CE 350 Introduction to Transportation Planning

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CE 350Introduction to Transportation Planning

• TPH Chapter 5
• Transportation Planning Studies

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ObjectiveExplore transportation studies and
methods.
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Basic Approach toTransportation Studies

• Study scope, purpose and goals
• Analyze existing conditions (data collection,
  surveys and analysis)
• Identify problems and needs
• Assess future changes and needs (demographics,
  development)
• Develop and analyze options
• Select preferred options and prepare recommended
  plans

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Illustration of Process
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Principal Planning Studies

• In comprehensive urban area transportation
  considerations
• For major investments
• Along corridors
• For major activity centers
• Traffic impact studies for development
• Traffic access considerations

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Planning Studies
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Comprehensive Planning Process
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Major Investment Studies (MIS)

• Required by ISTEA, the 1990 Clean Air Act, and
  NEPA
• Sec. 450.318 FHWA/FTA Final Rule or Metropolitan
  Planning
• Normal scope
• --problem definition
  --conceptual engineering
• --development of alternatives --capital
  operating costs
• --public involvement program --environmental
  studies
• --analysis
  --social costs

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Corridor Studies

• Similar to MIS
• Typically highway-oriented

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• Typical recommendations
• Street markings, signals
• Revised transit routes, bus lanes
• Street widening, narrowing
• Parking policy and supply plan
• Pedestrian circulation plan
• Implementation and enforcement

• Major Activity Centers
• Multi-disciplined team
• Multi-modal

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Traffic Impact Studies

• Required for most developments
• Shopping centers, office buildings, apartments,
  subdivisions
• Requirements set by local ordinance
• A good guideline is 100 or more peak hour trips
• Must set a horizon year, study area and time
  period

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Information Needed

• Current roadway characteristics
• Characteristics of preferred developments
• Future traffic estimates
• Counts of composite traffic on surrounding roads
• Findings on road system adequacy

• Access plan for the development
• Current traffic and turns
• Estimate of future traffic and turns
• Calculate LOS by movement and time of day
• Principle 1500 cars/hr past a point

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Critical Lane AnalysisA Planning Method

• Conflict Volume Approximate LOS
• 1400 VPH Per Lane D
• 1200-1400 C
• 1000-1200 B
• lt1000 A
• Add maximum conflict movement

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Traffic Access

• What did Dave share with us the other day?
• Show a sketch

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Planning Study Methods

• Inventories
• Roadway classification
• Traffic volumes
• Travel times and speeds
• Capacity
• Travel pattern surveys
• Trip generation

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Inventories - Basic Building Blocks

• Inventories we normally accumulate
• Roadway
• Parking
• Transit
• Roadway classification

By now, you should have a vision of what each of
these might look like.
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Roadway Inventory Components

• Classification and Administration
• Geometric features
• Physical condition
• Traffic control devices

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Parking Inventories

• of spaces
• Ownership of spaces
• Time and hour of operations
• Rates
• Curb use regulations

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Transit Inventories

• Provider description / of vehicles / service
  area
• Route descriptions
• Location and type of interface area
• Park and ride facilities
• Hours of operations
• Fleet size / characteristics

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Roadway Classification

• Jurisdiction
• Function
• Access

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Traffic and Travel Volumes

• Annual traffic annual volume estimate
• Average Daily Traffic (ADT)
• Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT)
• Hourly volume
• Short term counts

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• Density volume cars per hour
  speed miles per hour cars
  per mile
• VMT (AADT)( roadway length)
• Vehicle occupancy people per car (usually about
  1.1)
• Screen line counts (for demand models)
• Cordon counts detailed by mode

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Capacity Studies

• Determine how much supply is needed roads,
  transit, etc.
• Can be multi-modal or single mode
• Number of lanes needed and number of turn lanes
• Can be at different levels of precision

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Precision in Capacity Studies

• Planning level
• Freeway--25,000 AADT per lane is at capacity
• Arterial--10,000 AADT per lane is at capacity
• Critical lane method
• 300 vehicles per left turn lane
• Engineering level
• Highway Capacity Manual
• Transit Capacity Manual

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Modal Studies

• Parking
• Questions that we ask
• Parking needs
• Parking generation
• Transit
• Inventories
• Service coverage
• Passenger counts surveys
• Speed delay studies

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• Pedestrian
• Volumes / speeds / capacity
• Traffic control devices
• Bicycle
• Goods movement
• Truck weight

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CE 350Introduction to Transportation Planning

• TPH Chapter 5
• Transportation Planning Studies