Browsing by Author "Scallen, Stephen"

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    Human Factors for Transitway Safety Improvement: Final Report for Phase II
    (Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, 1998-11) Scallen, Stephen; Stackhouse, Stirling
    This report details human factors evaluations of a 3.1 mile dedicated bus route (buses and emergency vehicles) connecting Minneapolis and St. Paul campuses of the University of Minnesota. The dedicated route (Transitway) contains eight intersections. Two intersections are controlled by signal lights activated by the approach of a bus and six intersections are controlled by STOP signs. The motivation for the study was the unexpected increase in the number of accidents when the route was transferred from city streets to the Transitway in March 1992. This human factors initiative was conducted as part of the Transitway Safety Project at the University of Minnesota. Research was conducted in two phases. The present report details Phase II research, a 1998 evaluation of the effectiveness of the safety improvements implemented in the Transitway, using the same measures as those used in Phase I, with the exception that bus driver evaluations were dropped from Phase II research.
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    Investigating the Effects of Roadway Design on Driver Behavior: Applications for Minnesota Highway Design
    (Minnesota Department of Transportation, 1999-02) Scallen, Stephen; Carmody, John
    This report details a project to study the relationship between highway design and human behavior as influenced by roadside environments. In a visualization phase, computer simulation modeled an actual segment of urban highway planned for reconstruction in Tofte, MN Using a driving simulator, project design team members test drove the highway reconstruction project and evaluated the planned elements. In an experimentation phase, researchers tested drivers' responses to different design scenarios to identify the architectural and aesthetic elements with the greatest potential for calming or slowing traffic. Results indicated that the visualization phase increased communication among project team members and state agencies, facilitated problem Identification-resolution strategy development, and contributed to decision-making concerning potential design options and design elements. Data also indicated that white pavement treatments produced desirable traffic calming effects. Analyses of drivers' speed patterns indicated a consistent speed profile, characterized by both decreases and increases in speed. The report concludes with recommendations for the expanded use of visualization in general and the implementation of white pavement treatments in the target reconstruction project specifically. It also recommends further consideration of landscape architecture treatments.