Case Studies
Although agencies have not yet fully implemented Performance-Based Practical Design, these case studies illustrate some of its key attributes.
State DOT Examples
Minnesota: Access Planning
- One-Page Overview of Minnesota Case Study (.pdf, 0.5 mb)
- Full Case Study: Minnesota Highway 10 Access Planning Study (.pdf, 1 mb)
This 2016 case study illustrates how the Minnesota Department of Transportation utilized quantitative performance analysis to develop project alternatives that would attain most of the safety and operational benefits of a freeway at significantly lower cost.
Arizona: Safety Improvement Evaluation
- One-Page Overview of Arizona Case Study (.pdf, 0.5 mb)
- Full Case Study: Arizona SR 264 Burnside Junction to Summit (.pdf, 0.5 mb)
This 2015 case study illustrates how the Arizona Department of Transportation Traffic Safety Section took a systemic approach to reviewing two-lane rural highways with a high potential for run-off-roadway crashes in order to identify and prioritize treatments to improve safety.
Kansas: Design to Budget
- One-Page Overview of Kansas Case Study (.pdf, 0.5 mb)
- Full Case Study: K-177 Modernization Project (.pdf, 1 mb)
This 2014 case study highlights a specific project for which the Kansas Department of Transportation conducted extensive modeling of current and projected operations and safety, which allowed them to select a project scope that achieves the performance objectives of a rural corridor modernization project within given budget constraints.
Low-Cost Operational Solutions to Traffic Bottlenecks
- Arkansas (Metroplan MPO, Little Rock region): Public survey of localized congestion problems
- Austin, Texas: Restriping of two lanes to "reclaim" a third lane
- Arvada, Colorado: A grade-separation project to eliminate recurring problems caused by a railroad crossing
- Danbury, Connecticut: Restriping an interchange instead of rebuilding
- Madison, Wisconsin: Ramp meters as a countermeasure to delays and crashes
- Manchester, New Hampshire: Expedited improvement of a congested exit ramp as part of long-term phased construction
- Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota: A study to determine effectiveness of ramp meters
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Conversion of a freeway shoulder into an acceleration lane at former chokepoint at top of ramp entrance
- Renton, Washington: Use of a freeway shoulder to maintain lane congruency and eliminate a lane drop chokepoint.
- Saginaw County, Michigan: Replacement of tight diamond ramp intersections with roundabouts as countermeasure to insufficient signalized intersections
- Washington DOT: Description of Washington State's 3-tiered "Moving Washington" congestion relief plan