Assessing the Impacts of Safety-Focused Design Interventions on Arterial Roadways
Arterial roadways serve as critical connectors in urban transportation networks, yet their design often prioritizes vehicular mobility over safety. Despite the widespread application of safety-focused infrastructure interventions on local and collector streets, similar strategies are rarely implemented on arterials due to concerns over congestion, emergency response, and operational efficiency. However, these design choices have proven to result in unsafe conditions. This project investigates how infrastructure design interventions can improve safety on arterial roadways while addressing operational and institutional constraints. The research follows a phased approach. First, it examines the historical, regulatory, and policy factors that have limited the adoption of safety-focused interventions on arterials, including the influence of fire codes and emergency response standards. Second, it assesses the real-world impacts of infrastructure changes on speeds, crashes, and emergency response metrics. Finally, it synthesizes findings to develop actionable recommendations and a decision-making framework for arterial design. By providing an evidence-based understanding of how design choices affect safety, mobility, and community outcomes on arterial corridors, this study aims to inform infrastructure design practices.
Language
- English
Project
- Status: Active
- Funding: $262,496.00
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Contract Numbers:
69A3552348308
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Sponsor Organizations:
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology
University Transportation Centers Program
Department of Transportation
Washington, DC United States 20590 -
Managing Organizations:
Center for Transformative Infrastructure Preservation and Sustainability
North Dakota State University
Fargo, North Dakota United States 58108-6050 -
Project Managers:
Tolliver, Denver
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Performing Organizations:
Civil Engineering Department
Denver, CO United States 80204 -
Principal Investigators:
Marshall, Wesley E
Misra, Aditi
- Start Date: 20260110
- Expected Completion Date: 20280109
- Actual Completion Date: 0
- USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program
- Source Data: CTIPS-067
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Arterial highways; Decision support systems; Highway design; Highway safety; Recommendations
- Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Safety and Human Factors;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01981650
- Record Type: Research project
- Source Agency: Center for Transformative Infrastructure Preservation and Sustainability
- Contract Numbers: 69A3552348308
- Files: UTC, RIP
- Created Date: Mar 3 2026 8:07PM