The following are summaries of papers published in other parts of ICE Proceedings during 2005 that readers of Transport may find of interest. Summaries of all papers in ICE journals are freely available and fully searchable at the ‘journals on-line’ section of the ICE website. See www.ice.org.uk/journals for details.
A34 Chieveley/M4 junction 13 improvement: design
D. Place, I. Farooq and S. Carter
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers—Bridge Engineering, 158, No. 1, March, 15–23
The project involved the grade separation of the A34 at junction 13 of the M4 motorway and was carried out under a design-and-build contract. Three integral bridges with contiguous pile wall abutments and Y-beam and slab decks were designed for construction in a top-down sequence while maintaining three lanes of traffic in each direction on the M4. This paper describes the design process, including derivation of earth pressures on the integral abutments, analysis of the soil–structure interaction and the global analysis of the structure. Comparison is made between the design methods required by BD 42/00 which embodies CIRIA Report 104 and the recently published CIRIA C580, and matters pertaining to the design of integral bridges with frame and embedded type abutments are identified for discussion.
Upgrading of Central Motorway Junction, Auckland
P. W. Corbett and M. A. Edmonds
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers—Bridge Engineering, 158, No. 1, March, 25–36
Central Motorway Junction, situated at the heart of New Zealand's largest city, Auckland, is currently undergoing major upgrading works to improve the operational efficiency and safety of the junction. This paper describes the preliminary studies and scheme development undertaken for this upgrading work. A description of the existing motorway junction, the problems inherent in the junction and the details of the preferred scheme for the upgrading works (developed into a ‘specimen design’ for construction procurement) is provided. The paper focuses upon the proposals for construction of the new viaduct structures required for the scheme. It also covers the tendering and tender evaluation process for the main contract, and describes the features of the submitted tenders.
Models for evaluating the costs of bridge failure
S. M. Wong, C. J. Onof and R. E. Hobbs
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers—Bridge Engineering, 158, No. 3, Sept., 117–128
One of the key factors in evaluating the risk level of a structure such as a bridge should be an examination of the failure consequences, considering that the risk equals the probability of failure times the consequences of failure. In the present study, possible failure consequences of bridge element and system failures have been identified, and a cost-evaluation method has been adopted. The major costs involved are the rebuilding costs, traffic delay costs, access and traffic management costs, casualty costs, repair costs and some other indirect costs. However, there has been a lack of information in evaluating the casualty costs. The paper focuses on the casualty costs and presents some simple models that can be used to evaluate such costs. In addition, several case studies have been performed using the cost models, and the results are presented. Based on the case studies, empirical costs models are proposed for evaluating the total costs of element and system failures.
Transport engineering—a future paved with gold?
T. Ridley
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers—Civil Engineering, 158, No. 2, May, 88–93
Transport engineering offers a potentially rich and fulfilling career, not just financially but in terms of the holistic service that transport engineers can offer society long into the future. This paper, which is based on the author's recent Paviors' Lecture in London, explains that it is not just about getting things done, it is about getting the right things done, which means taking the broadest possible view of what transport engineering is about. In addition to building the right vehicles and infrastructure it also means developing good policies and carrying out good research.
Modernising the UK's west coast main line railway
R. Spoors and J. Martin
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers—Civil Engineering, 158, No. 3, August, 112–119
In December this year the rail journey from London to Glasgow will be 44 minutes shorter. It will mark substantial completion of the £8 billion, ten-year programme to modernise the UK's west coast mainline, one of the largest railway projects in the world. Over half the 650 km long, 160-year-old heavily trafficked route has already been upgraded to carry new 200 km/h tilting trains, two years ahead of schedule, and gauges have been increased for European 2·9 m freight containers all the way to Glasgow. Work on all final contracts is now underway with completion scheduled for 2009. This paper provides an overview the project, its unique civil engineering challenges and the innovative working practices and technological solutions adopted.
