Dual left turn lanes are crucial for increasing capacity at busy intersections during peak hours with high left turn volumes; however, they can lead to an increase in delays for all intersection users during low traffic demand periods. This increased delay is experienced since most intersections with dual left turn lanes in North Carolina utilize protected-only left turn signal phases. The protected mode can result in additional delays during off-peak hours due to (a) not being able to utilize gaps in opposing traffic due to the lack of a permissive phase, (b) longer cycle lengths as a result of the additional protected left-turn phases, and (c) increased lost time from additional signal phases. In North Carolina, lost time per signal phase can average around five to six seconds; therefore, adding phases can affect overall intersection efficiency. Despite the importance of selecting the appropriate treatment options for dual left turn lanes in minimizing delays and travel times, there are notable research gaps in the existing literature, and comprehensive guidelines are lacking to inform the decision-making processes. The primary objective of this research is to develop guidelines and a spreadsheet-based tool to assist NCDOT in selecting the most appropriate treatment options for approaches with dual left turn lanes. The research team will evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of various treatments, including protected-only, permissive, and protected-permissive phasing and a ���dynamic left-turn intersection��� (DLTi) approach. The research team will also consider exploring other innovative time-of-day treatments similar to DLTi.

How can we create ����������������community food security���������������? This project aims to develop a community-based socially intelligent nonprofit food rescue and distribution infrastructure to fairly serve vulnerable communities experiencing food insecurity. This infrastructure will have a loop mechanism that continuously learns consumer preferences and provides feedback to upstream stages of the supply chain and also learns about the food availability at the local food sources and feeds that information to the downstream stages. The main objective of this research is to minimize food waste along different stages of the supply chain while maximizing equitable access to safe food given consumer preferences. Food banks are nonprofit organizations that provide a framework for the non-profit food supply chain by collecting donations from multiple sources such as local grocers, growers, and the community (e.g., food drives) and distributing the donations to food-insecure households through a network of community-based partner agencies (e.g., food pantries, homeless shelters, schools). The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly strained this network as demand has surged, the volunteer-based workforce has waned, and supply uncertainty has increased highlighting both the network������������������s strengths and limitations and the need to strengthen the community-based infrastructure and create solutions that are self-reliant and robust for communities that are affected by such events.

The main objective of this research is to develop new capacity models for mini-roundabouts based on field data collected at 25 mini-roundabouts in North Carolina and other states within the midatantic and southeast regions. Video data will be recorded at all sites from 25-30 ft elevation. The videos will be analyzed using the DataFromSky (DFS) service, which the team successfully utilized in previous NCDOT projects. Vehicle trajectories will be obtained and analyzed to estimate key capacity parameters, including the critical and follow-up headways and the effect of heavy vehicles. The team will utilize a calibrated microsimulation model only to fill out gaps when field data are not available.

This research project delves into the exploration and development of data-driven compensation models tailored for License Plate Agencies. Recognizing the challenges in the existing compensation structures, the project aims to align these models with the goals of the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to optimize efficiency and amplify service quality. The methodology encompasses a systematic approach starting with comprehensive data collection and analysis of current compensation practices. Utilizing statistical correlations between compensation structures, efficiency, and service quality, innovative compensation models will be formulated. These models will undergo real-world testing in a pilot agency to ensure practical viability. The project promises not only an enhanced understanding of the interplay between compensation and agency performance but also a roadmap for NCDOT to elevate its service standards through strategic compensation models. The research emphasizes data confidentiality and ensures all findings remain the intellectual property of NCDOT.

