ASSESSMENT:

Assessment of course outcomes will be based on four measures:

1. Emphasis is placed on semester projects. Teams of three students will complete at least three extensive projects, which will be graded on technical completeness and final product professional appearance. The projects are intended to provide students the opportunity to apply theory to a practical situation; also to train students in putting together technical reports and presenting them.

2. Short homework problems related to the theory discussed in class will be given periodically in order to familiarize students with project-related calculations. Short quizzes will be given in order to test student familiarity with taught material.

3. Two 75-minute in-class examinations intended to measure the student’s comprehension of design principles, and ability to locate and correctly use technical references.

4. A comprehensive final examination will be given to test overall student knowledge on highway planning and design principles taught in class.

COURSE PROJECTS:  

Design projects which will illustrate the highway design principles of location, horizontal alignment, vertical alignment, intersection channelization and earthwork quantities will be given to teams of  3 students.

HOMEWORKS and QUIZZES:

Homeworks will be assigned periodically. Unannounced quizzes focusing on materials covered in class will be given often at the beginning of class. Students should be in class on-time in order to take a quiz.

FINAL EXAMINATION:

Please check the Registrar's Office web page for the exact date and time of the final examination. Any student who finds a conflict (i.e., two final examinations scheduled for the same period) should report this problem to the Registrar for resolution.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:  

• Students will prepare a PowerPoint presentation that will be necessary for an oral presentations in class.

• Project and homework grade will be based on the professional quality of assignments which includes neatness, legibility, clarity and timeliness (half a letter grade will be subtracted for each day delay on homeworks and projects, i.e., maximum points for 1-day delay are 92, 2-day delay is 87 etc.--see grading scale).

• Students will be working in teams. Teams are expected to work on projects during lab hours in class, but additional hours are necessary to complete projects. Some lab hours will be taken for lectures, especially at the beginning of the semester.

 COURSE OBJECTIVES:

To provide students with an understanding of the technical, safety, environmental, socio-political and economic issues of highway planning and working experience with a multi-objective decision tool application in transportation planning. To provide the theory and fundamental principles of highway horizontal, vertical and cross-section alignment design as well as intersection design, based on current design references.  To provide an opportunity to apply design principles in open-ended design projects complemented with technical, thoroughly documented, reports. To provide an opportunity to orally present and defend design decisions to a group of peers. 

COURSE OBJECTIVES TRACKING:

●            Handouts summarizing the material covered in each lecture will be delivered in the classroom.

●            Students are encouraged to fill-in the blanks and take notes on the sample graphs and tables as their use is explained during the lecture.

●            Handouts contain page and figure numbers, so students can easily find the pertinent material in the class references.

●            For AASHTO Green Book-related material, page and figure numbers are provided in class notes.

●            Students are encouraged to read the references and not to rely on the summary presented in their handouts in order to do well in projects and tests.

●            Topics covered during each class period are listed on the course web site. Review questions are posted there prior to test dates. Important due dates are mentioned in class and posted on the web site. Hyperlinks to web sites related to course materials will also be found at the course web site. Students are expected to monitor their email for important class announcements.

OUTCOMES:

Upon completion of the course the student will have a basic understanding of the following concepts:

Highway Evaluation: the role of the Highway Engineer; Highway design focus before and after the 1960s; Motor Vehicle cost data; Highway costs; Highway user costs; Accident rates for a particular design; The DOT Act of 1966; The 1965 Motor Vehicle Control Act; The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969; Meaning and scope of EIS; Levels of EIS; Provisions of the 1970 Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisitions Policies Act; Highway noise: sources, standards, attenuation; Air quality impacts of highways; Pollution sources, major pollutants, traffic engineering measures to reduce pollution-description, function, expected results; Property Acquisition: Property acquisition challenges; Citizen protection from unfair takings; State's rights to acquire citizens' properties; Power of eminent domain; Takings; Property acquisition process; "Just compensation" (AASHTO definition); Partial takings; Owner compensation for partial takings; Types of losses that qualify an owner for compensation; Types of losses that do not qualify the owner for compensation; Condemnation; Methods typically used to mediate differences between citizens and governments; State obligations when planning takings; Owner recourse to condemnation; Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act '70 provisions; "Police powers," and how are they evidenced in the highway planning process; Subdivision regulations; Zoning; The Official Map. Geometric Design of Highways: Functional classification of highways: mobility vs. Access; Full and partial access control; Definitions: ADT AADT DDHV DHV (30 HV) D T K factors; Use of 30 HV in highway design; Definitions, use and examples of Operating speed, Design speed, Running speed, Spot speed; Concept of driver expectation in highway design-what it means, what engineers try to do; AASHTO-recommended operating speeds for arterials and other roadways; Level Of Service; Major inputs in design designation, and their use; Design vehicle AASHTO designations;" Design vehicle" for a facility; Design vehicle choice; Stopping sight distance and factors affecting it, AASHTO recommendations; Values used in calculations;

