This User Guide is aimed at facilitating the use of the Small Intersection Evaluation (SIE) Tool. The SIE Tool is intended as a quick economic evaluation tool for small intersection projects, involving the following intersection treatment types: give-ways/stops, roundabouts and traffic signals. Intersection treatments are evaluated in terms of traffic impacts through road user cost (RUC) savings (travel time, vehicle operating cost and emissions cost savings) as well as crash cost savings. It is not intended to replace detailed analysis of intersections using established approaches and methodologies commonly used by road and transport agencies. Rather, it is aimed at assisting practitioners when they need to undertake a rapid evaluation of an intersection involving several potential treatment types or evaluate a number of possible projects within a program of intersection projects. This type of evaluation could then be followed by detailed evaluation of intersection treatment types in the conventional manner if required. The User Guide is intended as a direct ‘how-to’ guide to using the SIE Tool. Details behind the structure of the SIE Tool and the default values (the ‘why’ aspect) are explained in the Austroads research report completed for the project. Finally, it must be noted that the coefficients used to estimate delay and vehicle operating costs in the SIE Tool are updated periodically via a separate, off-line process as new unit values (e.g. travel time and fuel costs) become available. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting