NCHRP Web-Only Document 460: Designing for Target Speed, Volume 1: Operating Speed and Road Elements, produced by TRB’s National Cooperative Highway Research Program, defined target speed as a speed selected for a roadway during the design process that guides planning, design, and operational decisions and results in a roadway with a driving environment that encourages drivers to operate at or below that selected speed. In addition to research that describes findings related to operating speed and factors that potentially influence it, the report looks at several state departments of transportation and cities that incorporate target speed into roadway design guidance. These agencies use context classifications based on roadway, multimodal, and surrounding land-use characteristics to help select appropriate target speeds and identify speed management treatments. Many also emphasize choosing achievable target speeds and evaluating treatment effectiveness over time.

The same project that produced NCHRP Web-Only Document 460: Volume 1 also developed NCHRP Web-Only Document 460, Volume 2: Implementation Guide for practitioners to help to incorporate target speed into the design process.

Infrastructure Assets: Highway Assets, ITS, Other Highway Assets, Pavement
Resource Types: Research Report
Capabilities: Data & Information Systems, Tools & Technology
Management Processes: Monitoring & Adjustment, Performance Based Planning & Programming, Strategic Direction, Target Setting