Introduction Study Background Overview of the study Problem Statement Specific information on the problem or issue Introduction cnt’d Research Questions or Hypothesis Question or Hypothesis that your research will address Objectives List simple measurable or quantifiable milestones that your study intend to address Literature Review Summarize the various studies related to your project that you have reviewed in the process of carrying out your study Methodology 1. Scope of study 2. Data Collection methods and types- research tools e.g Interviews, surveys, traffic count, case studies, observation, etc 3. Data Analysis- Quantitative or Qualitative- Explain how the data will be analyzed e.g. statistical methods to be used, GIS, Synchro, etc Expected Results Provide s brief discussion of your anticipated findings References Project Proposal: Reducing Traffic Congestion at Erdman Avenue - Belair Road Intersection Abstract The intersection of Erdman Avenue and Belair Road is one of the most congested areas in Baltimore, Maryland. Traffic continues to grow in the area creating bottlenecks and other trafficrelated issues. Associated with the high traffic congestion is a high frequency of accidents within the intersection. This study hypothesizes that the high congestion is the major contributing factor for accidents in the area. To test this hypothesis, this study will analyze 2017-2018 traffic accident data acquired from the Maryland Highway Safety Office (MHSO) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The main objective of the study will be to support the delivery of a solution to lower congestion as well as accidents occurring at this intersection. To achieve this objective, the study will first identify the major factors that contribute to traffic congestion in the intersection. This study describes different factors which reduce congestionrelated accidents and strategies, including analysis scope, travel time valuation, baseline speeds, and accident analysis. Also, it will discuss how these factors will influence the intersection planning decisions. The study will apply all factors and strategies that help to reduce congestions in this area that includes roadway expansion and demand management in the area. The study will employ both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. The researcher will review relevant data from government agencies in Baltimore and Maryland. The researcher will also carry out investigation of the traffic congestion situation in the intersection through observation and conducting interview with different stakeholders such as traffic agencies, police, road users and residents living around in the surrounding neighborhoods. Introduction Study Background Traffic has been increasing constantly in the past few decades. The trend is expected to continue in the coming years throughout the country. In Baltimore, congestion levels in 2016 reached 19 percent which was a 1 percent increase from the levels in 2015 (TomTom Traffic Index, 2016). The intersection of Erdman Avenue and Belair Road is one of the most congested areas in Baltimore. The Associated with the high traffic congestion is a high frequency of accidents within the intersection. Erdman Avenue and Belair Road is located in the Northeastern District of Baltimore. The intersection mainly serves communities along Erdman and Belair routes. The increase in congestion around the intersection is believed to be one of the major contributing factors to the increasing number of accidents around the intersection. Previous studies have identified a linear positive relationship between traffic volume and frequency of accidents. It is however important to mention that the relationship between traffic congestion and frequency of accidents may not be fully described always by a linear relationship (State Highway Administration, 2003). The purpose of this project is to test the hypothesis that traffic congestion around the Erdman Avenue and Belair Road intersection is an important factor that is contributing to increased number of accidents around the intersection. There are also other factors that may contribute in causing the increasing congestion around the intersection. Problem Statement Traffic congestion is becoming a serious issue in the American roads. Baltimore has been rated as having one of the highest traffic congestions in the United States. The challenge of traffic congestion is exacerbated by lack of efficient traffic control systems especially in major intersections. Baltimore city has already identified that the problem of traffic congestion especially in downtown neighborhoods is partly caused by traffic signals that are described as obsolete that are not responding efficiently to the needs of modern-day road users (U.S. News, 2018). Most of the traffic signals in downtown are operated on old technology that is highly prone to massive failures. Traffic congestion has been identified to have a positive relationship with frequency of accidents (State Highway Administration, 2003). In addition, there are other negative effects such as increased carbon emissions that lead to negative environmental consequences. Research objectives The objectives of the current study are; i.To identify possible intersection control factors that affect safety and efficiency in the Erdman Avenue and Belair Road intersection. ii.To identify possible design factors that that affect safety and efficiency in the Erdman Avenue and Belair Road intersection. iii.To suggest possible control and design solutions that can help in improving efficiency and safety in the Erdman Avenue and Belair Road intersection. Research Questions i.What are the control factors that affect efficiency and safety in the Erdman Avenue and Belair Road intersection? ii.What are the design factors that that affect safety and efficiency in the Erdman Avenue and Belair Road intersection? iii.What are the possible solutions that can help in improving efficiency