The objective of this project was to recommend a transportation solution to complete the eastern inner loop.

 

 

Team Members

Michael Paytas    Alessia Sigillo    Micah Kriebel                           

Instructor: Brian St. John, Prakash Poudel, Chris Yang Song

 

Project Poster

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Project Video

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Project Summary

Overview

The eastern inner loop concept is considered to be around since the mid 1900’s. This loop that runs throughout State College, Pennsylvania was never finished. Studies have been done to find a way to complete the loop but nothing has advanced to the later stages. The team was tasked with recommending a route from the Park Avenue and University Drive intersection to the Blue Course Drive and North Atherton intersection.

Objectives

– Develop a series of conceptual design alternatives to complete the Eastern Inner Loop
project.

– A performance–based evaluation of the three design alternatives will be completed to
determine a final, recommended design for the Eastern Inner Loop.

– Develop plan, profile, and cross–section plots of the final design alternative. All plots must
be developed in Autodesk Civil 3D.

Approach

– HCS program to establish the LOS and required number of lanes for each alternative

– Established lane width, design speed, and average annual daily traffic

– Calculated an environmental impact score for each alignment using FHWA guidelines

– Created alignments including design consistency and safety analysis

– Created a benefit cost analysis

– Conducted a final cost estimation using Red Analysis Wizard program

Outcomes

– Proposed alternatives

– The group was tasked with finding 2 possible roadways.

– The choices include an extension to Vairo Boulevard or a continuation of Blue Course Drive

– 85th percentile speed recommendations

– Vairo Boulevard Extension: 40 MPH due to horizontal and vertical alignment of the proposed roadway

– Blue Course Drive: 45 MPH due to the proposed alignment

– Factors to consider:

– Allocation of costs/taxpayer money, safety factors, time, environmental inventory and ranking, practicality

– Key recommendation: establishing an extension/connection to/from Vairo Boulevard