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Safety, Operations, and Traffic Engineering

Team Leader: Michael D. Fontaine
Associate Director for Safety, Operations, and Traffic Engineering
Photo of Michael D. Fontaine<BR>Associate Director for Safety, Operations, and Traffic Engineering
 
Purpose:

The Safety, Operations, and Traffic Engineering (SOTE) team research program focuses on how to improve the safety and efficiency of travel on Virginia roadways. The scope of the program broadly includes highway safety, traffic engineering, intelligent transportation systems, and connected and automated vehicles. In many cases, the team’s research emphasizes how to improve safety and traffic flow through more effective management of existing facilities, rather than construction of new capacity. Examples of typical research topics include:

Safety

  • Development of safety performance functions
  • Safety analysis or development of crash modification factors for new safety treatments
  • Improved methods for identifying crash hotspots
  • Guidance for diagnosis and countermeasure selection
  • Pedestrian and bicycle safety
  • Safety effects of connected and automated vehicles

Traffic Engineering

  • Investigation of effects of new traffic control devices (signs/markings) on driving behavior and understanding
  • Work zone operations and safety
  • Traffic control visibility and legibility
  • Speed control and policy

Operations

  • Incident management
  • Traffic operations center (TOC) management
  • Performance monitoring and reporting
  • Signal operations and optimization
  • Intelligent transportation systems
  • Operational effects of connected and automated vehicles
  • Congestion management
  • Managed lanes
  • Data collection, analysis, and use
NameTitlePhoneEmail
Michael D. Fontaine Associate Director for Safety, Operations, and Traffic Engineering(434) 293-1980Michael.Fontaine@VDOT.Virginia.gov
Justice Appiah Associate Principal Research Scientist(434) 293-1952Justice.Appiah@VDOT.Virginia.gov
Hyun Woong Cho Research Scientist(434) 293-1949Hyun.Cho@VDOT.Virginia.gov
Benjamin H. Cottrell, Jr. Associate Principal Research Scientist(434) 293-1932 Ben.Cottrell@VDOT.Virginia.gov
Noah J. Goodall Senior Research Scientist(434) 293-1905Noah.Goodall@VDOT.Virginia.gov
Chien-Lun Lan Research Scientist(434) 293-1936Chien-Lun.Lan@VDOT.Virginia.gov
Erin Robartes Research Scientist(434) 293-1972Erin.Robartes@VDOT.Virginia.gov
Mo Zhao Senior Research Scientist(434) 293-1938Mo.Zhao@VDOT.Virginia.gov

