When
April 02, 2025
Time
7:45am - 4:00pm EST
Contact Hours
8
Location Online - Course
This hybrid online class will combine both live instruction and independent online work that you will complete during the day. Independent work will include quizzes, readings, videos and short assignments. Access to a computer with a webcam (either a camera that is built into your laptop or one that connects via USB), a reliable internet connection and a workspace that is free from distraction and noise will set you up for success.
Description
Many arterials and interchanges are terribly congested, and conventional measures offer little prospect for relief. Unconventional designs offer some potential for relatively inexpensive improvements to those congested arterials and interchanges. These are designs that have been used in some state or have been researched but have not been placed into widespread use. Examples include the superstreets (RCUTs, j-turns) being installed in North Carolina, the median u-turns that Michigan has used for many years, and the diverging diamond interchanges that have recently opened in over 20 states. In the right place with the details designed well, an unconventional design can deliver safety, efficiency, environmental, and cost benefits to motorists and transportation agencies.
The purpose of this workshop will be to discuss the best of the unconventional intersection and interchange options in some depth. We will explore the history, planning, design, and operation of the major designs. By the end of the workshop attendees should understand which design has a realistic chance to help in a particular spot.
Agenda
Learning Modules:
Module 1: Why Alternative Designs? / Median U-Turn
Module 2: Reduced Conflict Intersections
Module 3: Continuous Flow Intersections and Quadrant Roadway Intersections
Module 4: Intersection and Grade Separated Intersections & DDI
Instructor
Joseph E. Hummer
Joseph E. Hummer, PhD, PE, is the Staff Engineer in the Mobility and Safety Division of the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). Joe is one of the foremost authorities on unconventional intersection and interchange designs practicing today. He began researching the designs in 1990, has published numerous articles about them, and has invented several new intersection and interchange designs. His two-part series in the ITE Journal in 1998 helped spark interest in the area. More recently, he was a co-author of the FHWA informational report on six of the most promising designs, he was the Principal Investigator of the FHWA research project investigating the effects of diverging diamond interchanges, and he was the primary author of the FHWA guidebook on superstreets. Joe was a Professor at North Carolina State University and was Chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Wayne State University before joining NCDOT in May 2016.
Who Should Attend
The workshop should be of interest to any planners, designers, and operations professionals who work on intersections and interchanges. No prior knowledge of intersection or interchange design or operations is needed. Only basic math skills are needed to follow the examples used in the workshop. The workshop should be helpful to DOT, city, and county staff members as well as to consultants.
Registration and Payment
The following registration fees cover the session, all course materials and meals:
Local Government: $75.00
State/Federal: $125.00
Private Industry: $300.00
Click here for UVA TTA's general registration information, cancellation policy, and refund policy. UVA TTA accepts the following credit cards: American Express, VISA, MasterCard, and Discover. Credit card information cannot be taken over the phone. Alternatively, after registering you can print out a voucher to send in with your payment. After you have completed the transaction you will receive an automatically generated email confirming registration and payment if applicable. Final confirmation and instructions will be sent out during the week prior to the class date.
Special Registration Instructions for Employees of the Virginia Department of Transportation
VDOT employees must register through the VDOT Virtual Campus. Registration fees and related expenses for all VDOT employees will be paid from the VDOT Learning Services Center budget. Registrants should contact their District Training Coordinator or the VDOT Learning Services Center (Central Office employees) for instructions on how to seek reimbursement for travel expenses.
Due to current travel restrictions, VDOT employees are strongly encouraged to attend U. Va. TTA workshops on a day trip basis. Overnight travel requires permission from your District Administrator or Chief -- and in some cases higher levels of authority. If you require overnight lodging to attend a U. Va. TTA workshop, consult with your supervisor, District Training Coordinator, or VDOT Learning Services Center on travel approval procedures.