Operating risk: the Achilles' heel of major infrastructure projects
R. Allport
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers—Civil Engineering, 158, No. 3, August, 130–133
The civil engineering profession has significantly improved its ability to deliver major infrastructure projects on time and within budget. However, the operating performance of such projects leaves more to be desired. This paper examines the nature and scale of operating risks and sets out to explain why operating performance seldom matches expectations. It looks in particular at new-build urban rail schemes, where operating outcomes are found to differ significantly and systemically from expectations, usually for the worse. It concludes that a radical change in approach for such schemes is needed.
The history of tracks and trains: a lesson in joined-up thinking
M. Bailey
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers—Civil Engineering, 158, No. 3, August, 134–142
Last year was both the 400th anniversary of the first recorded use of railways in Britain, laid down by the Nottingham entrepreneur, Huntington Beaumont; and the 200th anniversary of the first recorded use of railway steam locomotion by the Cornish engineer, Richard Trevithick. This paper, based on the author's ICE Smeaton Lecture, charts the early development of rail track in the UK, from the first wooden wagonways to the wrought-iron rails of the mid-nineteenth century. In particular it compares Trevithick's failed venture into steam locomotives with Stephenson's subsequent success–confirming that then, as now, economics and advances in vehicle and infrastructure technology should develop together.
Integrating transport and planning: a new approach
L. Devereux, B. Devereux and C. Lindsay
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers—Civil Engineering, 158, Special Issue I—Integrated transport challenges and solutions, May, 4–11
Nearly everyone agrees that traffic congestion and pollution could be reduced by better planning. The problem until now, however, is that planners have found it difficult to integrate conventional land-use and transport data into a single model, meaning planning policies tend to be formulated in isolation from traffic predictions and, more importantly, environmental impacts. This paper describes a new approach, in which a geographical information system is used to combine different data sources, including satellite imagery and modelling techniques, into a single and highly graphic planning, transport and environmental model. It then reports on two applications of the model–one theoretical and one practical–in eastern England.
Delivering integrated transport: the role of communications
J. Foster-Clarke and S. Fox
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers—Civil Engineering, 158, Special Issue I—Integrated transport challenges and solutions, May, 12–18
One of the biggest barriers to introducing sustainable local transport initiatives–be it bus lanes, cycle paths, speed humps or congestion charges–is failure to communicate the benefits of such schemes to the communities they will serve. This paper reports on research that was undertaken in response to increasing evidence that negative media coverage, poor relations with the media, poor communication practices and public resistance to projects were acting as barriers to the delivery of transport programmes for a number of UK local authorities. The work culminated in the production of a ‘toolkit’ for local authorities to help them communicate more effectively, both with the media and directly with the public.
Congestion charging: selling the concept
S. Ison
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers—Civil Engineering, 158, Special Issue I—Integrated transport challenges and solutions, May, 19–25
The surge in urban traffic worldwide is leading to increasing problems of congestion and environmental degradation. Congestion charging is coming to be seen as one of the more effective policy options–particularly since the introduction of the central London scheme in 2003–but it remains highly controversial. This paper describes the issues of public and political acceptance and the economic arguments for congestion pricing. It also looks at the issues that need to be addressed by authorities contemplating the introduction of a charge, including use of revenue, accuracy and reliability of the monitoring technology, availability of alternatives to cars, promotion, and the importance of positive political will and leadership.
Information: the key to more intelligent use of transport infrastructure
S. Nielsen and P. Speroni
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers—Civil Engineering, 158, Special Issue I—Integrated transport challenges and solutions, May, 26–30
The provision of quality travel information to the travelling public and transport network managers is a key component in managing and ultimately reducing traffic congestion. It requires real-time information to be effective, but this is only the beginning as journeys take place over time and space–and conditions in a particular part of the network can change rapidly. To inform the travelling public and network managers more fully, real-time traffic models with self-learning capabilities able to provide short-term forecasts need to be developed. This paper discusses recent developments in real-time travel information and identifies ways in which it can be taken to new levels, resulting in more intelligent and effective use of existing transport infrastructure.
Guided bus—an attractive public transport alternative?
