Land Development and Traffic Composition at Rural Interstate Highway Interchanges in Ohio

Highway interchanges, particularly those in rural areas, offer fertile opportunities for highway-oriented land development such as gas stations, convenience stores, restaurants, and hotels. This paper presents an exploratory analysis of potential relationships between traffic patterns and highway-oriented land development in the vicinity of rural Interstate highway interchanges. Using data from 69 rural highway interchanges along two Interstate highways in Ohio, multiple regression models are developed to predict daily traffic volume and truck percentage as a function of interchange-area land development. The models reveal that the number of gas pumps and extent of dedicated truck parking at an interchange are significantly associated with interchange traffic. The results of this analysis add to a relatively small collection of literature on the specific effects of interchange-area development on traffic patterns. Highway agencies that are responsible for the design and operation of interchanges should consider the results of this analysis when evaluating potential development opportunities in the vicinity of interchanges. Proper planning and a spirit of cooperation between highway agencies and commercial developers will ensure that interchanges will continue to function in a safe and efficient manner.