FHWA Decision to Deny All Future Requests to Experiment with Edge Lane Roads
In 2021, the FHWA decided they had enough ongoing experiments with this treatment and published a statement saying they would be denying all future requests to experiment with edge lane roads (see https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/knowledge/faqs/faq_part9.htm#otq4).
On April 19, 2022, a group of industry-leading organizations and practitioners sent a letter to the FHWA explaining why they believed this was not a wise course of action. The full letter, including its sponsors, is available here.
A summary of the objections in the letter are:
Though this issue is restricted to the ELR treatment at the moment, it has implications for all future experimental traffic control devices. Crafting an alternative to a complete ban on TCDs once the number of experiments has reached a threshold produces a more flexible process that helps all agencies and road users.
If you also feel the FHWA should consider an alternative to outright denial, please express your opinion to Martin Knopp, Associate Administrator for Operations, at Martin.Knopp@dot.gov.
In 2021, the FHWA decided they had enough ongoing experiments with this treatment and published a statement saying they would be denying all future requests to experiment with edge lane roads (see https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/knowledge/faqs/faq_part9.htm#otq4).
On April 19, 2022, a group of industry-leading organizations and practitioners sent a letter to the FHWA explaining why they believed this was not a wise course of action. The full letter, including its sponsors, is available here.
A summary of the objections in the letter are:
- This action discourages use of a treatment that benefits all vulnerable road users and has been shown to reduce motor vehicle crashes.
- This action exacerbates an already-widespread practice of agencies installing ELRs without FHWA involvement, reducing our evidence base.
- This action finalizes a database of ELRs that are less safe due to designs that run counter to decades of experience in other countries.
- This action pays little attention to rural ELRs and no attention to those at the upper end of the performance envelope.
- This action does nothing to evaluate the primary use of ELRs as pedestrian facilities, a use that is already occurring.
- This action runs counter to published guidance that describes ELRs as being available with FHWA approval.
Though this issue is restricted to the ELR treatment at the moment, it has implications for all future experimental traffic control devices. Crafting an alternative to a complete ban on TCDs once the number of experiments has reached a threshold produces a more flexible process that helps all agencies and road users.
If you also feel the FHWA should consider an alternative to outright denial, please express your opinion to Martin Knopp, Associate Administrator for Operations, at Martin.Knopp@dot.gov.
Photo courtesy of Scott Robinson at City of Bloomington, IN.