T. Cuthbert
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers—Civil Engineering, 158, Special Issue I—Integrated transport challenges and solutions, May, 32–37
Light rail public transport schemes are well-liked by the public, who find their efficiency and reliability levels and general ‘high tech’ image far superior to buses. However, light rail schemes are also proving increasingly expensive to build and operate and the UK Government has recently withdrawn support for a number of future schemes. This paper suggests that public transport schemes incorporating guided busways–of which there are already six schemes operating in the UK–could be a viable alternative for busy urban areas, potentially combining the efficiency and reliability benefits of light rail with the traditional flexibility of bus operations.
Improving traffic behaviour and safety through urban design
B. Hamilton-Baillie and P. Jones
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers—Civil Engineering, 158, Special Issue I—Integrated transport challenges and solutions, May, 39–47
Recent experiments in mainland Europe and more recently the UK have found that removing the traditional separation between traffic and people in urban areas can make streets safer and less congested. Removing standard kerbs, barriers, highway signs and road markings forces motorists to use eye contact with other road users and pedestrians, for which they need to be travelling at less than around 30 km/h. As this paper reports, the result is slower, more careful traffic, increased safety for cyclists and pedestrians and a more attractive urban environment overall–in which local architecture and culture prevails over standard traffic infrastructure.
Economic growth in a historic city—the transport challenge
G. Hughes
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers—Civil Engineering, 158, Special Issue I—Integrated transport challenges and solutions, May, 48–53
The university city of Cambridge in eastern England has long been a popular place to live–even more so now it has become the UK's equivalent of Silicon Valley. But as with many other historic cities in Europe enjoying an economic boom, balancing increased transport demands with the need to maintain an attractive urban environment is a continual problem. This paper reports on the pioneering yet practical initiatives undertaken in and around Cambridge with varying degrees of success over the past 35 years, culminating in virtual daytime closure of the city centre to car traffic. It involves an innovative scheme of rising bollards for buses and taxis and one of the most advanced park-and-ride schemes in the world.
Getting freight off the road and onto rail
T. Berkeley
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers—Civil Engineering, 158, Special Issue I—Integrated transport challenges and solutions, May, 56–62
Britain's railways currently carry 11·5% of the country's road and rail freight. This is over a third more than it did ten years ago and growth is set to continue as an increasing number of supply chains realise the benefits of reduced costs and greater reliability over road transport, with its congested network and shortage of drivers. However, for rail to compete with road on a simple comparison of price and quality of service, this paper says the UK Government needs to enable the rail freight industry to look at infrastructure in the same way as road freight looks at roads, with minimal bureaucracy and maximum flexibility. As ever, there are lessons to learned from North America.
Sustaining livelihoods by improving urban public transport
M. Sohail
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers—Engineering Sustainability, 158, No. 1, March, 9–15
This paper reports on application of the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach to the wider impacts of urban public transport on the lives of the urban poor in developing countries. In applying the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach to the research data, transport is considered as an asset within the Sustainable Livelihoods framework. It draws upon findings of case studies undertaken between 2001 and 2003 in Colombo (Sri Lanka), Faisalabad (Pakistan) and Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania). Using a combination of quantitative and qualitative data, the study looks at price, affordability, accessibility and quality of public transport services.
Assessing barriers to sustainable UK urban transport solutions
A. D. Hull and R. C. Tricker
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers—Engineering Sustainability, 158, No. 3, September, 171–180
Local authorities in the UK play an active role in ensuring the smooth design and implementation of sustainable transport policy. This paper summarises the findings of a questionnaire survey carried out in 16 local transport authorities, covering the organisational, technical and external challenges faced in the delivery of local transport strategies and schemes. It prioritises the key barriers in the use of decision support tools (i.e. indicators, option generation tools, appraisal techniques, and modelling) and discusses some of the funding challenges which affect the delivery of transport strategies and schemes. The outputs of this research will directly influence the development, practice and use of tools aimed at overcoming these barriers in selected urban transport authorities. This will also strengthen the research evidence base for the implementation of transport policy at a local level in the UK.