  • 74114  -  System Operations as a Core Function: A Scan of the State of the Practice
  • 75520  -  Evaluation of Truck Lane Restrictions
  • 74115  -  VDOT Critical Infrastructure Protection: CIP Phase IV
  • 73779  -  Phases III-VI of Visibility Needs of Motorists under Wet Night Conditions
  • 72788  -  Use of Safety Restraint Systems by Occupants Under 16 Years Old: 2004 Update
  • 72501  -  The Role of Smart Traffic Centers in Regional System Operations Performance: A Hampton Roads Case St
  • 72283  -  Development of Methodology for Traffic Signal Timing Optimization Schedule
  • 72126  -  Development of Incident Data Collection Standards for VDOT Freeway Operations
  • 68646  -  An Investigation of the Accuracy of the Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Fraction as an Input to the Mobil Emission Model
  • 71627  -  Demonstration and Evaluation of Rational Speed Limits
  • 68291  -  Development of a Highway Safety Corridor Program in Virginia
  • 65569  -  TMC Applications of Archived Data Operational Test
  • 63649  -  IVI Intersection Collision Avoidance
  • 57286  -  Guidelines for Developing Transportation Management Plans for Construction Projects
  • 64135  -  Visibility Needs of Motorists During Wet Night Conditions
  • 76249  -  Safety Belt and Motorcycle Helmet Use in Virginia: The 2005 Summer Survey
  • 76464  -  Sampling Issues in Wireless Location Technology-based Traffic Monitoring Systems
  • 77079  -  Determining the Core Functions of VDOT Smart Traffic Centers
  • 78595  -  Private Sector Provision of Congestion Data (NCHRP 70-01)
  • 78784  -  Efficient and Scalable Design of Archived Data Management System
  • 78789  -  Preparing to Use Vehicle Infrastructure Integration (VII) in Transportation Operations
  • 72989  -  Implementing SB 353, A Method for Developing the Transportation Element of a Local Comprehensive Plan
  • 73798  -  Evaluation of Red Light Camera Enforcement in Virginia
  • 74017  -  Phase III Autotrack Integrated CCTV/VIVDS Prototype Field Test
  • 75583  -  Simulation Model Calibration and Validation - Phase II
  • 75586  -  Transit Signal Priority Project - Phase II
  • 76462  -  Feasibility of Requiring Blood/Breath Testing for All Motor Vehicle Drivers and Boat Operators Involved in Fatal Crashes in Virginia
  • 76463  -  Evaluation of Virginia's Open Container Law
  • 76827  -  The Development of a Methodology for Measuring the Effectiveness of Safety Service Patrol Programs
  • 78971  -  Selection, Piloting, and Evaluation of Best Practices in Traffic Operations and Safety
  • 79267  -  Incorporation of Operations in VDOT's Project Development Process
  • 79383  -  Development of a Methodology for the Selection, Evaluation, and Prioritization of Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Projects in Virginia
  • 79849  -  Safety Belt and Motorcycle Helmet Use in Virginia: The 2006 Summer Survey
  • 80041  -  Trends in Motorcycle Crashes in Virginia
  • 80298  -  Investigation of System Operations Performance Measures for the Virginia Department of Transportation
  • 74111  -  Hurricane Evacuation Route Analysis
  • 80596  -  Access Control Design on Highway Interchanges
  • 80576  -  Development of a Safety Evaluation Procedure for Identifying High Risk Signalized Intersections in Northern Virginia
  • 80636  -  Evaluation of Pre-Emption and Transition Strategies for Northern Virginia Smart Traffic Signal Systems (NVSTSS)
  • 80637  -  Live Stop Controlled Intersection Data Collection
  • 80768  -  Virginia Critical Transportation Infrastructure Protection and Resilience (CIP V)
  • 81083  -  Identification of Core Functions and Deployment Criteria for Safety Service Patrols in Virginia
  • 81549  -  Development of a Travel Time Data Collection Plan for the Virginia Department of Transportation
  • 81308  -  Evaluation of the Historic Triangle Wayfinding Sign System
  • 82560  -  Optimal Placement of Point Detectors on Virginia’s Freeways - Case Studies of Hampton Roads and Richmond
  • 78779  -  Evaluation of the AutoFlagger in Virginia
  • 83842  -  A Risk-Based Approach to Protecting Accessibility, Mobility, and Safety Options for Transportation Corridors
  • 84280  -  Selecting, Piloting, and Evaluation of Best Practices in Traffic Operations and Safety: Phase II
  • 84360  -  Risk Assessment and Management for IT Security of VDOT Regional Operations Centers
  • 83092  -  Real-time Freeway Performance Monitoring System
  • 84667  -  An Investigation of Solutions to Alleviate Recurring Congestion on Freeways
  • 84867  -  An Evaluation of the Hampton Roads Hurricane Evacuation Traffic Control Plan - Phase 2
  • 84866  -  Safety Belt and Motorcycle Helmet Use in Virginia: The 2007 Summer Survey
  • 85025  -  Evaluation of Adding Distance Information to Mainline Specific Service (LOGO) Signs
  • 85365  -  Application of Stochastic Optimization Method (SOM) in Traffic Signal Control Settings Optimization
  • 85367  -  Crash Causal Factors and Countermeasures for High-Risk Locations on Multi-Lane Primary Highways in Virginia
  • 85826  -  Implementation and Evaluation of Traffic Responsive Control in Northern Virginia
  • 85926  -  Development of Guidelines for Bicycle and Pedestrian Use of Access-Controlled Facilities in Virginia
