Recurring Traffic Bottlenecks: A Primer - a PDH Online Course for Engineers, Architects and Surveyors

Recurring Traffic Bottlenecks: A Primer

Course Outline

This two-hour online course begins by defining a traffic bottleneck and then distinguishing between recurring and nonrecurring bottlenecks. The processes of merging at recurring bottlenecks and general merge principles are presented. Low-cost improvement strategies are provided and specific examples of implementation are given.

This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.

Learning Objective

This course teaches the following specific knowledge and skills:

Identifying and assessing bottlenecks;
Understanding how bottlenecks form and disperse;
Understanding merging at recurring bottlenecks;
Understanding merge principles;
Understanding and evaluating low-cost bottleneck improvement strategies; and
Learning how some state agencies are dealing with some specific bottlenecks.

Intended Audience

This course is intended for transportation engineers and planners.

Benefit to Attendees

A person completing this course will be sufficiently familiar with bottleneck issues and solutions to be able to interact knowledgeably with specialists in the field.

Course Introduction

The delays arising from traffic congestion are an unavoidably frustrating fact of life. Or are they – unavoidable, that is? Why must we accept to take thirty minutes to make what should be a fifteen minute drive?

Course Content

This course is based on U.S. Federal Highway Administration Report No. FHWA-HOP-12-012, “Recurring Traffic Bottlenecks: A Primer, Focus on Low-Cost Operational Improvements,” by R. A. Margiotta, and N. Spiller, April, 2012.

Recurring Traffic Bottlenecks: A Primer

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Course Summary

Much of recurring congestion is due to physical bottlenecks – potentially correctible points on the highway system where traffic flow is restricted. While many of the nation’s bottlenecks can only be addressed through costly major construction projects, there is a significant opportunity for the application of operational and low-cost infrastructure solutions to bring about relief at these chokepoints. This course describes such facility breakdowns and explores the opportunity for near-term operational and low-cost construction opportunities to correct them.

Related Links

For additional technical information related to this subject, please visit the following websites or web pages:

http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/publications.htm

Quiz

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.