Citation

Hoffman RJ. Transp. Res. Rec. 1974; 483: 7-13.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1974, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This paper examines the practices and problems related to accommodating utilities in public street right-of-way, identifies best current practices, indicates areas where future research and improvement are needed, and points the way toward alleviating some of the most widespread and serious problems. The paper is based on information derived from field interviews in 20 metropolitan areas, a comprehensive mail survey of practices in 222 municipalities, traffic delay tests in 16 areas, and a literature search conducted in the course of a research project. Some of the major conclusions and recommendations are as follows: Diffused utility ownership and control arrangements inhibit a total systems approach toward implementing improvements in the broadest possible public interest; local utility coordinating committees can be effective instruments for resolving conflicts; city planning and utilities planning are often carried on as independent efforts, and utility considerations are either ignored or subordinated to other concerns in the planning process; utility location record systems are generally inadequate; municipal inspection programs do not always ensure that pavement is properly restored over utility trenches; workable local utility location standards should be developed, and efforts should be made to develop models for optimum locational solutions; additional studies are needed to resolve controversy over the advisability of joint trenching; additional research is needed to improve utility delivery systems; and the effects of lane closures on traffic may be less than popularly believed.