01588992

Component

This paper develops a simplified procedure for evaluating the need for guardrail on low-volume roadways based on benefit-cost (B/C) analysis. The method involved simulating a well-designed matrix of alternative roadway, roadside, and traffic characteristics using the Roadside Safety Analysis Program (RSAP), currently the most sophisticated software available for conducting cost-effectiveness analysis of roadside safety treatment options. Data obtained from limited runs of RSAP were used to develop an emulator that functions as a statistical surrogate for RSAP. As a closed-form mathematical expression relating RSAP inputs to the output response, the emulator allows for rapid predictions of B/C ratios at user-specified inputs. The emulator has been implemented as a simple spreadsheet tool for ease of application. Application of the tool to new data (not used in model development) produced results that were comparable to those produced by RSAP. These results suggest that the tool can serve as a quick and simple alternative to RSAP in conducting B/C analysis of guardrail needs for low-volume roads. For an agency with a high volume of guardrail assessment needs, such a simplified tool can significantly reduce the workload of expert analysts while the agency still encourages its engineers to use sound, objective methods based on cost-effectiveness when evaluating guardrail needs, especially for routine problems.

This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AFB20 Standing Committee on Roadside Safety Design.

01584066

16-1204

English

15p

2016

Transportation Research Board 95th Annual Meeting

Web

Figures; References (15) ; Tables

Guardrails; Highway engineering; Highway safety; Needs assessment; Risk assessment; Safety engineering; Traffic volume

Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I85: Safety Devices used in Transport Infrastructure

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2016 Paper #16-1204

PRP, TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Jan 12 2016 4:32PM