Evaluating the Costs and Benefits of Snow Fences in Illinois: Phase 2

Qi, Yan; Fries, Ryan N.; Saran Baral, Shambhu; Biswas, Pranesh

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/108922 Copy

Description

Title

Evaluating the Costs and Benefits of Snow Fences in Illinois: Phase 2

Author(s)

• Qi, Yan
• Fries, Ryan N.
• Saran Baral, Shambhu
• Biswas, Pranesh

Issue Date

2020-11

Keyword(s)

• Living Snow Fence
• Structural Snow Fence
• Standing Corn Rows
• Survey
• Crash Modification Factor
• Benefit-Cost Analysis

Abstract

Serving as a windbreak, properly sited and designed snow fences have been proven effective in mitigating the negative impacts of blowing snow. To achieve the best snow-control effects, the ideal locations for snow fences are usually outside the roadway right-of-way. Few efforts have been made to examine the economic efficiency of snow fences and explore ways to reward private landowners. The objective of this project was to develop methodologies for evaluation of the costs and benefits of snow fences in Illinois and identify ways to encourage private landowners’ participation in the snow fence program while keeping it cost-effective. The researchers conducted a literature review as well as agency and landowner surveys. They also acquired crash data, snow fence and blowing snow segment inventory data, and blowing snow removal expenditure data as well as performed benefit-cost analyses of three types of snow fences following Federal Highway Administration guides. The survey results suggested that standing corn rows (SCRs) and structural snow fences (SSFs) were the least intrusive options for landowners and living snow fences (LSFs) with trees were the most intrusive. Some concerns related to LSFs could be reduced by allowing landowners to play a role in the design and plant-selection process. The crash data indicated that no fatal and severe crashes occurred at snow fence segments, while several fatal and severe crashes occurred at blowing snow segments during 2012–2016. The results of the benefit-cost analyses showed that the benefit-cost ratios for LSFs and SSFs are comparable. However, LSFs are favorable over SSFs because little maintenance is needed after the plants are mature. Although SCRs have the highest benefit-cost ratio, the need to renew the agency-landowner agreement annually and the alternating of crops planted may limit their snow-control effectiveness and large-scale implementation. A tool was developed using MS Excel to facilitate the benefit-cost analysis of snow fences.

Publisher

Illinois Center for Transportation/Illinois Department of Transportation

Series/Report Name or Number

FHWA-ICT-20-013

ISSN

0197-9191

Type of Resource

text

Language

en

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/108922

DOI

https://doi.org/10.36501/0197-9191/20-020

Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)

IDOT-ICT-191

Copyright and License Information

No restrictions. This document is available through the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161.

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