Restricted Crossing U-Turn (RCUT) Intersection Safety Analysis

• Authored by:  Chris Cunningham
• Event:  2012 National Conference on Access Management

Restricted Crossing U-Turn (RCUT) Intersection Safety Analysis — The North Carolina Experience
North Carolina State University
AM1207Cunningham

Objectives
• Determine the safety and operational benefits of superstreets for NC motorists
• Fulfill the need for capacity and level of service methodology

Slide Titles
Restricted Crossing U-Turns (RCUT) Benefits and Capacities (Project 2009-06)
Project Team
Objectives
Superstreet Description
Operational Analysis Overview
Saturation Flow Study
Site Selection – Signalized Superstreets
Model Calibration/Validation Process
Superstreet vs. Conventional: Experiment Setup
Superstreet vs. Conventional: Results
Superstreet vs. Conventional: Results
Operational Conclusions
Safety Analysis Overview
Site Selection
Data Collection
Data Collection
Calibration Factors
Naïve Analysis
Naïve Analysis – Results
C-G Analysis
C-G Analysis – Results
EB Naïve Analysis
All Methods Comparison
Safety Conclusions
Resident Survey
Resident Survey Results
Commuter Survey
Commuter Survey – Results
Commuter Survey Conclusion
Business Owner Survey
Business Owner Survey – Conclusions
NCLOS
NCLOS – Superstreet
NCLOS – Superstreet, cont.
NCLOS – Superstreet, cont.
NCLOS – Superstreet Defaults
NCLOS – Roadway Factors
NCLOS – Traffic Factors
Implementation Recommendations

Safety Conclusions
• Unsignalized superstreets:
o Reduced collisions for total, angle and right turn, left turn, and fatal and injury
o Total collisions reduced by 46% (C-G method)
o C-G method recommended for NC superstreets
• Signalized superstreets:
o Results inconclusive
o 3 sites with unique characteristics

Implementation Recommendations
• Consider superstreets for upgrading arterials similar to those in this study
o High volume, divided arterial
o Low volume minor road
• Better as a corridor than isolated intersection
• Better when built along developing corridors
• Evaluate the possibility for left turn on red