  • 85980  -  Airsage Evaluation (Travel Time Data) - Northern Virginia
  • 86493  -  Feasibility of Integrating Congestion Back-Propagation and Queue-Dissipation Models with Detector Data to Estimate Incident-Related Travel Time on I-66 in Near Real Time
  • 86622  -  MASC Hampton Roads Hurricane Evacuation Study
  • 86813  -  A Comprehensive Review of Pedestrian and Bicycle Laws in Virginia and the Nation
  • 87584  -  Signalized Intersection Red-Light Running and Dilemma Zone Study
  • 87648  -  Primary and Secondary Incident Management: Predicting Durations in Real Time
  • 87746  -  Trends in Motorcycle Crashes in Virginia – Phase II
  • 87969  -  Evaluation of Truck Lane Restrictions, Phase II
  • 88258  -  Investigation of Enforcement Techniques and Technologies to Support High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) and High Occupancy Toll (HOT) Operations
  • 88523  -  Evaluation of the Safety and Mobility Impacts of Variable Speed Limits
  • 88821  -  Synthesis of Benefits and Costs of Alternative Lane Marking Strategies
  • 89056  -  Safety Belt and Motorcycle Helmet Use in Virginia: The 2008 Summer Survey
  • 89085  -  Preparing to Use Vehicle Infrastructure Integration (VII) in Transportation Operations – Phase II
  • 90140  -  Evaluation of Driver Reactions for the Effective Use of Variable Message Signs
  • 90405  -  Privacy and Its Impact on Emerging Technologies in Transportation Safety
  • 90428  -  Development of Safety Performance Functions for Rural Two-Lane Roads in Virginia
  • 91268  -  Development of a Planning-Level Tool to Identify High Crash Locations on Virginia's Primary System
  • 91272  -  Development of Safety Performance Functions for Intersections in Virginia
  • 00011  -  Evaluation of Merits and Requirements of Next-Generation Traffic-Control Systems for VDOT's Northern Region Existing Infrastructure
  • 92101  -  Trends in Motorcycle Crashes in Virginia – Phase III
  • 92459  -  Quantifying the Benefits of Coordinated Traffic-Signal Systems
  • 92722  -  Review of VDOT's Traffic-Data Plan for Pavement Design
  • 92790  -  The Refinement of Drivers' Visibility Needs During Wet-Night Conditions
  • 92789  -  The Assessment of the Durability of Wet-Night Visible Pavement Markings
  • 93013  -  A Mesoscopic Simulation Approach to Analyze the Hampton Roads Hurricane Evacuation Traffic-Control Plan
  • 94199  -  Program to Support the Development and Deployment of Infrastructure IntelliDrive Applications
  • 94402  -  Developing a Standard Test Procedure for Travel-Time Data Quality Assessment
  • 97905  -  Guidelines for the Application of Active Traffic Management in Virginia
  • 98608  -  A Performance Assessment of Virginia's Traffic Management Plans
  • 98778  -  Linking Carrier Description Attributes to Crash Patterns - An Untapped Tool in State Motor Carrier Safety Improvement
  • 99048  -  Development of Safety Performance Functions for Freeway and Multilane Highway Segments in Virginia
  • 00024  -  Development of Guidelines for the Application of Adaptive Traffic Signal Control in Virginia
  • 100982  -  Guidelines for Edge and Centerline Markings on 16- to 20-Foot-Wide Roads
  • 00025  -  Northern Region Travel-Time Demonstration Evaluation
  • 00027  -  Identifying and Prototyping Integrated Corridor Management (ICM) Strategies for Application in Virginia
  • 102607  -  Real-Time Prediction of Vehicle Locations in a Connected-Vehicle Environment
  • 102608  -  Integration of Travel-Demand Model Results with Operational Analysis Tools
  • 102685  -  Methods to Prioritize Maintenance and Replacement of Aging or Obsolete ITS Infrastructure
  • 00037  -  Dynamic Ridesharing Pilot Program
  • 00041  -  Teen Driver Coach
  • 00042  -  Safety and Visibility Issues Associated with Motor -Vehicle Window Transmittance and After-Market Window Tinting
  • 00043  -  Assessment of the Performance of LED Road Lighting Technology
  • 00047  -  Development of Work Zone Operational Performance Thresholds for Limited Access Highways in Virginia
  • 00064  -  Investigation of Sources of Congestion at the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel
  • 103652  -  Evaluation of Innovative Approaches to Curve Delineation for Two-Lane Rural Roads
  • 00066  -  Simulation of Adaptive Signal Control
  • 104588  -  Guidelines for Assessing Guardrail Needs on Two-Lane Rural Roadways in Virginia
  • 105228  -  Optimal Control and Assessment of Area-Wide Emergency-Vehicle Priority Systems
  • 105333  -  Measuring Arterial System Performance
  • 105214  -  Traffic Incident Management: Quick-Clearance Guidance and Implications
  • 105582  -  Examination of the Current Practice of Lighting in Virginia: Nighttime Work Zones and Improving Safety through the Development of Nighttime Lighting Specifications
  • 105843  -  Investigation of Truck-Mounted Attenuator Crashes in Work Zones in Virginia
  • 103653  -  Work-Zone Safety Performance Measures for Virginia
  • 00059  -  Understanding Recent Changes in Traffic Safety Measures and Crash Characteristics in Virginia
  • 106414  -  Evaluation of the Safety Effects of the I-77 Active Traffic and Safety Management System
