Application of Analysis Tools to Evaluate the Travel Impacts of Highway Reconstruction with Emphasis on Microcomputer Applications

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Application of Analysis Tools to Evaluate the Travel Impacts of Highway Reconstruction with Emphasis on Microcomputer Applications US Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Application of Analysis Tools to Evaluate the Travel Impacts of Highway Reconstruction with Emphasis on Microcomputer Applications Publication No. F HWA-ED-89-023 March 1989 NOTICE: This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The United States Government assumes no liability for the contents or use thereof. Technical Report Documontotion Page -- 4. Title ond SubtItle 5. Report Date Application of Analysis Tools to Evaluate the Travel June 1988 Impacts of Highway Reconstruction with Emphasis on 6. Performing Organization Code Microcomputer Applicatidns. 8. Performing Organization Report No. 7. Author's R.A. Krammes, G. L. Ullman, G.B. Dresser, N.R. Davis 9. Performing Organization Name ond Address 10 Work unit No. (TRAIS) Texas Transportation Institute 11.Contract or Grant No. The Texas A&M University System DTFH61-87-C-00118 College Station, TX 77843 13 Type of Report and Period Covered 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address Final Report Office of Planning September 1987 to June 198E Federal Highway Administration U.S. Department of Transportation 14. Sponsoring Agency Cods Washington, DC 20590 . 15. Supplementary Notes FHWA Contracting Officer's Technical Representative: Joyce A. Curtis (HPN-23) The Texas A&M Research Foundation was the contracting organization. 16. Abrtroct The objective of this report is to provide guidance to highway agency officials on the use of available analysis tools to evaluate the travel impacts of major highway reconstruction projects. A process for travel impact evaluation is outlined. Guidelines on the selection of appropriate analysis tools are presented. Specific recommendations are made for three project scenarios (minor capacity reduction, partial closure total closure). Five categories of available analysis tools with potential application to the evaluation process are reviewed: network-based highway and transit planning models, quick-response estimation techniques, highway capacity analysis procedures, traffic simulation models, and traffic optimization models Corridor traffic management planning efforts in five cities (Pittsburgh; Boston, Philadelphia, Detroit, and Minneapolis) are also reviewed. 17. Key Words 18. Distribution Statement Highway Reconstruction, Traffic Manage- Document is available to the U.S. public ment Plans, Traffic Simulation Models, through the National Technical Traffic Assignment, Planning Models, Information Service, Springfield, Quick-Response Estimation, Highway Virginia 22161. Capacity, Signal Optimization I 59. Security Classif. (of this report) 20. Security Classif. (of this page) 21. No. of Pages 22. Price 172 Unclassified I Unclassified I I Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of form and completed page is authorized Application of Analysis Tools to Evaluate the Travel Impacts of Highway Reconstruction with Emphasis on Microcomputer Applications Texas Transportation Institute The Texas A&M University System College Station, TX 77843 June 1988 Final Report Document is available to the U.S. public through the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, Virginia 22161. Prepared for U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Office of Planning Washington, D.C. 20590 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 1. INTRODUCTION 1 Background 1 Scope and Objective 2 Organization and Contents of the Report 8 2. RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT TRAVEL IMPACT EVALUATION PROCESS 9 Inventory the Affected Corridor 12 Identify Traffic-Handling Options 14 Estimate the Capacity of the Reconstruction Zone 16 Compare Corridor-Wide Volume and Capacity 17 Revise Traffic Management Plan 18 Revise Corridor-Wide Capacity Estimates 19 Estimate the Changes in Travel Patterns in the Corridor 19 Estimate Operational and Economic MOEs 23 Finalize Traffic Management Plan 23 3. GUIDELINES ON THE SELECTION OF APPROPRIATE ANALYSIS TOOLS 24 Available Analysis Tools for Reconstruction Project Travel Impact Evaluation 24 General Considerations in Selecting Appropriate Analysis Tools 27 Specific Recommendations for Selected Types of Reconstruction Projects 33 4. SUMMARY 41 APPENDIX A SUMMARIES OF AVAILABLE ANALYSIS TOOLS WITH POTENTIAL APPLICATION TO THE RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT TRAVEL IMPACT EVALUATION PROCESS A-l APPENDIX B DETAILED REVIEWS OF AVAILABLE ANALYSIS TOOLS B-l Network-Based Highway and Transit Planning Models B-2 Quick-Response Estimation Techniques B-8 Highway Capacity Analysis Procedures B-26 Traffic Simulation Models B-32 Traffic Optimization Models B-57 . iii Page APPENDIX C REVIEW OF MAJOR HIGHWAY RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN FIVE CITIES C-l l-376, Penn Lincoln Parkway East, Pittsburgh C-2 l-93, Southeast Expressway, Boston C-9 l-76, Schuylkill Expressway, Philadelphia C-15 US-IO, John C. Lodge Freeway, Detroit C-21 l-394, Minneapolis C-28 APPENDIX D REFERENCES D-1 iv LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1 Flow Chart of Reconstruction Project Travel 10 Impact Evaluation Process 2 Decision Tree for Selecting Analysis Tools for 29 the Travel Impact Evaluation Process C-l Map of Parkway East Reconstruction Project c-3 Corridor in Pittsburgh c-2 Map of the Southeast Expressway Reconstruction C-IO Project Corridor in Boston c-3 Map of the Schuylkill Expressway Reconstruction C-16 Project Corridor in Philadelphia c-4 Map of the Lodge Freeway Reconstruction Project c-22 Corridor in Detroit c-5 Map of the l-394 Reconstruction Project Corridor c-29 in Minneapolis V Table Page 1 Checklist of Tasks in Developing a Corridor 3 Management Program for a Major Highway Reconstruction Project 2 Analysis Tools Reviewed in this Report 5 3 Alternative Ways to Obtain an Origin-Destination 15 Trip Table 4 Improvements on Alternative Highway Routes 20 in the Corridor 5 Improvements in High-Occupancy Vehicle and Public 21 Transportation Services 6 Applications of Available Analysis Tools 25 B-l Some Uses of Freeway Corridor Simulation Models B-41 B-2 Advantages and Disadvantages of Freeway B-45 Corridor Simulation Models B-3 Some Uses of Urban Arterial Network Simulation B-50 Models B-4 Advantages and Disadvantages of Urban Arterial B-53 Network Simulation Models B-5 Some Uses of Freeway Corridor Assignment B-55 Models B-6 Some Uses of Traffic Optimization Models B-59 B-7 Advantages and Disadvantages of Traffic B-61 Optimization Models C-l Planning Information for Lodge Freeway C-24 Reconstruction Project Developed Using Detroit’s Regional Transportation Model 1. INTRODUCTION The United States is facing an extended period in which major highway reconstruction projects will be undertaken in urban areas throughout the country. The problem of reconstructing highways while accommodating the large traffic volumes that use them is a formidable one. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), in recognition of the significance of the problem, sponsored a National Conference on Corridor Traffic Management for Major Highway Reconstruction in 1986. The Conference Proceedings (1) stated: The era of major reconstruction projects is just beginning.Because of the age of much of the urban highway system, and the mounting volume of traffic that major routes must carry, many cities in this country are going to be facing very serious reconstruction problems. The problem is not going to go away; it will be around for many years and must be dealt with. BACKGROUND Roadway space is a scarce resource that must be allocated between the required reconstruction activities and the motorists. Reconstruction activities could be expedited by closing as much of the highway as possible.But in many cases, the rest of the urban transportation network could not accommodate the traffic that would be diverted away from the highway. In planning a major highway reconstruction project, an acceptable balance must be reached between the following objectives: o Maximizing the safety and efficiency of the reconstruction activity o Minimizing the adverse impacts on motorists and affected communities Highway agency officials must be able to estimate the travel impacts of alternative reconstruction and traffic management strategies in order to determine the proper allocation of roadway space. At present, little information exists about appropriate analysis tools to evaluate these impacts. Some states have developed analysis procedures; however, the application of these procedures has been limited, and little guidance exists on their use. A number of successful corridor traffic management plans have been implemented. The lessons learned from these experiences should be shared with officials from other agencies facing the rebuilding of major highway facilities. 1 SCOPE AND OBJECTIVE The objective of this report is to provide guidance to highway agency officials on the use of available analysis tools to evaluate the travel impacts of major highway reconstruction projects. The term “major” is intended to imply that: o The highway being reconstructed carries high traffic volumes o The project will affect an extended length of roadway for a significant period of time o The adverse travel impacts resulting from the project are potentially severe The report provides: o A travel impact evaluation process for major highway reconstruction projects o Guidelines on the selection of appropriate analysis tools o Reviews of available analysis tools which have potential application o Reviews of corridor traffic management planning efforts for five major highway reconstruction projects The scope of this report--the application
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