CE 453 Lecture 4

Highway
Location Study
See also lab 2 and lab 4 instructions, and EIS lecture notes
See also 04 DOT development process.doc

Refs: http://jlarc.state.va.us/reports/rpt213.pdf Virginia Location Planning Ref.

http://www.legis.state.wi.us/rsb/code/trans/trans208.pdf Wisconsin Law
http://www.ole.dot.state.ia.us/ Iowa DOT Office of Location and Environment
 Basic Principles for Hwy
Location
• Roadway elements (curvature,
grade, etc) must blend with each
other to produce a system that
provides for the easy flow of traffic at
the design capacity, while meeting
design criteria and safety standards.
• Should cause minimal disruption to
historic and archeological sites and
other land-use activities
Garber and Hoel, 2002
 Factors Considered in the Location
Process
• Topography

• Social and demographic (including land use and

zoning patterns)

• Terrain and soil conditions

Garber and Hoel, 2002

 Factors Considered in the Location
Process

• Directness of route

• Serviceability of route to industrial and

population areas

• Crossing of other transportation facilities (roads,

railroads, rivers)
– Intersect other roads at right angle

Garber and Hoel, 2002

Factors Considered in the Location
Process
• Environmental
– Animal habitat

– Location of recreational, historic and

archeological sites

– Noise, air, and water pollution

Garber and Hoel, 2002

 Factors Considered in the Location
Process
• Economic
– Construction
– Maintenance costs
– Road user costs
– Road user benefits (i.e. travel time)
– Adverse effects such as dislocation of
people or businesses

Garber and Hoel, 2002

Factors Considered in the Location
Process

• Iowa DOT considers safety in the planning

stage as well
– i.e. paved shoulders

Garber and Hoel, 2002

 Location Steps
• Identify corridor limits
• Identify 3 classes of geographic
constraint
– No-build, somewhat sensitive,
potential use
• Define alternative alignments –
each one different to satisfy EIS
requirements
Avoid or minimize impact on
…
• Recreation and parks

• Public utilities

• Neighborhoods

• Religious institutions,
cemeteries
Avoid or minimize impact on
…
• Ecologically sensitive areas

• Natural and historical

landmarks

• Businesses
Nice example of a
project web site –
PennDOT

See “mapping”
and other nice
features of
project web site

http://www.119south.com
 HOW IS HIGHWAY
LOCATION DETERMINED?

• It is PennDOT’s goal to establish the most direct and

useable highway facility at the least possible cost to
the public. To accomplish this, PennDOT undertakes
intensive studies on several possible routes in order to
find the route that will result in the least possible
inconvenience or injury to the public and the private
landowner.
• Statistical data concerning the economy, population
needs and traffic volume trends are analyzed for the
area under study. Aerial and ground surveys are made,
and consideration is given to such factors as safety,
drainage and soil types. In addition, public meetings
are held to discuss the proposed alternate locations.
When Your Land Is Needed For Highway Use
Author: Stephen D. Holowach 7/23/99
http://www.119south.com/presentation/
 RIGHT-OF-WAY?
• Right-of-Way is the term used to describe the right to
pass over another’s land.
• When the Commonwealth acquires land for Highway
Purposes it is actually obtaining “Right-of-Way” over
land on which a public road ultimately will be built.
• It is a Constitutional right of the Commonwealth to
acquire land for public purposes
• The term used to describe this right to acquire land,
is “Eminent Domain”. Eminent Domain states that it
is the inherent right of the State to acquire land
when it is needed for public use. The Pennsylvania
Department of Transportation will execute this right
only when it will benefit the public.
What does a location study include?
(VDOT)
http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/studybris-
coalfieldprocess.asp

Starting a location study involves fully

defining the project, or "scoping" as it is
often called. This process is an
opportunity to identify issues and obtain
comments from agencies, jurisdictions
and the public early in the planning
process. A "purpose and need" statement
and the goals and objectives of the
Location Study will be developed.
What does a location study include?
(VDOT)
http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/studybris-
coalfieldprocess.asp
Alternatives Identification

VDOT's Study Team will use technical data such as traffic

counts and aerial mapping and early environmental
evaluations to develop several possible road locations, or
alternatives, within the Coalfields Expressway Study
corridor. The goal of this phase is to identify reasonable
alternatives that consider the input provided from
communities, businesses and individuals as well as
regional concerns. In developing alternatives, the Study
Team will consider a number of new locations as well as
upgrades of existing roads such as Virginia Route 83. The
team will look at the deficiencies of the existing
transportation network, including safety concerns and any
planned improvements along the study corridor.
http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/studybris-coalfielddefault.asp
See also: http://www.interchange77-81.com/project_overview/default_more.asp