Cost effectiveness of climbing lanes: safety, level of service and cost factors

This study has resulted in: (a) a methodology for analyzing the level of service and safety of passing lane options; (b) economic feasibility and cost-effectiveness methods based on level of service improvement, reduction of delay, increased safety, and cost of providing a passing lane; (c) a procedure for comparative analysis of climbing and passing lane options; and (d) a practical, user-friendly microcomputer-based tool for the evaluation of passing lanes, as well as climbing lane options. Existing warrants for the provision of passing lanes were reviewed. Methodology was developed for analyzing the operational performance and safety of two lane highway sections, with and without passing lanes. The functions developed for estimating the level of service factors (i.e., platooning, average speed) were validated with field data. Research in the operational performance and safety of climbing lanes has already been reported in the Research and Development report TDS-90-08. The methodology for the study of cost-effectiveness of passing lanes was implemented in the form of a user-friendly microcomputer program. This program also incorporates the methodology for the study of climbing lane options for priority analysis of passing lane/climbing lane solutions on two lane rural roads. The use of cost-effetiveness methodology and the microcomputer program are illustrated.