With the recent trend of increased integration between transportation planning and traffic operations, it is important for new traffic analysts and engineers to understand the different levels of planning along with the most appropriate tools and methods of analysis. As planning encompasses areas ranging in size from a few intersections to entire sub regions of…
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In honor of National Roundabout Week, we’re sharing a throwback blog from 2016! A few years have passed since it was last published, but one thing remains the same – roundabouts are a proven safety countermeasure because they can substantially reduce crashes that result in serious injury or death. Roundabouts can improve safety, promote lower…
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There are over 1.8 million registered electric vehicles in the United States, a threefold increase from 2016. As electric vehicle (EV) batteries become lighter and the travel range increases, electric vehicles will become increasingly prevalent across the country. The rise in electric vehicles on our roadways has led to an increased demand for EV charging…
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Bicycling is more than a practical, cost-effective solution to many municipal challenges. It’s an opportunity to make a community a vibrant destination for residents and visitors – a place where people don’t just live and work but an environment where everyone can appreciate the outdoors. Understanding bicycling and walking activity, preferences, and trends is critical…
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About a year ago, Sain published a blog discussing the use of big data as an alternative for traffic data collection during COVID-19. At that time, travel behavior changed, the number of vehicles on the roads had decreased, and peak hours were not the same when compared to pre-pandemic times. Since manually collecting reliable traffic…
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Have you ever wondered what keeps a car from sliding off the road when you go around a curve? Or, have you ever noticed that it’s unnecessary to reduce speed for safety or comfort purposes when driving through a curve, even at high speed? The reason is superelevation. Superelevation is the banking of the roadway…
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Last month, we announced the formation of a company ownership program designed to expand company ownership opportunities to three key levels: associate, principal, and senior principal. With the new program, Sain added three new associates – Nathan Currie, P.E., Paul Gilliam, P.E., PTOE, and Jeff Stephenson, P.E., PTOE. For this week’s blog, we are highlighting…
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Did you know that pavement markings are not as simple as you might think? Pavement markings are used to convey many different messages to the driver, signaling which part of the road to use and where passing is allowed. Pavement markings use two primary indicators – color and line style – to relay information to…
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Office employees are working from home, schools are closed, and large gatherings with friends and family are discouraged per social distancing recommendations. As we stay at home, we are reminded of how our community interactions have changed with COVID-19. Several reports and maps display how we are practicing social distancing; those numbers and colors illustrate…
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The Greater Birmingham Regional Planning Commission hosted the Federal Highway Administration’s Designing Streets for Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety Workshop on February 20th and 21st. I had the opportunity to attend as a representative of Sain Associates, along with other consultants and individuals from local municipalities and organizations. The two-day workshop was centered on bicycle and…
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