Safety / Intersection Control Evaluation (ICE)
Data-driven intersection control decisions, from screening through TxDOT approval.
The Right Control for Every Intersection
Choosing the right control for an intersection is one of the most consequential decisions on a roadway project. The choice shapes safety, operations, and cost for decades, so it should be backed by data, not habit.
Gradient Systematics is TxDOT-precertified in Traffic Engineering Studies (Category 7.1.1) and brings proven, hands-on experience with TxDOT's Intersection Control Evaluation process. We have successfully taken an ICE study from initial intersection control analysis through final TxDOT approval (see our featured experience below). We understand what reviewers look for and how to build a study that moves through review efficiently.
We support cities, TxDOT districts, and prime engineering firms with intersection control evaluations, traffic safety studies, and related traffic engineering analysis across Texas.
What Is an Intersection Control Evaluation?
An Intersection Control Evaluation (ICE) is a data-driven, performance-based framework for screening intersection alternatives and identifying the optimal geometric and control solution. Instead of defaulting to a signal or stop sign, an ICE compares a range of alternatives on safety, operations, cost, and impacts, and documents why the recommended option is the right one. Among the viable options, TxDOT directs that the selected control be the one with the highest expected safety performance.
TxDOT has adopted the ICE process to make sure intersection and interchange investments across the Texas highway system are evaluated, selected, and implemented with defensible benefits for safety and congestion relief. The process is scalable: the level of screening and analysis is proportional to the size and complexity of the project, and TxDOT's Traffic and Safety Analysis Procedures (TSAP) Manual sets out the evaluation methods.
What We Provide
Crash History & Safety Diagnosis
Multi-year crash review by severity, collision type, and time of day, with hot-spot mapping that ties crash patterns to specific countermeasures.
Traffic Data & Forecasting
Field counts, truck percentages, and peak-hour profiles, projected to opening, design, and long-range horizon years with planned development and network changes factored in.
Stage 1 Screening
Conventional, innovative, and grade-separated alternatives screened for capacity and pedestrian and bicycle accommodation in FHWA CAP-X, and for predicted crashes in FHWA SPICE.
Stage 2 Operational Analysis
Synchro and SimTraffic modeling of the shortlisted alternatives: delay, level of service, and queue lengths for each peak hour and horizon year.
Freight & Design Vehicle Checks
Design vehicle selection, truck turning paths, and accommodation of oversize/overweight vehicles on freight-heavy, high-speed corridors.
Planning-Level Cost Estimates
Opinion of probable construction cost for each alternative, built from conceptual layouts and recent TxDOT bid item averages.
Safety Benefit-Cost Analysis
Benefit-cost ratios for each alternative using TxDOT's Safety Improvement Index (SII).
Recommendation & Agency Approval
A preferred alternative backed by safety, operations, and cost, documented for TxDOT review and carried through to approval.
Our Approach
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Data and Context
Collect traffic counts and crash history, and account for planned development, freight activity, and future network changes.
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Diagnose the Safety Problem
Identify the crash mechanisms at the site, such as high-speed angle crashes or roadway departures, so every alternative is judged against the real problem.
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Stage 1: Screen Alternatives
Compare a full range of control types for safety, capacity, multimodal accommodation, right-of-way, and driver expectancy, and advance the strongest candidates.
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Stage 2: Detailed Evaluation
Model the shortlisted alternatives in microsimulation across opening and design years, then compare construction cost and safety benefit-cost.
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Recommend and Carry Through
Document a defensible preferred alternative and its next design steps, and support the study through agency review to approval.
Featured ICE Experience
TxDOT ApprovedWe successfully completed an Intersection Control Evaluation for a high-speed rural highway intersection in Texas, from data collection through final TxDOT approval.
The Challenge
A two-way stop-controlled intersection on a high-speed, four-lane divided highway carrying heavy freight traffic. The side road was being widened, planned regional roadways were set to bring significant growth, and the crash history pointed to serious crossing and roadway-departure conflicts.
What We Did
- Field traffic counts and long-range traffic forecasts
- Multi-year crash diagnosis with hot-spot mapping
- Stage 1 screening of conventional and innovative alternatives in CAP-X and SPICE
- Stage 2 Synchro and SimTraffic analysis of the shortlisted alternatives
- Freight design vehicle checks
- Planning-level construction cost estimates
- Safety benefit-cost analysis with TxDOT's SII
The Outcome
We recommended an innovative median U-turn design that outperformed a conventional traffic signal on design-year operations, predicted safety, and benefit-cost value. TxDOT approved the study, giving the project a clear, defensible path into design.
Who We Work With
Cities and Counties
Independent evaluations to support intersection decisions on local and state-system roads.
TxDOT Districts
ICE studies and traffic safety analysis that meet TxDOT's review standards.
Prime Engineering Firms
A dependable subconsultant for the ICE and traffic safety scope on larger roadway and design projects.
Why Gradient Systematics
- TxDOT-approved ICE experience: We've taken an ICE study through the full TxDOT review and approval process.
- TxDOT-precertified: Category 7.1.1 Traffic Engineering Studies, one of 21 TxDOT precertification categories we hold.
- Sealed by a Texas PE: Studies are prepared under the supervision of a Texas-licensed Professional Engineer.
- Safety and operations together: We weigh predicted crash reduction against long-term capacity, so the recommendation holds up in the design year, not just on opening day.
- Built for review: Clear documentation that anticipates reviewer questions and reduces revision cycles.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is an ICE required? +
TxDOT has adopted ICE for intersection and interchange projects on the Texas highway system, and its project submittals now include an ICE check with the ICE documentation attached. The level of effort scales with the project, from a short evaluation for a simple location to a full analysis for a complex corridor. Local agency requirements vary, so we confirm what applies to your project during scoping.
What alternatives does an ICE consider? +
Typically stop control, traffic signals, roundabouts, and alternative intersection designs such as restricted crossing U-turns (RCUTs), median U-turns, continuous green T-intersections, and displaced left-turn intersections. Grade-separated interchanges can be part of the comparison as well. The right set depends on the site.
What tools do you use for an ICE? +
For Stage 1 screening we use FHWA's CAP-X for capacity and multimodal accommodation and FHWA's SPICE for predicted safety performance. For Stage 2 we model the shortlisted alternatives in Synchro and SimTraffic, and we use TxDOT's Safety Improvement Index (SII) for safety benefit-cost analysis.
Can you work as a subconsultant on our project? +
Yes. We regularly support prime engineering firms and can take on the ICE or traffic safety portion of a larger scope.
Do you work outside Texas? +
Our ICE work is focused on Texas. For traffic engineering needs in other states, contact us to discuss your project.
Have an Intersection That Needs an ICE or Safety Study?
Tell us about your project, and we'll follow up with scope, schedule, and next steps.