Mixing it—a new approach to highway design
S. Parry-Jones, N. Stacey, P. Lipman, A. Allen and K. Hallett Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers—Municipal Engineer, 158, No. 3, September, 195–200
Streets and highways in the UK are normally designed to ensure that people in cars are kept moving, often at the expense of people on foot or bikes. The young, elderly, disabled and poor are particularly affected by prioritizing motor traffic in urban areas. Some highway engineers are now adopting new and innovative multidisciplinary approaches to designing human-scale social streetscapes. This paper explores the possibility of introducing a creative element into highway design and emphasises the importance of involving communities throughout the process. The Dings Home Zone project in Bristol is presented as a detailed case study that provides insights into the challenges and benefits of creative highway design.
Design and construction of the Toome bypass, Northern Ireland
R. Faloon, J. Longthorne and R. Eddis
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers—Municipal Engineer, 158, No. 3, September, 207–215
This paper describes the construction of the Toome Bypass in Northern Ireland. The project presented many challenges to the client and the construction team: fitting the bypass into environmentally sensitive topography; innovative design-and-build contract procurement; partnering; construction of a landmark tied arch bridge; and construction of the bypass across soft alluvial clays in the Lower River Bann floodplain. Contract procurement sought to reduce tendering costs by selecting a preferred contractor who was then commissioned to develop a specimen design and target cost. The incentivised target cost contract imbued a value engineering culture, which drew heavily on the partnering and problem-solving ethos within the client and construction teams.
In-vehicle information systems interfaces
P. Hampton Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers—Municipal Engineer, 158, No. 4, December, 251–252
People flying into an intelligent city may want to pick up an intelligent car–one with an in-vehicle information system–to help them get to where they want to go or decide what they want to do. Similarly organisations within the city, for example the emergency services, distribution companies or bus companies, may want to manage their resources more effectively through the use of in-vehicle systems. Such technology is in place today with in-car telematics systems becoming increasingly abundant in the commercial and consumer arena, providing route guidance, in-car entertainment, remote access to office systems, resource management and a variety of other applications. What matters to the people who use telematics devices is that these systems are easy to use, that they make things easier to do (than they would be by another method) and that they do not excessively distract from the primary task of driving. This briefing paper will investigate the human issues associated with the implementation of telematics systems, highlighting the barriers that can impact on system success and how these can potentially be addressed.
Advanced transport management in an intelligent city
B. McQueen, K. Chen. Q. Shi and G. Carlin Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers—Municipal Engineer, 158, No. 4, December, 265–273
A significant proportion of the world's population live in metropolitan areas and the number is growing quickly. The success of the city has brought with it a series of needs, issues, problems and objectives that today's transport community must address if they are to be successfully resolved. Great progress has been made and the best is yet to come. Advanced technologies hold the promise of more intelligent cities, adapting to the needs of city dwellers. Smart telecommunications, sensors and information technology-based services can make the intelligent city of tomorrow an even better place in which to live and work. From a transport perspective these can significantly enhance service delivery, with minimum undesirable side-effects, if applied in a thoughtful and coherent manner. The intent of this paper is to explain the needs, issues, problems and objectives that advanced transport technologies might address, to provide a simple overview of technology applications and to describe a suggested approach for harnessing the power and benefits of advanced technology and conventional approaches with respect to metropolitan transport management. Lessons and approaches from the wider world of business and commerce are incorporated in the proposed approach, taking advantage of previous experience with similar applications.
Managing a city's transportation network—a case study
P. Welsh Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers—Municipal Engineer, 158, No. 4, December, 281–288
As pressures on the transportation network continue to increase, the Traffic Management Act 2004 places a duty on the network manager to monitor and manage the network in normal and abnormal conditions. Birmingham City Council, UK, is creating the services to address these needs by implementing an urban traffic management and control system. The system will be open-ended, with an emphasis on helping public transport. The Birmingham system will become part of a larger countywide system, so that in the event of an emergency, the county's transportation network can be managed from any location, to support the emergency services and controlling delay on the network. A key element of the service will be the relationship of the seven West Midlands county metropolitan authorities with the Highways Agency and the eventual development of automated and shared strategies.
