NHI Evaluating & Designing Improvements to the Interstate System Class

Taught by the National Highway Institute and Sponsored by ITD and FHWA

April 9 - 10, 2019

This is a FREE National Highway Institute Class (NHI) being offered by the Idaho Transportation Department to our partners. Class size is limited to 2 staff people per agency please (there is only a total of 20 spots available for consultants at this class), so register early!

This intense 2-day course provides participants with key knowledge of freeway systems and interchange types, FHWA policy on justification for interchange access approval, and applications of technical knowledge and policy understanding to interchange project decisions. Topics covered in this course include service and system interchange types, interchange justification process, interchange study and selection process, fundamentals of freeway system operations and planning, urban freeway diagnosis, geometric design considerations, and technical and documentation procedures.

Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:

Compare and contrast design and operational attributes of different freeway types
Interpret and apply principles of good freeway systems and interchange design
Describe the application of design exceptions to interchange project decisions
Describe the content of an appropriate safety and operational analysis to support an access request
Compare alternative designs based upon an assessment of appropriate measures of effectiveness (MOEs)
Apply an interchange design study procedure

At the conclusion of the course, each attendee will receive an NHI certificate of training and 16 hours can be used towards PE credits.

Agenda

Tuesday, April 9

8:00 AM - 8:45 AM

Module 1: Introductions and Course Overview

• Instructor and participant introductions; course logistical information and “ground rules” • Overview of learning objectives, course content and identify special issues and topics to cover • Complete NHI registration forms

8:45 AM - 10:00 AM

Module 2: Service Interchange Types - Diamonds

• Important considerations for diamond forms including single point (SPDI), tight diamonds (TDI) and the diverging diamond (DDI)

10:00 AM - 10:15 AM

Break

10:15 AM - 11:00 AM

Module 3: Service Interchange Types - Partial Cloverleafs

• Important considerations for partial cloverleaf interchange forms

11:00 AM - 11:45 AM

Module 4: System Interchange Types

• Important considerations for freeway-to-freeway interchanges

11:45 AM - 12:45 PM

Lunch

Lunch on your own

12:45 PM - 1:30 PM

Exercise 1: Developing Alternatives

Developing alternatives for a service interchange on new location: • Participants divide into groups for a problem involving developing design alternatives of a new interchange.

1:30 PM - 2:15 PM

Module 5: FHWA Policy on Interstate Access & FHWA Interchange Approval Process

• An overview of the FHWA Policy on Interstate Access including the legal authority, intent, and FHWA approval process

2:15 PM - 2:30 PM

Break

2:30 PM - 3:15 PM

Module 6: Suggested Process for Evaluating Interchange Alternatives

• An overview of a suggested process for an Interstate access request study is provided with guidance for making appropriate choices in the initial project stages.

3:15 PM - 4:15 PM

Module 7: Suggested Contents of Requests to FHWA for Interstate Access Changes

4:15 PM - 4:30 PM

Day 1 Review and Close-out

4:30 PM

Adjourn Day 1

Wednesday, April 10

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Exercise 2: Applying the FHWA Interstate Access Policy

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Module 8: Design of Enterances and Exits, Auxiliary Lanes and Ramp Spacing

10:00 AM - 10:15 AM

Break

10:15 AM - 11:00 AM

Module 8: Design of Entrances and Exits, Auxiliary Lanes and Ramp Spacing (cont.)

11:00 AM - 11:45 AM

Module 9: Insights into Conucting the Traffic Operational Analysis

11:45 AM - 12:45 PM

Lunch

Lunch on your own

12:45 PM - 1:30 PM

Module 10: Insights into Conducting a Safety Analysis

1:30 PM - 2:15 PM

Module 11: Crossroad Considerations & Access Management Strategies Along the Crossroad

2:15 PM - 2:30 PM

Break

2:30 PM - 4:00 PM

Open Discussion

Discussion on other issues of interest (participants will vote on the prioritization of these topics and the instructor will cover as much as time will allow)

4:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Day 2 Close-Out

Close-out, post-course assessment and evaluations

Instructor

Mark Doctor, PE

Mark has advanced the use of innovative and flexible design practices on a national level and within FHWA's design discipline. He promotes technical capacity building activities related to highway design and safety.

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