What is an RCUT?
RCUT stands for: Restricted Crossing U-Turn. RCUT intersections are geometric designs that alter how certain vehicle movements occur from the side streets of an intersection. RCUTs simplify decision-making for drivers and minimize the potential for higher severity crash types, such as head-on and angle crashes (also known as T-bone crashes).
Why was the Richmond Road corridor identified as needing a series of RCUTs?
KYTC uses the most current Highway Safety Manual methods to identify and prioritize safety improvements at intersections throughout Kentucky. The Richmond Road corridor is experiencing growth, which is good for the local economy, but also comes with increased congestion which can lead to poorer safety performance. This project was identified as a potential corridor for a series of RCUTS because several of the intersections within the corridor were showing lower than expected safety performance, when compared to similar corridors across Kentucky. RCUT corridors are an innovative solution to improve safety and reduce congestion.
How does an RCUT improve:
Safety?
RCUT intersections simplify driver decision-making.
Drivers and other road-users have lower risk of injury or death when using RCUTs.
RCUTs provide pedestrians and bicyclists a refuge island which breaks up complex crossings into shorter pieces providing a place to rest.
RCUTs have been recognized by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) as a Proven Safety Countermeasure: Reduced Left-Turn Conflict Intersections - Safety | Federal Highway Administration (dot.gov). Data shows that changing a two-way stopped-controlled intersection to an RCUT can reduce fatal and injury crashes by 54% and changing a signalized intersection to an RCUT can reduce fatal and injury crashes by 22%.
Traffic flow (i.e., reduce congestion)?
RCUTs make traffic flow better by allowing drivers to proceed at the same time when making certain turning movements. This means traffic signals can provide more green signal-time along both the main street and the side street, which decreases driver wait times.
The Federal highway Administration (FHWA) cites that RCUTs can result in a 30% increase in throughput and a 40% reduction in network intersection travel time: Reduced Left-Turn Conflict Intersections - Safety | Federal Highway Administration (dot.gov)
Many in our community might be unfamiliar with RCUTs; how can we learn more about them before driving through one?
To begin with, RCUTs are intuitive:
By using raised concrete islands and striping to guide everyone – whether they are driving, walking, or riding a bike – moving through an RCUT can be pretty intuitive. The concrete island keeps car traffic from making a left turn or driving straight across from the side street. Markings on the pavement and clear, visible signage help direct everyone along the right path.
The RCUT pattern of movement is already occurring at the Brenda Cowan Elementary School during student pick-up and drop-off times. Cars are directed to turn right out of the school and not allowed to turn left. This pattern has helped improve safety and reduce congestion at the elementary school.
The RCUT pattern of movement will likely be familiar to many drivers. Anytime a driver turns right onto a busy street and makes a U-turn back because there were no gaps to turn left, they are making an RCUT movement. There are several examples along other Lexington streets where U-turns are required: for example, along Richmond Road closer to downtown and on the part of New Circle Road where there are traffic lights.
Informational material will be provided to the community through multiple outlets:
The project team plans to communicate with the public through social media and digital outlets. For example, KYTC District 7 will post RCUT information (like RCUT “how-to” videos) on the KYTC website and social media accounts.
The project team will also be working with our more traditional media partners to help us communicate with the public through print, television, radio, and local news stations.
Additionally, many RCUT videos can be found on YouTube. (RCUTs are sometimes called “Michigan left-turns.”)