U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
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Federal Highway Administration Research and Technology
Coordinating, Developing, and Delivering Highway Transportation Innovations
| REPORT |
| This report is an archived publication and may contain dated technical, contact, and link information |
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| Publication Number: FHWA-HRT-17-040 Date: June 2018 |
Publication Number: FHWA-HRT-17-040 Date: June 2018 |
 Cover photo ©Michael Quinn.(1) |
FHWA Research And Technology Evaluation: Roundabout Research Final Report |
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The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has initiated an effort to evaluate the Research and Technology (R&T) development program and communicate the full range of benefits of their program. The R&T evaluation program helps FHWA assess how effectively it is meeting its goals and objectives and provides useful data to inform future project selections.
This report examines how FHWA’s investment in roundabout research affected the availability and quality of such research, the adoption of roundabouts in the United States, and the impacts of those roundabouts on safety, operational, and environmental performance of the U.S. transportation system.
The findings of this report should be of interest to engineers, practitioners, researchers, and decision makers involved with the research, design, performance, and management of roundabouts and other alternative intersection designs.
Hari Kalla, P.E.
Associate Administrator, Office of Research,
Development, and Technology
Notice
This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) in the interest of information exchange. The U.S. Government assumes no liability for the use of the information contained in this document.
The U.S. Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trademarks or manufacturers’ names appear in this report only because they are considered essential to the objective of the document.
Quality Assurance Statement
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provides high-quality information to serve Government, industry, and the public in a manner that promotes public understanding. Standards and policies are used to ensure and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of its information. FHWA periodically reviews quality issues and adjusts its programs and processes to ensure continuous quality improvement.
Technical Report Documentation Page
| 1. Report No.
FHWA-HRT-17-040 |
2. Government Accession No.
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3 Recipient's Catalog No.
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| 4. Title and Subtitle
FHWA Research and Technology Evaluation: Roundabout Research Final Report |
5. Report Date
June 2018 |
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| 6. Performing Organization Code
OST-R V-321 |
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| 7. Author(s)
Jonathan Badgley, Joseph Condon, Lydia Rainville, and Daniel Li |
8. Performing Organization Report No.
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| 9. Performing Organization Name and Address
Volpe National Transportation Systems Center |
10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS)
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| 11. Contract or Grant No.
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| 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address
Office of Corporate Research, Technology, and Innovation Management |
13. Type of Report and Period Covered
Final Report; Evaluation covers 1992–2016 |
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| 14. Sponsoring Agency Code
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| 15. Supplementary Notes
John Moulden (HRTM–10) is the Research and Technology Program Manager and the Contracting Officer’s Representative for Contract DTFH for this program summary. |
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| 16. Abstract
This evaluation assesses the effects of the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA’s) investment in roundabout research and related activities on the availability and quality of such research, the adoption of roundabouts in the United States, and the impacts of those roundabouts on safety, operational, and environmental performance of the U.S. transportation system. Although it is difficult measure the effect of specific FHWA activities, the evaluation found strong evidence of FHWA’s influence on the acceptance, consideration, and adoption of roundabouts. The findings suggest that acceptance, consideration, and adoption are higher now than would have occurred without FHWA research and activities. FHWA laid the foundation for national adoption of roundabouts by providing empirical evidence of their safety and operational benefits, increasing awareness of and confidence in them among stakeholders, and contributing to the development of the design standards for implementation. |
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| 17. Key Words
Roundabout, Intersection |
18. Distribution Statement
No restrictions. This document is available to the public through the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161. |
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| 19. Security Classification (of this report) Unclassified |
20. Security Classification (of this page) Unclassified |
21. No. of Pages
107 |
22. Price
N/A |
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| Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) | Reproduction of completed page authorized |
