Turn Penalty files are typically used for two reasons in a highway assignment:

- to prohibit turns
- to add additional delays for specific turn movements

A Turn Penalty file is in the below format:

{Node A} {Node B} {Node C} {set} {penalty}

Where Node A, Node B, Node C are the nodes for that turn; set is which 'set' or 'time period' and penalty is the 'penalty' value. {penalty} can be non-zero, zero or -1 for turn prohibiton. The turn penalty files by default has a *.pen file extension but it could be any other ASCII file as well like *.txt, *.prn, etc. 

There are two ways to create a Turn Penalty File:

- Manually via CUBE GUI
- script using CUBE Voyager, etc.

Below section describes how to create/update a Turn Penalty file using GUI.

For a given CUBE network, open the network, then go to Intersections Tab, then go to Turn Penalty File.

Click on Turn Penalty File and upload the existing turn penalty file or type in the name of a turn penalty file if no file exists. The following prompt will come if a new file name is given. Click OK.

When the file is loaded or created, the Turn Penalties option will be active under Intersections tab. Next, click on any node in the network where you wish to create a turn penalty or update any existing penalty. Then, click on Turn Penalties as below.

A dialog box for that node/intersection will pop-up. To enter new penalties, click on the respective cell in the middle and enter the value. When an individual cell is clicked, the turn movement on the left-side will dynamically change for your reference on which turn that cell belongs to.

E.g., If you click on 1227/1111 cell and enter -1, the turn movement will change as well. See below.

 You can click on 'set' to set turn peanlty values for different sets. Click OK when done.

Close the Network file and it will prompt you to save changes to the turn penalty file. Click Yes/No/Cancel accordingly.