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    Evaluation of centerline rumble strips implementation in Puerto Rico: PR-114 case study
    (2017) Rivera-Matías, Yanira; Colucci-Ríos, Benjamín; College of Engineering; Buitrago González, Fabiola; González Vélez, Enrique; Department of Civil Engineering; Gilbes Santaella, Fernando
    A research study completed in 2016 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), showed that 51% of the 32,675-motor vehicle traffic crash fatalities reported in 2014 occurred on the rural road network in the United States. In that same year, 64% of total traffic fatalities in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico occurred on rural roads. Centerline rumble strips, (CLRS) have been proven in the United States to be an effective, low-cost countermeasure, however, it is yet to be tested in Puerto Rico. The focus of this research is to study the safety effectiveness of CLRS on highway PR-114, a rural two-lane, two-way minor arterial road connecting the municipalities of Hormigueros and San Germán in Puerto Rico. The CLRS and corresponding signage were installed from km 7.6 to 14.5 along this highway and is the first to be treated with this safety countermeasure in Puerto Rico. The methodology includes a comprehensive literature review of CLRS, its policies, standards, and guidelines in the United States, a before-and-after study, spot speed analyses, and an observational analysis of the treated segment of PR-114. With the implementation of CLRS along the road a 6% decrease in crashes, crash modification factor (CMF) of 0.94, is expected. However, the PR-114 crash history of the two years after the implementation of the CLRS, the expected crashes along the segment for all crash severities are higher. Upon closer analysis of the crash trends, there was a reduction of target crashes. In 2007 and 2009, there were 6 and 7 fatal and injury target crashes, respectively. The two years following the CLRS implementation, 2014 and 2015, there were 3 and 2 fatal and injury target crashes, respectively. However, the total number of crashes reached a high of 27 fatal and injury crashes in 2014, compared to the next highest total experienced in 2007, with 24. More than half, 56%, of the 27 fatal and injury crashes experienced in 2014 are fixed object crashes. In 2015, the number of fatal and injury crashes reduced by 56%. One contributing factor may be the smoothness of the newly paved road. The smooth pavement in combination with long tangent sections, vehicle mix, and little enforcement invites the driver to speed. The findings of the speed studies show a speeding problem along the road. The pneumatic tube study showed 82% of drivers exceeding the speed limit at km 14.4 and the radar study showed a mean speed range of 42 to 46 mph in km 7.3 and 7.9. In the future, transverse rumble strips (TRS) can complement CLRS on tangents greater than 2 km in length to reduce speeding on rural roads similar to what studies have found on this road type. A State-specific CLRS standards and practices summary was completed as part of this research for the benefit of State agencies that wish to standardize or improve their current CLRS implementation practices. The findings of this research can potentially assist transportation officials to determine the countermeasure’s potential for further application in future projects along the Puerto Rico highway network. Evaluating the roadway’s characteristics and comparing it to CLRS implementation practices in the United States, PR-114 would be considered a design exception. The roads’ proximity to river and creeks made it unfeasible to extend the pavement width. The road needed the benefits of the CLRS countermeasure to reduce head-on and opposite direction sideswipe crashes. The findings of this study show that CLRS are effective in reducing target crashes, however in order to reduce fixed object and speeding-related crashes, additional countermeasures should be considered.