Application of Dynamic Lane-Use Control: Proposed Practices (2022)

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2022 N A T I O N A L C O O P E R A T I V E H I G H W A Y R E S E A R C H P R O G R A M NCHRP RESEARCH REPORT 1021 Application of Dynamic Lane-Use Control PROPOSED PRACTICES Susan Chrysler Kay Fitzpatrick LuAnn eiss Texas A&M Transportation Institute College Station, TX Chuck Fuhs Chuck Fuhs, LLC Houston, TX Subscriber Categories Operations and Trafc Management • Safety and Human Factors Research sponsored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Ofcials in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration

NATIONAL COOPERATIVE HIGHWAY RESEARCH PROGRAM Systematic, well-designed, and implementable research is the most effective way to solve many problems facing state departments of transportation (DOTs) administrators and engineers. Often, highway problems are of local or regional interest and can best be studied by state DOTs individually or in cooperation with their state universities and others. However, the accelerating growth of highway transporta- tion results in increasingly complex problems of wide interest to high- way authorities. These problems are best studied through a coordinated program of cooperative research. Recognizing this need, the leadership of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) in 1962 ini- tiated an objective national highway research program using modern scientific techniques—the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP). NCHRP is supported on a continuing basis by funds from participating member states of AASHTO and receives the full cooperation and support of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), United States Department of Transportation, under Agree- ment No. 693JJ31950003. The Transportation Research Board (TRB) of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine was requested by AASHTO to administer the research program because of TRB’s recognized objectivity and understanding of modern research practices. TRB is uniquely suited for this purpose for many reasons: TRB maintains an extensive com- mittee structure from which authorities on any highway transportation subject may be drawn; TRB possesses avenues of communications and cooperation with federal, state, and local governmental agencies, univer- sities, and industry; TRB’s relationship to the National Academies is an insurance of objectivity; and TRB maintains a full-time staff of special- ists in highway transportation matters to bring the findings of research directly to those in a position to use them. The program is developed on the basis of research needs iden- tified by chief administrators and other staff of the highway and transportation departments, by committees of AASHTO, and by the FHWA. Topics of the highest merit are selected by the AASHTO Special Committee on Research and Innovation (R&I), and each year R&I’s recommendations are proposed to the AASHTO Board of Direc- tors and the National Academies. Research projects to address these topics are defined by NCHRP, and qualified research agencies are selected from submitted proposals. Administration and surveillance of research contracts are the responsibilities of the National Academies and TRB. The needs for highway research are many, and NCHRP can make significant contributions to solving highway transportation problems of mutual concern to many responsible groups. The program, however, is intended to complement, rather than to substitute for or duplicate, other highway research programs. Published research reports of the NATIONAL COOPERATIVE HIGHWAY RESEARCH PROGRAM are available from Transportation Research Board Business Office 500 Fifth Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 and can be ordered through the Internet by going to https://www.mytrb.org/MyTRB/Store/default.aspx Printed in the United States of America NCHRP RESEARCH REPORT 1021 Project 03-123 ISSN 2572-3766 (Print) ISSN 2572-3774 (Online) ISBN 978-0-309-68754-6 Library of Congress Control Number 2022947722 © 2022 by the National Academy of Sciences. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and the graphical logo are trade- marks of the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. COPYRIGHT INFORMATION Authors herein are responsible for the authenticity of their materials and for obtaining written permissions from publishers or persons who own the copyright to any previously published or copyrighted material used herein. Cooperative Research Programs (CRP) grants permission to reproduce material in this publication for classroom and not-for-profit purposes. Permission is given with the understanding that none of the material will be used to imply TRB, AASHTO, APTA, FAA, FHWA, FTA, GHSA, or NHTSA endorsement of a particular product, method, or practice. It is expected that those reproducing the material in this document for educational and not-for-profit uses will give appropriate acknowledgment of the source of any reprinted or reproduced material. For other uses of the material, request permission from CRP. NOTICE The research report was reviewed by the technical panel and accepted for publication according to procedures established and overseen by the Transportation Research Board and approved by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The opinions and conclusions expressed or implied in this report are those of the researchers who performed the research and are not necessarily those of the Transportation Research Board; the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; the FHWA; or the program sponsors. The Transportation Research Board does not develop, issue, or publish standards or speci- fications. The Transportation Research Board manages applied research projects which provide the scientific foundation that may be used by Transportation Research Board sponsors, industry associations, or other organizations as the basis for revised practices, procedures, or specifications. The Transportation Research Board; the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; and the sponsors of the National Cooperative Highway Research Program do not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade or manufacturers’ names or logos appear herein solely because they are considered essential to the object of the report.

