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Safety Considerations in Houston HOV Facilities and Managed Lanes

This presentation at the TRB Conference in Houston explores the safety of HOV lanes compared to general freeway lanes, analyzing crash data from METRO and DPS sources. It identifies hot-spot locations, contributing factors to crashes, and tentative conclusions regarding safety. Future research suggestions are also discussed.

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Safety Considerations in Houston HOV Facilities and Managed Lanes

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  1. SAFETY CONSIDERATIONSHOV FACILITIES AND MANAGED LANESIN HOUSTON Suhag Kansara Ned Levine, PhD Houston-Galveston Area Council TRB Conference on HOV and Managed Lanes Houston, TX April 18, 2005

  2. Purpose • Document crashes on HOV lanes • Compare safety of HOV lanes with General Purpose freeway lanes • Identify characteristics of HOV crashes

  3. Data sources • METRO HOV crash data 2001-2004 • DPS freeway crash data 1999-2001

  4. HOV Corridors in Houston Region

  5. HOV Crashes 2001-2004

  6. Crashes by time of day: 2001

  7. HOV Crashes 2001

  8. Crashes on HOV segments

  9. Crashes on Freeway segments

  10. Crash risk: HOV vs. Freeway lanes

  11. Multiple Crash Locations

  12. Multiple Crash Locations – large scale

  13. Hot-spot locations HOV lanes merging to freeway lanes

  14. Hot-spot locations Direct access ramps merging with HOV lanes from park and ride lots

  15. Junction related HOV crashes

  16. Hot-spot locations Design compromises in geometrical structure of HOV lane – shoulder width

  17. Contributing factors • Single vehicle crashes HOV facility 30% Freeway facility 24% • Speeding HOV facility 53% Freeway facility 56% • Following too close HOV facility 5% Freeway facility 3%

  18. Tentative conclusions • HOV lanes are safe • Design compromises can increase crash risk • Trade-off safety between barrier facilities vs. diamond lanes

  19. Future research • Compare barrier facilities with diamond lanes • Who is involved in the crashes • Disproportionate number of males • Disproportionate number of persons in their 30’s and 40’s • Do certain groups have more difficulty with barrier facility?

  20. For more information, see:http://www.h-gac.com/safety

  21. Thank You

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