Date of Award
December 2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Civil Engineering
First Advisor
Sherif S. Gaweesh
Abstract
Rural highways present distinct operational and safety challenges, often exhibiting higher crash risks than urban networks. In North Dakota, where over 96% of lane miles are rural, the introduction of autonomous vehicles (AVs) is expected to reshape traffic performance. This study evaluates the effects of AV integration on traffic operations and safety at the I-94/I-29 interchange and four adjacent interchanges in Fargo. A calibrated microsimulation model was developed in Vissim using CoEXist AV behavioral profiles across penetration rates from 20% to 100%. Operational performance was evaluated using two-way ANOVA with Tukey’s HSD test, while safety was assessed using the Surrogate Safety Assessment Model (SSAM) and Extreme Value Analysis (EVA). Results showed that aggressive and normal AVs reduced total travel time by up to 44% and average delay by up to 83%. These findings link infrastructure readiness, operational efficiency, and safety benefits, demonstrating the potential of AVs to improve rural freeway performance.
Recommended Citation
Frimpomaah, Rebecca, "Integrating Autonomous Vehicles At Rural Interchanges: Operational Readiness And Safety Insights In North Dakota" (2025). Theses and Dissertations. 8222.
https://commons.und.edu/theses/8222