Determining Variables That Influence the Operation and Safety of Median Openings in Close Proximity to Signalized Intersections

Abstract

An effective access management technique can improve both traffic safety and operation along a roadway corridor while maintaining a reasonable level of access to the adjacent properties. Even though raised medians enhance traffic operation and safety by minimizing the number of turning movements at mid-block locations, they shift the potential turning maneuvers to the nearby intersections. Moreover, raised medians have negative economic impacts on the adjacent business owners. Therefore, providing a median opening along a corridor should be evaluated as a trade-off between the gains and losses and installed where the benefits outweigh the potential drawbacks. There is no guideline available that specifically focuses on a median opening in the proximity of a signalized intersection. Therefore, this paper evaluated the safety and operation of the median openings nearby signalized intersections as well as determining the variables that influence the performance of the median openings. The results indicated that the minimum required distance from a median opening to its adjacent signalized intersection is influenced by the number of conflicting driveways, median opening type, and the number of arterial lanes. Moreover, the safety at a median opening is dependent on the median opening type, the number of arterial lanes, and average daily traffic. The results could help transportation agencies to analyze how installing a median opening nearby a signalized intersection affects both traffic safety and operation.