Electric vehicle (EV) technology encourages sustainability benefits by reducing environmental pollution primarily associated with transportation-related activities. With the EV market share anticipated to exceed half of all new vehicles sold by 2040, there is an urgency to begin preparing for an EV future now. Therefore, there is a need to develop a statewide EV network expansion plan that requires establishing policies, planning practices, technical siting guidance, and electric power grid requirements designed to accommodate an extensive EV charging load. On the other hand, to ensure EV charging access is accessible throughout the state, including historically underserved communities such as rural areas and communities of concern, equity best practices must be established and incorporated into the plans. A failure to create a viable and reliable EV infrastructure and associated policies will hinder EV adoption and exacerbate the health and environmental impacts caused by the transportation sector. The proposed Project will develop a series of planning and policy best practices and technical guidance for siting EV charging infrastructure to support the expansion of the charging network and its management in North Carolina. This research will assess local planning policies and power utility considerations to develop guidance that informs the efficient and equitable development of a statewide EV charging network plan. The policy and planning research tasks will result in a practice-ready guidance document. This document will include guidance for local agencies, draft policies that can be locally adopted to simplify EV infrastructure permitting and approvals at the municipal and county level, and guidance that highlights opportunities for NCDOT to collaborate and support external partners in improving statewide EV infrastructure. Additionally, the technical guidance derived from models for siting EV charging infrastructure will support the charging network���s expansion and provide insights on charger deployments given geographical limitations, travel demand constraints, electric power grid requirements, and equity considerations, among other concerns. The research results will be practice-ready, implementable guidance on EV network siting and development. The policy and planning best practice and EV development guidance can be used to support MPO, RPO and local planning agencies for siting local EV infrastructure and developing planning policy that encourages the establishment of an equitable and technically sound EV charging infrastructure.

By the year 2045 or 2050 Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAVs) have the potential to significantly disrupt travel demand across North Carolina. The North Carolina Department of Transportation is currently planning the infrastructure that will serve our travels needs in 2045 and beyond. There is an urgent need for NCDOT to better understand the potential effects of CAVs on travel demand and traffic forecasts, as a failure to do so could lead to big implications for NCDOT and the citizens of North Carolina. This research will provide guidance to NCDOT on possible modification of parameters and assumptions within the Regional Travel Demand Model (RTDM) Development Guidelines, including possible modifications to the standardized procedures related to CAVs. This guidance will be informed by scenario testing that will consider different levels of CAV penetration, various impacts on travel demand parameters (including changes in land use), and various impacts on supply parameters. This research will also provide guidance on the consideration of CAVs in the more advanced model structures found in the Triangle, Triad and Greater Charlotte regions, and areas not covered by the RTDM Development Guidelines.

The purpose of this research is to add new insights regarding the benefits and drawbacks of using intersections with three-phase traffic signals compared to other intersection designs and to develop a technical guideline to help designers and policymakers in transportation understand when and where to use three-phase designs. At four-phase conventional intersections where traffic demand is near or above capacity, innovative intersections may perform better. New designs with two-phase traffic signals such as reduced conflict intersections (RCI, also called RCUT and superstreet) result in shorter travel times, fewer crashes, and better pedestrian service in North Carolina (NC). However, retrofits to designs with two-phase signals may be impactful and unpopular. Higher minor street demand, lack of precedent, and complaints (from neighbors, business owners, politicians, media, etc.) are among the possible obstacles for constructing two-phase designs in many locations. In other words, while two-phase intersections perform very well at many intersections, designers might not be able to select those designs for some projects. On the other hand, intersections with three-phase signals might provide some of the two-phase design advantages while also providing more direct movements and alleviating some public concerns. This study seeks to answer the following questions: (1) At what locations are three-phase designs most well suited? (2) How much do they cost, especially compared with other intersections like RCIs? (3) What kind of traffic control devices (pavement markings, traffic signs, and traffic signals) are needed? (4) What movement restrictions could cause motorist confusion and violations? (5) How could we minimize those violations? (6) What are the considerations needed for pedestrian and bicyclist safety? (7) What kind of geometric and right-of-way (ROW) limitations are faced during construction? (8) What movements are less impactful for redirecting in different cases? (9) What designs would be most readily accepted by the public? Current literature on innovative intersections with three-phase signals is limited. Excluding offset, partial continuous-flow intersections (CFIs), and quadrant intersections, (three common three-phase designs in NC) little information is available on the performance of other three-phase intersections. Reviewing the Crash Modification Factors (CMF) Clearinghouse reveals that only a few studies have estimated CMFs for converting four-phase conventional intersections to three-phase intersections. These studies focused on partial CFIs and partial median U-turn intersections (MUTs). Other possible three-phase designs should also be evaluated to increase the confidence level in selecting the most appropriate design. A recent presentation by NCDOT��������s Dr. Joseph Hummer introduced ten three-phase intersections as possible candidates for future projects. Based on initial evaluations, the ten three-phase designs could show potential in improving existing intersections. The research team also proposes another new three-phase design which could be considered as a promising design. The proposed three-phase intersection redirects two left-turn and one through movements. It is expected to experience higher capacity for the proposed design compared to conventional intersection due to better signal progression and a lower volume to capacity (v/c) ratio. Also, the proposed design has 19 conflict points. Only two of the existing three-phase designs (reverse RCI and offset intersections) have fewer conflict points compared to the proposed design. This proposed study focuses on the following three-phase designs: partial MUTs, partial CFIs, reverse RCIs, thru- cuts, offset, quadrant, CFI/MUT combo, redirect one minor leg, redirect minor lefts, seven-phase signal, and redirect two lefts and a through intersection (see Figure 1 in the body of the proposal). Also, the research team will consider other new designs, especially where another proposed design might perf

