Chapter 10 Intersection Analysis
10.1 Introduction
10.1.1 Overview
Delays at intersections and along corridors are primarily caused by vehicles stopped at intersections. Additionally, over half of fatal and injury crashes occur within or near an intersection. Multiple modes crossing within the same intersection create multiple points of conflict that occur at high speeds. Due diligence on intersection planning, design, and improvement projects is the first step toward preventing many of these crashes. This has become especially important as alternative intersection types are becoming widely recognized. Documenting existing intersection operational and safety deficiencies leads to enhanced decision-making in the implementation of treatments to address these issues. Each intersection type under consideration has its own advantages and disadvantages, especially when accommodating vehicular, pedestrian, and bicyclist needs.
10.1.2 Purpose and Intended Use
The purpose of this chapter is to provide guidance on conducting operational analysis, safety analysis and cost-benefit analysis of intersections. This chapter provides information on ICE intersection types, analysis tools, data requirements, and how to interpret analysis results for projects in various stages of project development. The analysis and tools identified herein promote evaluating alternatives based on operational and safety performance, costbenefit performance, and other considerations.
10.1.3 Limitations
The operational analysis of intersections is limited to the HCM methodologies and software developed as of 2024. For instance, methodologies for pedestrian and bicycle LOS have not been developed for all intersection types. This limits emphasis on multimodal considerations. In addition, analysis is often limited to the type of data available. Due to individual project scope, schedule, and budget, missing data creates inaccuracies in the results of the analysis. Use engineering judgment when evaluating the outputs from any analysis.