Factors affecting brake reaction time, braking distance, typical values, design practice for safety;

Truck accommodation in design; Decision sight distance; Passing distance; Where can information on no passing zone distances be found; Gradient effect on passing distances and roadway capacity; AASHTO recommendations for passing distances on gradients, on frequency and length of passing sections, on multi-lane highways; How to measure sight distance; Sight obstructions due to crests and horizontal curves; Horizontal curve design rules of thumb; Definition, need for, concerns about Superelevation; Maximum superelevation when snow and ice are a concern; Blending-in superelevation; Typical pavement cross-sections: shapes, cross-slopes; Horizontal Design: Runoff with medians: Cases I, II and III and their applicability; AASHTO recommendations for superelevation for low-speed urban streets; Calculations for horizontal curves; Vertical Design: Types of terrains, terrain classifications; Types of vertical curves; Main concerns for the designer; Types of vertical curves recommended by AASHTO. Crest Vertical Curves: Determination of minimum lengths--dimensions,

assumptions and explanations; K for vertical curves--critical values, design concerns; Truck drivers on crest vertical curves. Sag Vertical Curves: Main design concerns for sag vertical curves; Typical rules of thumb for vertical alignment. Grades: effect on vehicle performance; Maximum and minimum grade recommendations;" Critical length of grade;" Design considerations when the critical length of grade must be exceeded; Use of "climbing lanes;" Calculations for vertical curves--high and low points, other critical points. Cross section Elements--urban: Pavement types-where is each one used. Cross Slope: Types of cross-sections--use in divided highways, pros and cons for each type; Cross slope considerations--what is desired for good drainage, comfortable driving (minimum and maximum values, desired function of cross-slope, contradicting goals between desired functions); How pavement type affects cross-slope values; Lane widths: minimums, desired values--effects of lane width, presence of lateral obstructions; Placement of wider/narrower lanes; Auxiliary lanes-- typical placements/functions; Dual left turn lanes; Curbs--types and their functions/proper usage; Gutters--typical dimensions, coordination with other design elements for proper function; Where and how should barrier and mountable curbs be used; Curb introduction when following a section without curbs; Medians--functions, delineation, dimensions; Sidewalks: recommended widths; Handicapped ramps--ADA requirements, placement, dimensions; Wheelchair accommodation when crossing intersection. At Grade Intersections: Design vehicle selection:  Assumptions for turning vehicle position; Inadequate turning radii; Simple circular curve, asymmetric compound curve--benefits/disadvantages of each design, tapers, offsets and other design details. Use of curb parking to facilitate large turning vehicles; Median openings--desired features-best design, problems addressed with the best design, compared to a simpler design; Auxiliary lanes--uses, width, length, taper, deceleration, storage; Traffic islands--size, shapes, categories based on how they are physically defined, categories based on delineation and approach end treatment; Factors affecting widths of turning roadways at intersections cases I, II and III, traffic conditions A, B and C.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Students are expected to be familiar with following College of Engineering policies:

Listed in the Undergraduate Bulletin, available on-line:

                            •            Undergraduate Attendance Policy

                            •            Academic Honesty  (Academic Integrity) Policy

College of Engineering Academic regulations.

 A link to these documents is included on the class web site (CLASS MATERIALS item 5. above).