CE 605

Transportation Engineering I:
Transport & Traffic Design

Conducted by
Fatema Ferdoush Keya
Lecturer
Department of Civil Engineering
Barishal Engineering College
Barishal
 Syllabus

• Introduction to transportation engineering;

• Development of transportation systems;
• Elements of transportation system;
• Transportation in Bangladesh;
• Modal share;
• Transportation planning concepts: Collection, study and analysis of basic
data;
• Highway location and surveys
• Geometric design of highways: elements of design, cross-section elements,
curves and sight distances;
• Road intersections;
• Traffic engineering: the road/traffic system, vehicle and traffic
characteristics, traffic control devices, traffic studies, parking,
and roadway lighting;
• Waterways and terminals.
1. Briefly explain Road User Characteristics. / Mention the general road user’s characteristics. Briefly write down the major
factors that affect these characteristics.60
2. Briefly describe different types of road traffic signs with examples that are very important in our road traffic system. /
Classify and explain the road traffic signs with examples.
3. What do you know about parking studies? Write down the common method of parking. Write in brief about on-street
parking.
4. Name the functional classification of traffic signs and give two examples for each.
5. Differentiate between traffic signs and markings.
6. Explain various types of traffic signals and their functions. / Types and functions of traffic signs./ Advantages and
disadvantages of traffic signals.
7. What are the advantages and disadvantages of a rotary intersection?
8. State the general requirements of traffic control devices.
9. Write the objectives of the parking study. What are the problems associated with uncontrolled on-street parking?
10. What characteristics should be maintained when you become a pedestrian?
11. What is a road intersection? Explain briefly about different types of road intersections.
12. What are the various types of Parking facilities designed for traffic needs? Compare kerb parking with off-street parking.
12. Discuss the conducting method of the Origin and Destination survey. What are the objectives of O-D
survey? Uses of O-D Study.
13. What do you know about grade separation intersection? Write down the advantages and disadvantages.
14. Discuss different types of traffic capacity. 73
15. Define: PCU, AADT, Time Mean Speed,ADT,Rate of flow,DHV,Volume 66
16. Compare parallel parking with angular parking. In which location parking should be prohibited?
17. Define cycle length, phase, and interval.
18. State the main objectives of the following studies-
I. Volume study
II. Speed study 71
III. Speed delay study
IV. Origin destination study
19.
20.
Traffic Control Device
The devices used to control and regulate traffic are known as traffic
control devices. The most common of these devices are:
1. Traffic Signs
2. Marking
3. Island
 Traffic Signs

• Briefly describe different types of road traffic signs with examples that are very important in our road
traffic system. / Classify and explain the road traffic signs with examples. / Explain various types of
traffic signals and their function./ Types and functions of traffic signs.

Traffic signs: Traffic sign is a device mounted on a fixed or portable support to convey a
definite message by means of words or symbols. The traffic signs have been divided into the following
three categories. They are:

(a) Regulatory signs

(b) Warning signs
(c) Informatory signs
Regulatory sign:
These are mandatory signs. The noncompliance of these signs is an
offence and the defaulter can be prosecuted in a court of law. These
signs are used to inform road users of certain laws and regulations
to provide safety and free flow of traffic. These include all signs
which give notice of special obligations or restrictions which the
road users must comply
Warning or cautionary signs.
These signs are used to warn road users
of the existence of certain hazardous
conditions either on or adjacent to the
roadway to warn the motorists to
caution to take the desired action.
Informatory signs:
These signs are used to guide road users
along routes, inform them about destinations
and distances to identify points of geographical
and historical interest, and provide information
that will make road travel easier, safe, and
pleasant
A traffic signal is an electrically-operated signaling device set up at road intersections, pedestrian crossings, and other
locations to regulate the flow of traffic.
Advantages and disadvantages of traffic signals:
Advantage:
1. They provide an orderly movement of traffic and increase the traffic handling capacity of most of
the intersections at grade.
2. They reduce the frequency of traffic accidents, especially right-angled collisions.
3. They control the speed on the main and crossroads.
4. They provide interruption to heavy traffic in order to allow other traffic to cross the road.
5. They provide a chance for traffic to cross the road of continuous traffic flow at reasonable time
intervals.
6. Traffic quality is improved by the use of traffic signals.
7. They help the traffic by directing them on different roads.

Disadvantages:
1. They increase the chances of road-end collisions.
2. Improper design and location may lead to violation of the control system.
3. Failure of signals due to electric supply failure or due to any other defect may lead to a lot of
confusion for the road users.
Name the functional classification of traffic signs and give two
examples for each.

Type of traffic signals:

The signals are classified into the following types:
(i) Traffic control signals
(a) Fixed-time signals
(b) Manually operated signals
(c) Traffic-actuated (automatic) signals
(ii) Pedestrian signal
(iii) Special traffic signal

The traffic control signals have three colored lights that glow facing each direction of traffic flow. The red light is
meant for Stop, the green light indicates Go, and the amber or yellow light allows the vehicles that enter the
intersection area by the end of green time to clear off. Slow Down And ready to stop.
Fixed-time signal or pre-timed signals are set to repeat regularly a cycle of red, amber and green lights.
The timing of each phase of the cycle is predetermined based on the traffic studies and they are the
simplest type of automatic traffic signals which are electrically operated. The main drawback of the signal
is that sometimes the traffic flow on one road may be almost nil and traffic on the crossroad may be quite
heavy. Yet as the signal operates with fixed timings, the traffic in the heavy stream will have to stop at the
red phase.

