RELATIONSHIP OF OPERATING SPEEDS TO ROADWAY GEOMETRIC DESIGN SPEEDS

This report presents research on the relationship between vehicle operating speeds and roadway geometric design speeds for low-speed [below 64 km/h (40 mi/h)] urban streets. The project goals were to establish a research methodology, collect substantial operating speed and geometric data, and present an alternate approach to the geometric design of urban streets. The report is organized into four broad sections with distinct chapters that document the chronological phases of the research study. This research provided an in-depth empirical study focusing geometric design in the low-speed environment. The results indicated incorporating an operating speed model into the design process that can provide designers with guidance on the selection of geometric elements. This design approach should result in actual vehicle operating speeds closer to the intended speed of the facility.