and safety in the Erdman Avenue and Belair Road intersection? Literature Review Intersections are points of conflict in road and highway systems. Because of the presence of conflict points in intersections, much of the safety interventions in the roads and highways if largely focused on the intersections. According to the Federal Highway Administration, the about 25 percent of traffic injuries and almost 50 percent of traffic-related fatalities have are related to intersections. Proper control of traffic inside intersections can lead to traffic congestion resulting in delays and sometimes frustrations. This means that control in intersections is critical in enhancing efficiency on the roads. For this reasons, intersections are usually taken as focal points for improvement of road safety and operation (Federal Highway Administration, 2018). The Toolbox on Intersection Safety and Design by the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) identifies several factors that inform the design of an intersection. These factors include the location of the intersection relative to the number of roads being serviced and the volume of traffic that is expected to pass through the intersection. Another factor is how the land surrounding the intersection is used whereby factors such availability of space is considered (ITE, n.d.). Control in an intersection is one of the most important factors that must be taken into full consideration when decision how an intersection will operate. In most cases, intersection controls are mainly accomplished through use of traffic signals and stop signs. The purpose of these control devices is to give right-of-way to road users in a way that improves movement. The Toolbox on Intersection Safety and Design indicates that the conventional intersection cross section that is characterized by two roads crossing each other. Conventional intersections can be signaled or non-signaled. There are also non-conventional intersections designs that include; (1) roundabout, (2) U-Turn Intersections and (3) jughandle intersection. The decision on the type of design to use depends on the tree factors that were identified in the foregoing including volume traffic, location and nature of land use (ITE, n.d.). The Federal Highway Administration, (2018) indicates that roundabout are the most effective intersections designs in regard to safety and efficacy. Based on the above literature review, it is clear that there are many options of improving safety and efficacy in an intersection. Based in the findings of the study and literature review, the researcher will strive to come up possible solutions and give a recommendation on the most viable solution for addressing the efficiency and safety problems in Erdman Avenue and Belair Road intersection. Methodology The current study will focus on primarily on the Erdman Avenue and Belair Road intersection. The first objective will be to identify the extent of the challenge of traffic congestion and safety issues in the intersection. Based on the findings of the problem issues, the study will explore the factors that contribute to the problem in the intersection. This will primarily look at design of the intersection and the controls that have been put in pace in order to enhance operations in the intersection. The study will them seek to come up with the possible solutions that can be applied in solving the problem. The researcher will apply both qualitative and quantitative methodologies in undertaking the study. In order to achieve this, the researcher intends to carry out an in-depth investigation that will involve a number of research methodologies. One methodology is literature review in which past studies, statics and experts options on how to improve efficacy and safety of intersection will be examined. The researcher will also physically examine the intersection in order to identify some of the control and design factors that may contribute to traffic congestion and accidents. The researcher will also carry out interviews with several stakeholders such as road users, traffic administrators, and with local police department and other law enforcement agencies. The objectives of this interviews will be to get an in-depth understanding of the problem and the possible interventions that can be applied in order to solve the problem. Interviews will be done using face-to-face conversations in which the researcher will ask both open and closed questions to the interviewees. Expected Results Through this study, the researcher expects to come up with the full details of the extent of the change of traffic congestion and accidents in and around Erdman Avenue and Belair Road intersection. The researcher also expects to come up with comprehensive recommendations that can be used in solving the identified challenges. The recommendations will include both control measures as well as proposal for the range of possible designs of the intersection that can help in addressing the issue. References Federal Highway Administration, (2018). Intersection Safety. FHA. Retrieved from https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/intersection/ Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) (n.d.). Toolbox on intersection safety and design, ITE. Retrieved from http://library.ite.org/pub/e1d08c51-2354-d714-51e9-f3967064dfb9 State Highway Adminstration, (2003). The relationship between congestion levels and accidents TomTom Traffic Index, (2016). University of Maryland College Park. Retrieved from http://roads.maryland.gov/OPR_Research/MD-03-SP308B46-Congestion-Vs-AccidentsReport.pdf https://www.tomtom.com/en_gb/trafficindex/city/baltimore U.S. News, (2018, Apr. 30). Antiquated traffic signals causing congestion in Baltimore. U.S. News. Retrieved from https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/maryland/articles/2018-04- 30/antiquated-traffic-signals-causing-congestion-in-baltimore
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