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                        Road Safety Audits: Case Studies


            
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                APPENDIX A RSA CASE STUDIES
RSA NUMBER 1

ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION:
RSA OF IMPROVEMENTS TO CLEAR LAKE AVENUE AND DIRKSEN PARKWAY

Project: improvements to roadways and intersections in a commercial area adjacent to an interchange*Planned Improvements:*
			access consolidation and construction of two new service roads
				dual left turn lanes at existing intersection
				realignment of local road
				new signalized intersection*Project Environment:*
			urban
			**x suburban**
			rural*Project Design Stage:*
			conceptual (0 to 30%)
			**x preliminary (40 to 80%)**
			advanced (over 80%)*Project Cost:*
			< $100,000
			$100,000 - $1,000,000
			**x >$1,000,000***Project Owner:*
			Illinois Department of TransportationRoad Safety Audit*Date of RSA:*
			8-10 February 2005*RSA Stage(s):*
			**x design stage**
			**x RSA of existing roads***RSA team:*
			staff from Federal Highway Administration Resource Center, Federal Highway Administration Illinois Field Office, Illinois DOT, and Opus Hamilton**PROJECT BACKGROUND:**

Clear Lake Avenue connects the I-72/I-55 interchange east of Springfield, Illinois, with downtown Springfield.  Dirksen Parkway intersects Clear Lake Avenue just west of the interchange.  Views of Clear Lake Avenue and Dirksen Parkway are shown in FIGURE A.1.  In addition to functioning as major arterials, both roadways provide access to adjacent commercial properties.

The intersection of Clear Lake Avenue and Dirksen Parkway was designated a high accident location for six consecutive years (1998 through 2003), and the intersection of Hill Street and Clear Lake Avenue was designated a high accident location in 2003.  In response, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) developed plans to upgrade Clear Lake Avenue between Dirksen Parkway and the I-72/I-55 interchange.   The scope of the planned improvements, shown in FIGURE A.2, included:

access consolidation and construction of two new service roads intersecting Clear Lake Avenue at a new signalized intersection east of Dirksen Parkway;
	realignment of Hill Street (a local road) to intersect Clear Lake Avenue at new signalized intersection;
	dual left turn lanes on all legs of the intersection of Clear Lake Avenue and Dirksen Parkway, and dual right turn lanes on the southeast corner of the intersection.Photo shows Clear Lake Avenue, looking west toward intersection with Dirksen Parkway.  The roadway is a four-lane divided cross-section with channelized left turn bays, and commercial properties on both sides.
			​​The photo shows Dirksen Parkway looking south toward the intersection with Clear Lake Avenue.  The roadway is a two-lane divided highway with channelized left turn lanes and commercial land uses on both sides.*Clear Lake Avenue (looking west toward
			intersection with Dirksen Parkway)*
			*Dirksen Parkway (looking south toward
			intersection with Clear Lake Avenue)***FIGURE A.1  VIEWS OF RSA SITE (ILLINOIS DOT RSA)**

The image shows the design drawing for the audited project.

**FIGURE A.2 RSA PROJECT (ILLINOIS DOT RSA)**

**KEY RSA FINDINGS AND SUGGESTIONS:**

The key findings and suggestions of the RSA are summarized in TABLE A.1.

TABLE A. SUMMARY OF SELECTED SAFETY ISSUES AND SUGGESTIONS
	ILLINOIS DOT RSA
	SELECTED SAFETY ISSUE
			(Number and Description)
			RISK RATING
			SUGGESTIONS1
			The new signalized Hill Street intersection will be about 650 feet from the signalized intersection of Dirksen Parkway and Clear Lake Avenue.
			C
			coordination of adjacent signals
				“Do Not Block Intersection” signs
				signing and signal displays to enhance intersection conspicuousness2
			The realigned Hill Street can be expected to accommodate commercial driveways, which may be located on back-to-back horizontal curves.
			C
			raised medians to prohibit left turns
				inclusion of service roads along Hill Street
				measures to regulate driveway design and location3
			Queued, turning, and parking vehicles around the closely-spaced intersections at Clear Lake Ave. and the south service road may interfere with each other.
			D
			restricted turning movements
				relocation of service road intersection
				relocation of specified parking stalls in parking lot
				confirmation of pavement strength4
			Drivers exiting the interchange onto Clear Lake Avenue encounter a new urban driving environment with slower speeds and greater potential for conflicts with stopping and turning vehicles.
			--
			“Gateway” treatment:
			curb and gutter drainage
				landscaping treatments
				more conspicuous signing
				visitor pull-out (if space permits)5
			Opportunities for interim improvements
			--
			clearer signing for eastbound traffic
				improved signing at raised medians
				accommodation of high demand at Hill Street intersection
				review of permitted left turns
				improved pedestrian facilities
				interim access management
				improved signal visibility (eastbound)
      
  Book traversal links for APPENDIX A RSA CASE STUDIES
      ‹ CONCLUSION
                    Up
                
                Book:Road Safety Audits: Case Studies
              INTRODUCTION
                THE RSA PROCESS
                RSAs: COSTS AND BENEFITS
                THE FHWA CASE STUDIES: PROMOTING THE ACCEPTANCE OF RSAs
                CONCLUSION
                APPENDIX A RSA CASE STUDIES U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

**Federal Highway Administration**

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