Public Acceptance of INDOT’s Traffic Engineering Treatments and Services

Adsit, Sarah E; Konstantinou, Theodora; Gkritza, Konstantina; Fricker, Jon D. · 2020 · ROSA P / Purdue University. Joint Transportation Research Program

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Summary

This study addresses the Indiana Department of Transportation’s (INDOT) need to quantify public awareness, understanding, and acceptance of specific traffic engineering treatments and services. While INDOT conducts biennial customer satisfaction surveys, these do not capture detailed perceptions of emerging infrastructure or specific operational practices. Motivated by national trends showing that public opposition often hinders the implementation of alternative intersection designs, this research aimed to provide INDOT with data to guide public outreach and decision-making regarding treatments such as ramp meters, roundabouts, Restricted Crossing U-Turns (RCUTs), Displaced Left Turns (DLTs), and Diverging Diamond Interchanges (DDIs). The researchers conducted a statewide survey of 1,000 adult Indiana residents during July and August 2020. The sample was stratified to match the state’s age and gender demographics based on the 2010 U.S. Census, and transportation industry employees were excluded to prevent bias. The survey instrument utilized visual media, including diagrams, flyers, videos, and simulations, to explain emerging treatments before assessing respondent awareness, acceptance, and confidence. The study also evaluated public perceptions of current INDOT practices, including work zone management, roadway lighting, accessibility versus mobility tradeoffs, and driver speed behavior. Key findings indicate that public awareness of emerging treatments not yet widely implemented in Indiana is low, with prominent opposition to these technologies. Older and female drivers demonstrated lower awareness of emerging treatments, while older drivers were more likely to oppose their implementation. Although single-lane roundabouts are common in Indiana, multi-lane roundabouts remain controversial. Regarding work zones, the public preferred partial roadway closures over full closures, a preference that was stronger in rural areas. Public opinion on whether INDOT minimizes construction-related delays was evenly split. Additionally, driver self-perception was skewed, with 76% of respondents believing they were above-average drivers. Perceived average highway speeds were significantly higher than posted speed limits across urban freeways and state highways, indicating a misalignment between driver expectations and regulatory limits. The significance of this research lies in its provision of quantified public opinion data to support INDOT’s implementation of safety and operational improvements. By identifying specific demographic groups with lower awareness or higher opposition, INDOT can tailor public outreach efforts to address misconceptions about emerging treatments like RCUTs and DDIs. The findings also highlight the need for improved communication regarding work zone management and speed enforcement, as public perception of delays and speed norms diverges from agency goals and actual conditions. This data enables more effective public engagement strategies to facilitate the adoption of proven traffic engineering solutions.

Key finding

Public awareness of emerging traffic engineering treatments is low with prominent opposition, older drivers are more likely to oppose these treatments, and perceived average highway speeds are considerably higher than posted speed limits.

Methodology

survey

Sample size: 1000

Provenance

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Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-10; verification: verified.

Topics

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• perceptual countermeasures
• rail grade crossings

Information type

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• Applied Guidance: countermeasure evaluation
• Empirical Findings: observational prevalence, self report data