Strategies for Separating Trucks from Passenger Vehicle Traffic (0-4663-S)

This project summary report summarizes the research performed in Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Project 0-4663. Trucks constitute a large and growing segment of the traffic on Texas highways. In order to manage this growth, TxDOT needs to consider special or unique treatments for trucks such as truck lane restrictions, exclusive truck lanes, and exclusive truck facilities. This two-year project addressed the topic for the state of Texas by developing tools for evaluating needs for special truck facilities, developing a truck route system, and developing recommendations for demonstration of a pilot system. The research established criteria to determine the need for truck roadways, developed a plan to classify truck corridors, and developed truck facility analysis tools for use on this system of roadways. Based on these tasks, the research then investigated techniques for evaluating levels of service on truck facilities. The techniques were then applied to selected candidate corridors to demonstrate their utility. Finally, the research developed an action plan for implementation of the exclusive truck facilities.