e National Academy of Sciences was established in 1863 by an Act of Congress, signed by President Lincoln, as a private, non- governmental institution to advise the nation on issues related to science and technology. Members are elected by their peers for outstanding contributions to research. Dr. Marcia McNutt is president. e National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964 under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences to bring the practices of engineering to advising the nation. Members are elected by their peers for extraordinary contributions to engineering. Dr. John L. Anderson is president. e National Academy of Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine) was established in 1970 under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences to advise the nation on medical and health issues. Members are elected by their peers for distinguished contributions to medicine and health. Dr. Victor J. Dzau is president. e three Academies work together as the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation and conduct other activities to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions. e National Academies also encourage education and research, recognize outstanding contributions to knowledge, and increase public understanding in matters of science, engineering, and medicine. Learn more about the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine at www.nationalacademies.org. e Transportation Research Board is one of seven major programs of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. e mission of the Transportation Research Board is to provide leadership in transportation improvements and innovation through trusted, timely, impartial, and evidence-based information exchange, research, and advice regarding all modes of transportation. e Board’s varied activities annually engage about 8,000 engineers, scientists, and other transportation researchers and practitioners from the public and private sectors and academia, all of whom contribute their expertise in the public interest. e program is supported by state transportation departments, federal agencies including the component administrations of the U.S. Department of Transportation, and other organizations and individuals interested in the development of transportation. Learn more about the Transportation Research Board at www.TRB.org.

C O O P E R A T I V E R E S E A R C H P R O G R A M S AUTHOR ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The research reported herein was performed under National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Project 03-123 by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) and Chuck Fuhs. Texas A&M Sponsored Research Services was the contractor for this study. Susan Chrysler, TTI senior research scientist, was the principal investigator with Kay Fitzpatrick, TTI senior research engineer, as the co-principal investigator. The authors of this report are: • Susan Chrysler (TTI) • Kay Fitzpatrick (TTI) • LuAnn Theiss (TTI) • Chuck Fuhs The work was performed under the general supervision of Dr. Chrysler and Dr. Fitzpatrick. The research reported here was supported by several staff members at TTI. These include Kevin Balke, who performed the analysis of the connected vehicle applications; Shawn Turner, who reviewed in-vehicle navigation systems; and David Dobrovolsky, Laura Higgins, Myunghoon Ko, Hannah Miller, Tessa Miller, Elissa Munoz, Alicia Nelson, Emira Rista, Cody Stewart, and Jayson Stibbe, who helped create test items and collect data. Dr. Amber Trueblood conducted the statistical analysis for both the computer- based testing and driving simulator studies. The authors wish to acknowledge the many experts who contributed to this research by participating in the phone interviews. The authors appreciate the time and effort of our research participants. CRP STAFF FOR NCHRP RESEARCH REPORT 1021 Christopher J. Hedges, Director, Cooperative Research Programs Waseem Dekelbab, Deputy Director, Cooperative Research Programs, and Manager, National Cooperative Highway Research Program Sid Mohan, Associate Program Manager, Implementation and Technology Transfer, National Cooperative Highway Research Program Christopher T. McKenney, Senior Program Officer Robert Turner II, Senior Program Assistant Natalie Barnes, Director of Publications Heather DiAngelis, Associate Director of Publications NCHRP PROJECT 03-123 PANEL Field of Traffic—Area of Operations and Control Mark Bott, Michigan Department of Transportation, Lansing, MI (Chair) Johana E. Clark, City of Houston, Houston, TX Vinh Q. Dang, Washington State Department of Transportation, Seattle, WA Philip M. Garvey, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA Ray V. Hallavant, Tennessee Department of Transportation, Nashville, TN Seri Park, Villanova University, Villanova, PA Praveen Pasumarthy, Cambridge Systematics, Tallahassee, FL James D. Colyar, FHWA Liaison Richard A. Cunard, TRB Liaison