Alternative Intersection and Interchange (AII) designs are those which provide an innovative approach to the geometric or control features which may improve operations and/or safety for different road users. In 2010, the U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) published the first edition of ����������������Alternative Intersection and Interchange Informational Report��������������� (AIIR), which provided information on six alternative treatments including displaced left-turn (DLT) intersections, restricted crossing U-turn (RCUT) intersections, median U-turn (MUT) intersections, quadrant roadway (QR) intersections, double crossover diamond (DCD) interchanges, and DLT interchanges. For each treatment, AIIR presented detailed information in a standardized format, including salient geometric design features, operational and safety issues, access management, costs, construction sequencing, environmental benefits, and applicability. The AIIR first edition has been employed by various agencies as a valuable resource for planning and designing AIIs, there are still unconventional design concepts that have not been fully explored and some of the current ones could use updates. During the past decade, there have been an increasing number of AIIs installed in the United States, and more new AII designs that are not documented in AIIR first edition have emerged since 2010, such as Reverse RCUTs, Partial Median U-turns, and Grade-Separated Alternative Intersections, etc. These new AII designs may involve different traffic organization patterns, which may introduce confusion and create safety hazards for drivers. NCDOT is a national leader in AII implementation, which provides safe, efficient, and cost-effective travel solutions for North Carolina drivers. Therefore, the primary objective of this research is to start the process of compiling the AIIR Second Edition. Specifically, this research will provide a state-of-the-practice literature review and expert interviews on AII designs, draft an annotated outline for the AIIR second edition, and develop an updated set of simulation models to assess the performance of various AII designs. Finally, this research will provide practical recommendations for planners and engineers to select site-specific AII designs during project processes.

STRIDE: Integrated Corridor Management

The objective of this RAPID project is to identify and document possible issues of the existing COVID-19 vaccine distribution and administration systems and propose solutions through collecting national vaccine distribution and administration data and quantifying lead times and various performance measures. We plan to collect day-to-day vaccine allocation and shipment data (to track the supply over time) and vaccine administration data from CDC and States. More information on data elements is available in the research plan section. While this data is available at CDC now, it is not available to the public and it is not archived for a long time (as is the case for N1H1 vaccination data) and will be lost if not collected now. We will work with reporters that have collaborated with us before to create a freedom of information act (FOIA) request to access and archive the data. State record this data as well; however, they do not follow a consistent way of reporting the data, and the majority of them only report cumulative data. It is not certain whether they record the daily data, and if so, how long they keep it. As such, the daily data is at great risk of being lost if not collected as soon as possible and many important vaccination data and trends will be lost if the day-to-day data is not available.