Topic outline

  • Recurring Traffic Bottlenecks

    Credits: 4 PDH

    PDH Course Description:

    Although many of the nation’s traffic bottlenecks must be addressed through costly major construction projects or expensive alternatives such as high-occupancy vehicle lanes, dynamic pricing, or transit alternatives, a significant opportunity exists for applying operational and low-cost solutions at specific locations. This course is based on a primer produced by the Localized Bottleneck Reduction program of the Federal Highway Administration.

    The course focuses on recurring congestion choke-points and the operational influences that cause them. Widening, lengthening, retiming, metering, or bypassing problem areas can often be done with lower cost and less intensive means than required by completely rebuilding the system.

    These options and other low cost alternatives are described in the course. Examples of how some state agencies are dealing with bottlenecks are given.

    Topics:

    This course teaches the following specific knowledge and skills:
    • Identifying and assessing bottlenecks
    • Understanding how bottlenecks form and disperse
    • Understanding merging at recurring bottlenecks
    • Understanding merge principles
    • Understanding and evaluating low-cost bottleneck improvement strategies
    • Learning how some state agencies are dealing with some specific bottlenecks

    To take this course:

    1.) Enroll in Course: Click below to enroll:
    (must be logged into your user account)


    2.) Study: Once enrolled, click below to begin the course:

    Download the Study Guide

    3.) Test: Once you've thoroughly read the course materials, please click below to take the final examination.

    Take the final exam

    4.) Certificate: A passing grade of 70% or higher on the exam, is required to receive the certificate of completion for this PDH course.
         NOTE: After the exam is completed, you will need to return to this page, in order to print (download) the certificate of completion.

    Print the Certificate of Completion

    Publication Source: US DOT (Federal Highway Administration)


    Mark Rossow PhD, PE (retired)

    • Topic 1