Roundabout. This report was also submitted by Sathyanarayanan Sudhakar (graduate student) for partial fulfillment of the requirements for his Masters from the Department of Civil Engineering in the College of Engineering at KSU.