NCHRP Research Report 1021: Application of Dynamic Lane-Use Control: Proposed Practices presents a comprehensive, human factor study of dynamic lane-use control signal appli- cations to provide advance warning of closures in arterial and freeway operations. The report is based on the results of computer-based testing and a driving simulator study as well as a state-of-the-practice review of human factors and operations. In addition, the report includes proposed language for the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). This report will be of immediate interest to traffic managers and traffic engineers. One of the commonly used active traffic management (ATM) strategies is dynamic lane- use control (DLUC). The FHWA defines DLUC as dynamically closing or opening individual traffic lanes as warranted and providing advance warning of the closure(s), typically through dynamic lane control signs, to safely merge traffic into adjoining lanes. Drivers must be able to identify and understand the intended lane usage and make an appropriate maneuver safely and smoothly. New traffic control devices and approaches are needed to support these strate- gies, and many of those devices and approaches are not included in the MUTCD. Further- more, the effectiveness of the devices and approaches in obtaining the desired response from drivers is not well understood. Inefficiencies in traffic control lead to reductions in safety and operational efficiency, precisely what ATM is intended to improve. In many existing DLUC installations, acceptable travel lanes are identified by text-based or graphical overhead signage, such as a green arrow or a dynamic speed limit sign. Closed travel lanes are most often identified by an overhead red X. In some locations, ground-mounted sign- ing is also used to communicate lane use to drivers. Other agencies use signs to indicate the type of traffic (e.g., transit buses) allowed in the controlled lane. Various forms of static pavement marking or colored pavements are used to support the signs. There is little consistency and lim- ited guidance in the methods used for communicating DLUC to drivers and little research on the most effective approaches. Many other operational strategies present similar traffic control challenges, and the traffic control approaches should be consistent. Under NCHRP Project 03-123, “Proposed Practices for the Application of Dynamic Lane Use Control,” Texas A&M Transportation Institute was asked to (1) conduct a state-of-the- practice review to develop a summary of effective practices for DLUC signals; (2) identify critical situational and human factor variables that influence driver behavior associated with DLUC and the metrics that could be used to evaluate DLUC signals; (3) identify alterna- tive methods of presenting information about lane-use status to drivers with in-vehicle navigation systems and connected vehicle technologies; (4) assess human factors through computer-based testing and a driving simulator study; and (5) develop proposed language for the MUTCD for the application of DLUC based upon human factors implications. F O R E W O R D By Christopher T. McKenney Staff Officer Transportation Research Board

1 Chapter 1 Introduction 1 Background 1 Research Objectives 2 Research Approach 3 Report Organization 5 Chapter 2 Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices 5 Existing MUTCD Content 7 Lane-Use Control Device Classification 8 Chapter 3 Literature Review 8 MUTCD Content 8 Literature Review of Human Factors Research 19 In-Vehicle Navigation 22 Chapter 4 State of the Practice 22 Applications of Dynamic Lane-Use Control for Freeway ATM 22 Lane-Use Control Hardware 24 ATM Applications 38 Chapter 5 Identification of Research Questions 38 Literature Review Summary 38 Differences in Operation Noted by the Research Team 39 Research Questions 45 Chapter 6 Computer-Based Comprehension Testing 45 Methodological Considerations 45 Treatment Selection 48 Experimental Design 48 Study Approach 49 Statistical Evaluation Approach 49 Research Questions, Treatments, and Results 65 Chapter 7 Driving Simulator Study 65 Methodological Considerations 67 Study Method 69 Results 79 Chapter 8 Summary and Conclusions 79 Summary 79 Conclusions 82 Future Research Needs 84 References C O N T E N T S

A-1 Appendix A Lane-Use Details in the MUTCD B-1 Appendix B Additional Details from the Literature Review C-1 Appendix C Implementing Dynamic Lane-Use Control in a Connected Vehicle Environment D-1 Appendix D Computer-Based Testing Research Methods E-1 Appendix E Driving Simulator Study Details F-1 Appendix F Public Outreach Material G-1 Appendix G Recommended Changes to the MUTCD R-1 Appendices References