Jay Naduvilekunnel

November 2, 2015
ENGR 498: Systems Design
Pitch Proposal
Area of Study: Port Republic Road and Bluestone Drive, Harrisonburg, VA (See Fig. 1a and 1b)
Topic of Concern: Improvement of existing infrastructure for pedestrians and drivers
Why?:
Public safety is at risk, both for pedestrians and drivers [NSPE Code of Ethics, Sec. II,
Part 1].
To better serve public interest [NSPE Code of Ethics, Sec. III, Part 2]
To apply class concepts to generate feasible design solutions (see class syllabus)
To better understand how to present issues to government officials
Problems to be addressed:
Heading east on Port Republic Road, the left turn signal allowing traffic into
campus only stays lit for ten seconds.
o Personally gathered data (collected on a weekday, Saturday, and Sunday)
showed that only two or three cars may pass during this time.
o By contrast, the green light allowing passengers to cross the intersection
on Port Republic Road lasts for 57 seconds.
o Suggestion: Work with the Department of Public Works to analyze the
system and conceive possible resolutions for discrepancies.
Too many instances of pedestrians not waiting for the walk signal when
entering into campus
o Only 26 seconds allowed per signal
o Three out of every eight pedestrians failed to follow the rules at the
crosswalk [based on data collected on a weekday, Saturday (football
game), and Sunday]
May lead to serious injury
o Suggestion: Use the data from the turn signal study to better handle
pedestrian traffic, and figure out ways to better enforce the law.
Of utmost importance, since the intersection is comprised of roads
that handle rather large volumes within Harrisonburg (Port
Republic: minor arterial; Bluestone: minor collector) [See Fig. 2]
There is no bike lane on Port Republic Road, forcing cyclists to either bike on the
road or the sidewalk. (See Fig. 3)
o Explore possibilities for either widening the road or apply urban design
concepts to understand what is necessary to add a bike or shared lane.
Heading west, the sidewalk on the left side of Port Republic Road ends outside
the intersection, which causes many pedestrians to walk towards South Main St.
on private property, or on the curb against automobile traffic. (See Fig. 4)

o Consider adding a sidewalk, or at the very least, improve signage to

instruct pedestrians to walk on the other side of the road.
There is no coin pattern/detectable warning rubber flooring on the curbs at
either side of the crosswalk opposite the X-Labs building. (See Fig. 5)
o May be problematic for the visually impaired who are crossing from that
side.
o Bring this to the attention of the appropriate departments and
conceptualize possible solutions.

Expectations of Group Members:

Good written and oral communication skills
o To build a rapport with local government officials and other professionals
that may be involved in the project
o For all group members to be on the same page
Motivation to complete the project professionally, and in a timely manner
Full participation in team meetings
Focus-driven work ethic
Seeking help and expertise from others (including the professor) when necessary
Why join this project?:
This is a place familiar to all students. Solutions may be better brainstormed from
their perspective since this is a place where they interact on a normal basis.
Outcomes of the project may have lasting results for the general public.
MadE students can prove that their solutions can make a difference on campus.
The project will allow students to build professional relationships within the city
government and foster experiences that add to their list of professional proficiencies.
Figures

Figure 1a: 100-ft view of the intersection to be studied (Source: Google Maps)

Figure 1b: Map of the same system at the same scale (Source: Google Maps)

Figure 2: Map showing functional classifications of roads within the system (Source: VDOT via Google Maps)

Figure 3: No bike lanes exist in either direction on Port Republic Road. (Image source: Google Maps)

Figure 4: Location where curb ends at the intersection (Image source: Google Maps)

Figure 5: Locations of curbs lacking detectable warning rubber flooring (Image source: Google Maps)