Design Myth-Busters: Learning When to Apply Guidance and When to Leave It Behind

KYTC Project Managers and design staff confront numerous design challenges when they develop plans for highway projects. Perhaps the most significant challenge is deciding when to follow design guidance and when to rely instead on engineering judgment and practical experience. Designers often reference A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets (i.e., the Green Book) as it contains recommendations on highway project design that balance user needs against the environmental context, but many state transportation agencies (STAs) treat the Green Book as a document whose standards are prescriptive and must be followed irrespective of project-specific contingencies. However, it is often judicious for designers to deviate from the Green Book’s recommendations and apply their well-honed engineering judgment to solve project-specific challenges. Over the past 10 years STAs have found success with this approach by embracing practical design solutions that reduce costs while satisfying project needs.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Completed
• Funding: $115000
• Contract Numbers:

  SPR 19-575

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Kentucky Transportation Cabinet

  200 Mero Street
  Frankfort, KY  United States  40622
• Performing Organizations:

  University of Kentucky, Lexington

  Kentucky Transportation Center College of Engineering, 176 Raymond Building
  Lexington, KY  United States  40506-0281
• Principal Investigators:

  Kreis, Doug

• Start Date: 20180701
• Expected Completion Date: 20191231
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Costs; Decision making; Highway design; Project management
• Identifier Terms: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01677442
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: University of Kentucky, Lexington
• Contract Numbers: SPR 19-575
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Aug 6 2018 2:53PM