Title: Analysis of Median Use on Beijing Urban Roadways
Abstract: This paper describes how medians have been widely used in the design of China's urban roadways. Medians not only function as separators of bi-directional traffic, but also provide safe and efficient service for left turn and U-turn traffic maneuvers. In this study, median types and treatments in Beijing, China were explored in terms of their safety and operational effects. The objective of this paper was to assess problems surrounding the fence median, which is the prevailing median treatment on China's urban roadways, using Beijing as a case study. Data on median types were collected within the urban area of Beijing. U-turn-pedestrian conflicts and left turn saturation flow rate reductions due to the presence of U-turns were also investigated at four signalized intersections where a fence median was used. Potential improvement alternatives and suggestions have been proposed to address the reality of transportation and development in China, drawing upon successful applications of access management in the United States. It is our hope that access management programs will be initiated in China and that this study will help raise awareness among traffic engineers and planners of the benefits of median treatments and other access management techniques in the planning, design, and management of China's roadways.
Publication Year: 2006
Publication Date: 2006-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 1
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