scholarly journals What Level of Tourism Traffic Should be planned for in North Carolina’s Major Tourism Areas

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 213-226
Author(s):  
Joseph Wilck ◽  
Paul Kauffmann ◽  
Paul Lynch
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Implementation Strategies ◽  
Department Of Transportation ◽  
Traffic Counts ◽  
North Carolina Department ◽  
The North ◽  
Execution Strategy ◽  
Average Annual Daily Traffic ◽  
Design Value ◽  
Future Work

Aims: The purpose of this research is to provide the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) with an execution strategy for using traffic counts in high tourism areas to aid in the development of Comprehensive Transportation Plans (CTPs). Due to the high variability of traffic counts in these localities, it is arbitrary to apply the typical weekday traffic count as the reference metric for developing the CTPs for these areas. Methods: A literature review and assessment of best practices, forecasting models, and implementation strategies are provided. The first and primary recommendation with respect to Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT) calculations and planning is to incorporate peak-usage and directionality; whether it be hourly or monthly. Urban areas will have AADT values similar to the design value. However, seasonal areas, such as tourist locations, will have significant differences between the design value and the AADT. Results: While other states (notably Nevada and Florida) have incorporated peak-hour usage ratios into their planning forecasts, the recommendation in this report suggests using an average of the two busiest months (as shown in the case studies) when peak-hour usage rates are unknown. Conclusion: The primary recommendations should be addressed tactically (i.e., 3-5 years), and phased-in as resources are available. Other recommendations should be addressed strategically (i.e., 5-10 years), and phased-in as resources are available. Future work, including simulation modeling could be completed to test different levels of funding and to compare different approaches.

North Carolina’s Experience in Development of Pavement Performance Prediction and Modeling

1997 ◽  
Vol 1592 (1) ◽  
pp. 80-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul K. Chan ◽  
Mary C. Oppermann ◽  
Shie-Shin Wu
Keyword(s):  
North Carolina ◽  
Performance Prediction ◽  
Pavement Performance ◽  
Department Of Transportation ◽  
Pavement Condition ◽  
North Carolina Department ◽  
Condition Rating ◽  
The North ◽  
Initial Idea ◽  
Pavement Performance Prediction

Development efforts in pavement performance prediction by the North Carolina Department of Transportation are described. Research into other states’ approaches was also conducted. The initial idea was to use family curves. However, because of a lack of data in key areas, it was decided to use an individual section’s pavement condition rating (PCR) data for performance prediction. The process of selection and justification of a functional form for curve fitting is detailed. An adaptive scheme to accommodate a realistic PCR history containing cycles of decline and improvement in the ratings is detailed. Abnormal sections that did not fit the models developed for individual sections were identified. These were either ( a) section with too few datum points for modeling or ( b) sections in which the last few ratings leveled out, resulting in a prediction of an unreasonably long life span. The development of family curves and their application in the processing of abnormal sections are also discussed. The developed models were then evaluated by comparing the predicted rating with the actual rating.

Effects of Flexible Notice-to-Proceed Provisions on the Performance of Transportation Infrastructure Projects

2022 ◽  
pp. 036119812110657
Author(s):  
Meng Yaw ◽  
Hyungseok David Jeong ◽  
Kunhee Choi
Keyword(s):  
North Carolina ◽  
Time Window ◽  
Project Performance ◽  
Transportation Infrastructure ◽  
Department Of Transportation ◽  
North Carolina Department ◽  
The North ◽  
Quantitative Studies ◽  
Infrastructure Project ◽  
Transportation Agencies

When alternative contracting techniques are considered, one innovative approach for assuring the performance of a transportation infrastructure project is offering contractors flexibility about when they start the project. Although such flexible notice-to-proceed (NTP) provisions are becoming more common, quantitative studies examining their impact on project performance are nonexistent. This study investigates the likely effects of flexible NTP provisions on competitive bidding, bid prices, and contract time. A dataset gathered from the North Carolina Department of Transportation, United States, was carefully stratified by type and size of project to allow for unbiased analysis. The results from the hypothesis testing revealed that projects with flexible NTP provisions were more competitive in relation to bidding. The results also indicated a positive correlation between the length of flexible time window and award growth. This study is the first of its kind and will help state transportation agencies make better-informed decisions by providing a point of reference when adopting NTP provisions for alternative contracting projects.

Evaluation of Effectiveness of School Zone Flashers in North Carolina

2008 ◽  
Vol 2074 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carrie L. Simpson
Keyword(s):  
North Carolina ◽  
Compliance Rate ◽  
Speed Limit ◽  
Department Of Transportation ◽  
North Carolina Department ◽  
The North ◽  
School Time ◽  
Measures Of Effectiveness ◽  
Sample Set ◽  
School Zones

The North Carolina Department of Transportation has been placing flashing beacons on school zone signs where warranted in an attempt to provide more awareness of the school zone speed limit and at the request of schools. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the effectiveness of placing flashing beacons on school zone speed limit signs and to determine if speed compliance was improved in school zones. A sample set of 15 treatment school zones with flashers and 15 comparison school zones without flashers was selected for analysis throughout North Carolina. Sites were selected to include a mix of geometric features and geographic elements. Flashers had been installed at each of the sites for at least 3 years. The school-time speed limits at all sites ranged between 25 and 45 mph. Speed data were collected at all sites during the reduced-speed school zone hours of operation (school time) and outside the reduced-speed school zone hours of operation (nonschool time). Several different measures of effectiveness were calculated to compare the characteristics of the speed distributions, including the percentage of vehicles exceeding the speed limit, average speed, 85th percentile speed, and pace speed. Results showed no practical difference in vehicle speeds between the flasher and nonflasher locations during school-time hours. Although vehicle speeds did decrease from nonschool-time hours to school-time hours at both flasher and nonflasher sites, the speed reductions were not enough to bring drivers into compliance with the school-time speed limit. Both locations with and without flashers had an extremely low compliance rate with the school-time speed limit.

scholarly journals Pitfalls and Potholes: Examining the Impacts of Covid-19 on the North Carolina Department of Transportation

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-18
Author(s):  
Christopher McGee ◽  
Martin Mayer
Keyword(s):  
North Carolina ◽  
Local Level ◽  
The State ◽  
Public Works ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Fiscal Year ◽  
Department Of Transportation ◽  
North Carolina Department ◽  
The North ◽  
State And Local

Covid-19 has had devasting impacts across society and government worldwide in a span of a few short months. The disruption has been nothing short of catastrophic to the public and private sectors across the country and the responses have run the gamut. This commentary discusses the unique impacts of the global pandemic on public works and transportation at the state and local level through the lens of intergovernmental agreements and public private partnerships in the state of North Carolina. The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has realized budget deficits the previous two fiscal years with a significant projected deficit for the current fiscal year; however, NCDOT was not blind to a future of instability. Policy implications are clear: changes must be considered that reduce the likelihood of significant budget shortfalls and reasonable measures taken to provide practicable levels of service throughout public works.

Context-Sensitive Solutions

2005 ◽  
Vol 1904 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-74
Author(s):  
Teresa Townsend ◽  
Leigh Lane ◽  
James Martin
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
North Carolina ◽  
Course Development ◽  
Critical Element ◽  
Department Of Transportation ◽  
Course Content ◽  
Context Sensitive ◽  
North Carolina Department ◽  
The North ◽  
Insight Into

Context-sensitive solutions (CSS) is a comprehensive approach to transportation decision making that embraces the philosophy that transportation programs and projects should address the transportation need, be an asset to the community, and be compatible with the human and natural environment. The CSS movement is rooted in years of controversy stemming from the dissatisfaction of concerned citizens, environmentalists, historic preservationists, multimodal advocates, and others in the transportation decision-making process. In 2002 the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) signed an Environmental Stewardship Policy that proclaimed, “Our goal is to provide a safe and well-maintained transportation system that meets the needs of customers and supports the development of sustainable, vibrant communities.” NCDOT viewed the CSS approach as a critical element in institutionalizing its stewardship policy and developed the CSS course to encompass the goals of the stewardship policy. To date, more than 1,000 transportation professionals in North Carolina have been trained in CSS. This paper provides insight into the course development process, including course content, participants’ experiences, and recommendations for agencies interested in developing an effective CSS course.

Integrated waste water management for a small river basin - a case study

1998 ◽  
Vol 38 (11) ◽  
pp. 87-95
Author(s):  
R. Fenz ◽  
M. Zessner ◽  
N. Kreuzinger ◽  
H. Kroiss
Keyword(s):  
Waste Water ◽  
Water Management ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Waste Water Treatment ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Political Issue ◽  
The North ◽  
Waste Water Management

In Austria approximately 70% of the population is connected to sewerage and to biological waste water treatment plants. Whereas the urban areas are already provided with these facilities to a very high extent, effort is still needed in rural areas to meet the requirements of the Austrian legislation. The way, this task should be solved has provoked much controversy. It is mainly the question, whether centralised or decentralised sewage disposal systems are preferable from the ecological and economical point of view, that became a political issue during the last 5 years. The Institute for Water Quality and Waste Management was asked to elaborate a waste water management concept for the Lainsitz River Basin, a mainly rural area in the north of Austria discharging to the Elbe river. Both ecological and economical aspects should be considered. This paper presents the methodology that was applied and the criteria which were decisive for the selection of the final solution.

High Parasitic Contamination of Soil Samples in the North of Iran: a Potential Risk of Parasitic Infection for Tourists

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beheshteh Haghparast-kenari ◽  
Tooran Nayeri ◽  
Shahabeddin Sarvi ◽  
Mohammad Taghi Rahimi ◽  
Ehsan Ahmadpour ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Contaminated Soil ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Intestinal Parasites ◽  
Parasitic Infection ◽  
Animal Husbandry ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Human Society ◽  
Public Parks ◽  
The North ◽  
North Of Iran

Background: Soil-transmitted parasites (STPs) are significant intestinal parasites that infect humans and animals and impose considerable burdens on human society and animal husbandry industries. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the prevalence of parasitic elements of soil samples collected from the north of Iran. Methods: A total of 256 soil samples were collected from public parks, public places, vegetable gardens, sand heaps, and shadow areas near houses in the north of Iran and examined using the sucrose flotation method. Results: Out of 256 examined samples, 131 (51.2%) ones showed parasitic contamination including larvae (43%), oocysts (14.1%), and different eggs (6.6%). According to the results, the most and least common parasites observed in the samples were larvae (43%), as well as Toxascaris leonina, and Trichuris trichiura (0.4%), respectively. Moreover, the most and least contaminated locations were sand heaps (62.5%) and shadow areas near houses (45.6%), respectively. Regarding cities, Behshahr (68.3%) and Sari (67.5%) had the highest contaminated soil samples, whereas Chalus (37.5%) showed the lowest contamination. On the other hand, rural samples showed more contamination, compared to urban areas (P< 0.05). Conclusion: The findings of the present study indicate that the overall prevalence of STPs in examined areas and highly contaminated soil samples can be considered as a potential source of human contamination particularly tourists with STPs.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document