Traffic-actuated signals are those in which the timings of the phase and cycle are changed according to
traffic demand. In semi-actuated traffic signals the normal green phase of an approach may be extended
up to a certain period of time for allowing a few more vehicles approaching closely, to clear off the
intersection with the help of detectors installed at the approaches. In fully actuated traffic signals the
detectors and a computer assign the right of way for various traffic movements on the basis of demand
and pre-determined programming. But these are very costly to be installed at all intersections.

In some cities in India, the traffic police are assigned the duty to watch the traffic demand from suitable
observation points during the peak hours on various approaches and to vary the timings of the phases and
cycles according to the actual traffic demand.

When there are a series of signals on a city road at each intersection with a crossroad, the signal system
may be operated with only one controller. But it is desirable that a vehicle moving along a main road at
normal speed should not have to stop at every signalized Intersection till getting the "go" signal. Hence
there should be proper Co-ordination of the signal system to provide a through band.
1. What is a road intersection? Explain briefly about different types of road intersections.

Road Intersection:
Road junctions are the places where two or more roads cross each other at different angles. Actually, these
are the spots of accidents if proper precautions are not taken in their design or layout. Thus safety of
vehicular traffic and pedestrians is very essential in these places. They should be well-planned and
signaled properly.

Types of road intersections:

1. Intersection at grade: These include all roads which meet at more or less the same
level. The traffic maneuvers like merging, diverging, and crossing are involved in the intersections at
grade. The intersection at grade is of three types:
a) Channelized Intersection
b) Unchannelized Intersection
c) Rotary Intersection

2. Grade separated intersection: The intersecting roads are separated by differences

in level, thus eliminating the crossing maneuvers.
Intersection at Grade
Fig: Rotary Intersection
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a rotary intersection?

Advantages:
1. All traffic including those turning right or going straight across the rotary have equal opportunity as
those turning left.
2. Crossing manoeuvre is converted into weaving or merging and diverging operations. Hence, no
vehicles, even those that have to go in opposite directions, must stop and proceed within a traffic
rotary. Thus, the journey is more consistent and comfortable than atany other intersection at grade.
3. The operational cost of a vehicle in a rotary intersection is the smallest because the vehicle doesnot
have to stop and restart.
4. There is no necessity of traffic police or signal to control the traffic as the traffic rotary could function
by itself.
5. The possible number of accidents and the severity of accidents are quite low because of low relative
speed.
6. The capacity of the rotary intersection is the highest of all other intersections at grade. The rotary
can accommodate a total traffic up to about 3000 vehicles per hour.
7. Rotaries can be constructed with the advantage when the number of intersecting roads is between
four and seven.
Disadvantages:
1. The area required for rotary construction is quite large.
2. If more than seven roads intersect at the rotary, the rotary becomes unsuitable.
3. Rotaries can be difficult to manage in areas with mixed traffic.
4. In the case of rural areas, as traffic volume is low, construction of rotary is not justifiable.
5. If more than seven roads intersect at the rotary, the rotary becomes unsuitable.
What do you know about grade separation intersections? Write down the advantages
and disadvantages.

Grade separated Intersection:

A grade-separated intersection is a road junction that uses structures like
flyovers and underpasses to separate traffic moving in different directions. This separation reduces
the risk of collisions and increases the capacity of the intersection.

The intersecting roads are separated by differences in level. Thus eliminating the intersection, this is
called grade-separated intersection. This type of intersection causes the least delay and hazard to
the crossing traffic and is much superior to intersecting at grade from the point of view of traffic
safety and efficient operation.

Transform of routes at grade separation is provided by interchange facilities consisting of ramps.

Advantages of Grade Separation Intersection:

1. There is no crossing conflict.

2. possibilities of accidents are reduced to minimum.
3. Save travel time and vehicle operation costs.
4. It is possible to adopt grade separation for all likely angles.
5. Grade separation is an essential part of controlled access highways like expressways and freeways.

Disadvantages:

1. It involves very large areas.

2. It is very costly to provide grade separation and interchange facilities.
3. It also involves a lot of expenditure in providing bridges, underpasses, and interchanging ramps.
4. unnecessary rising grades and sags are introduced at vertical alignment.
What do you know about parking studies? Write the objectives of the
parking study.

Parking Studies: Parking space demand is one of the major problems in big cities. In industrial,
commercial, and residential places with multistoried buildings, parking demand is particularly high.
Vehicles that are not properly packed cause many problems, such as traffic congestion, accidents, obstructions to
firefighting operations, and environmental pollution. A parking study includes these problems, their solutions, and
other parking-related aspects like parking demand, space inventory, parking practices, etc.

Objectives of parking study:

1. To satisfy the parking demand for vehicles

2. To minimize parking problems.
3. To improve existing parking facilities.
4. To minimize accident rate due to parking and unparking operations.
What are the various types of Parking facilities designed for traffic needs? / What are the various
types of Parking facilities designed for traffic needs?

Types of Parking: There are two types of facilities designed for traffic needs as:

i) On-street parking or kerb parking

ii) Off-street parking

i) On-street parking or kerb parking:

Vehicles are paralleled along the kerb which is very convenient for the parker due to near
the place of their business. Since kerb parking may lead to traffic congestion and be possible cause of
accidents they should be designed for adequate capacity. It may be restricted or unrestricted.

Various patterns of kerb parking are-

1. parallel parking
2. Normal parking
3. Angle parking

ii) Off-street parking:

Off-street parking is provided at a separate place away from the road kerb.
1. Surface kerb parking
2. Multistory kerb parking
3. Roof parking
4. Underground parking
5. peripheral parking schemes
a) Park and walk
b) park and ride
c) Goodbye and ride