  • 106440  -  Transportation System Impact of the Opening of Phase 1 of the Silver Line
  • 106521  -  SHRP2 Tools for Assessing the Wider Economic Benefits of Transportation
  • 106469  -  Evaluation of the Operational and Safety Effects of the I-66 Active Traffic Management System
  • 106697  -  Virginia Connected Corridors – Support for Initial Deployment
  • 106825  -  Evaluation of Diagonal Down Yellow Arrow Lane Use Control Signal
  • 00101  -  Investigating the Relationship Between Driving Patterns and Traffic Safety Using Smartphone-Based Mobile-Sensor Data
  • 00107  -  Preparing for Automated Vehicles in Virginia
  • 107904  -  Alternatives to Protected-Only Left-Turn Phasing
  • 00111  -  Evaluation of Travel Time Prediction Products
  • 00113  -  Mesoscopic Modeling Guidance and Pilot Test
  • 108892  -  Development of Network Screening and Diagnostic Procedures for Improving Roadway Departure Safety in Virginia
  • 108891  -  Customizing the Highway Safety Manual (HSM) for Virginia
  • 00115  -  Systemic Low Cost Countermeasures for an Unsignalized Intersection Safety Improvement Plan for Virginia
  • 109737  -  Evaluation of the Safety Effects of the I-77 Active Traffic and Safety Management System: Phase 2
  • 00122  -  Evaluation of the I-66 Active Traffic Management System: Phase 2
  • 00124  -  Applying Cluster Analysis Techniques to Traffic Operations for the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)
  • 110698  -  Traveler Information for the Commericial Vehicle Operations Community
  • 111805  -  Identification and Characterization of Traffic Bottlenecks
  • 00133  -  The Future of Traffic Control Devices
  • 112062  -  Evaluation of Strategies to Reduce Truck Turnarounds at the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel
  • 112006  -  Examination of Features Correlated with Roadway Departure Crashes on Rural Roads
  • 112539  -  Connected Traffic Control System (CTCS): Research Planning and Concept Development
  • 112013  -  Assessment of Capacity Changes Due to Automated Vehicles on Freeway Corridors
  • 112913  -  Improving Safety Analysis Methods to Better Address Traffic Conditions and Dynamic Countermeasures
  • 112992  -  Connected Vehicle Pooled Fund Study Phase 4, TPF 5-206
  • 114225  -  Virginia Connected Corridors Next
  • 114315  -  Safety Benefits and Best Practices for Intersection Lighting
  • 114314  -  Development of a Methodology for Calibration and Validation of a Mesoscopic Traffic Simulation Model
  • 114510  -  Driver Response to Dynamic Message Sign Safety Campaign Messages
  • 114591  -  Roadside Truck Placard Readers for Advanced Notice and Response at Safety-Critical Facilities
  • 114667  -  Exploration of Corridor-Based Tolling Strategies for Virginia’s Express Toll Lanes
  • 114686  -  Arterial Congestion Bottlenecks - Pilot Study
  • 115051  -  Guidance For and Effectiveness of Low Cost Delineation Treatments
  • 115219  -  Development of a Systemic Safety Improvement Plan for Two-Lane Rural Roads in Virginia
  • 116038  -  Developing a Plan for Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for Traffic Operations Applications in Virginia
  • 116121  -  Strategies to Reduce Truck Mounted Attenuator Crashes
  • 114313  -  Investigation of the Factors that Affect Travel Time Reliability
  • 116585  -  Implementation and Evaluation of an Automated Placard Reader System - Phase II
  • 116689  -  Supporting Transportation System Operations and Management Using Internet of Things Technology
  • 117143  -  Identification of Locations and Causes of Unreliable Travel Times on Virginia Freeways
  • 117962  -  Cost of Congestion Due to Incidents on Freeways
  • 114316  -  Evaluation of Bus Collision Avoidance and Warning System
  • 119593  -  Calibration of Safety Performance Functions for Freeway Ramp Terminals in Virginia
  • 119789  -  Improving Safety Service Patrol Performance
  • 120025  -  Methods to Analyze and Predict Interstate Travel Time Reliability – Phase II
  • 120670  -  A Pilot Study for Developing the Sliding Window Screening Method using New Segmentation on Virginia Roadways
  • 120980  -  Factors Influencing Pedestrian Decisions to Cross Mid-Block and Potential Countermeasures
  • 121186  -  Socioeconomic Inequality on Virginia Roads at the Census Tract Leve
  • 121990  -  A Systemic Evaluation of Wrong Way Driving Crashes and Countermeasures on VDOT Roadways
  • 122087  -  Data and Methods to Estimate Connected and Automated Vehicle Penetration Rates
  • 122669  -  Free Flow Speed Estimation Methodology for Performance Measures
  • 122766  -  I-95 Variable Speed Limit Evaluation Phase 2
  • 122842  -  Supporting Transportation System Management and Operations Using IoT Technology - Phase II: Field Test
  • 123124  -  Modeling Travel Time Reliability for Non-Interstate National Highway System Routes
  • 123952  -  Evaluation of a Driver Alerting System for a Truck Mounted Attenuator
  • 124061  -  Impact of Red Lights on Incident Response Time
  • 124130  -  Evaluation of Post Mounted Delineators and Curve Warning Message Markings
  • 124202  -  Transportation Operations Center Operator Workload Mitigation Strategies
  • 124308  -  Evaluation of a Truck In-Cab Alert System
  •