Annual Traffic Volume Report 2012 2013 2014 State of Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities Northern Region STATE OF ALASKA Bill Walker, Governor DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC FACILITIES Marc Luiken Commissioner DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC FACILITIES Northern Region David J. Miller Regional Director Prepared by DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC FACILITIES NORTHERN REGION PLANNING AND SUPPORT SERVICES Judy Chapman Chief of Planning and Support Services Data Preparation by Northern Region Traffic Data Section Scott Vockeroth Randi Motsko Ryan Pierce Hayden Nilson NORTHERN REGION ANNUAL TRAFFIC VOLUME REPORT Volume I 2015 Prepared by State of Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities Northern Region Planning and Support Services In cooperation with U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration TABLE OF CONTENTS PART I Introduction Definitions and Terms Functional Class System PART II State Route Index for Northern Region Road Listings by Route Description PART III Fixed Recorder Index Permanent Traffic Recorder Summaries PART IV Vehicle Classification Summary PART V Vehicle Mile Tables PART I Introduction Introduction The Northern Region Highway Traffic Data and Forecasting Because summer traffic is generally much higher than other section within the Department of Transportation and Public times of the year, the counts are adjusted for weekday and Facilities compiles the region’s Annual Traffic Volume Report. seasonal variations by using one or more associated CCS’s to Engineers, planners, administrators, local governments, and the obtain an estimated Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT). public use the information within this report for work that The calculated AADT then represents the traffic on the specific requires information related to urban planning, construction of traffic link on which the count was taken. new roads, forecasting traffic patterns, and determining possible economic development areas. Traffic classification data is collected throughout the entire year at 19 automated vehicle classifiers (AVC) sites. These The Northern Region encompasses a geographic area of AVC sites classify vehicles by type, based on the axle approximately 370,000 square miles (236 million acres) an arrangement, number of trailers and other vehicle area greater than California, Nevada, and Arizona combined. characteristics. Classification counts are also collected using This area stretches from Barrow to Cantwell and Nome to seasonal classification pneumatic-tubes (hose) counts that are Valdez and includes approximately 65% of Alaska’s land area, placed throughout the region during the months of May, June, 25% of the state’s population and 60% of State maintained July, August and the first part of September if the weather highways. Northern Region maintains and operates permits. approximately 3,500 miles of roads of which 48% are paved, 52% are unpaved, and 70% are on the National Highway Northern Region also has two Weigh-In-Motion (WIM) sites. System. These WIM sites classify all vehicles by the same criteria as the vehicle classification counts, but include the added Traffic volume data is collected throughout the entire year at dimension of axle weights for all commercial size vehicles. approximately 42 continuous counting stations (CCS) sites. WIM data collected at these two sites is not included in this These CCS sites are used to expand seasonal volume report, but can be obtained by contacting DOT&PF pneumatic tube or hose counts, which are referred to as short Headquarters Planning Section. term counts. Short term counts are placed throughout the region during the months of May, June, July, August and the This report provides a summary of all continuous, short term first part of September if the weather permits. and classification data collected throughout the Northern Region from calendar years 2012 through 2014. Definitions and Terms Definitions and Terms Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT): The estimated number Continuous Counting Station (CCS): Traffic volume counting of vehicles traveling over a given road segment during one 24 equipment that automatically counts vehicles passing over hour day. In practice, AADT is usually obtained from a sample detectors, providing a record of those volumes by specific time (short term count) adjusted for seasonality. intervals. These were previously referred to as a Permanent Traffic Recorders (PTRs). Automatic Polling: A method of obtaining data from automatic counters by telephone from a central computer location with Directional Split (D): The split of traffic by direction for a automatic dialing equipment. Automatic counters in the field selected period of time. Typically shown in 50/50 format where must have microprocessor memory and telephone connection. North/East direction is the first number and South/West is the second number. Automatic Vehicle Classifier (AVC): Traffic counting station Design Hourly Volume (DHV): The traffic for a selected hour which automatically counts and classifies vehicles passing over of day, the 30th highest hour of the year. DHV is used for its detectors, providing a record of types of vehicles and determining the design and structure of new roads or to volumes by specific time intervals. improve existing roads. Functional Classification: The process by which streets and Axle-Body Combination: A vehicle description based on the highways are grouped into classes, or systems, according to the configuration of axles, leading and trailing units, and tractor character of service they are intended to provide. body. Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS): The data Axle Correction Factor: The proportion by which a volume reporting system developed by the Federal Highway count based on axles (e.g., from pneumatic tube detectors) is Administration (FHWA) for standardized road inventory, multiplied to obtain an estimate of the number of actual physical condition, and traffic use monitoring by all states. vehicles. The ratio is 1.0 or less, and is derived from vehicle class counts. Interstate Highway: A highway within the principal arterial category that is also designated as part of the Federal Interstate Collector Road: A road classification applicable to roads Highway System. servicing a mixture of local access and through traffic, for which the volume, average speed, and trip length of vehicles K-Factor: The ratio of the 30th highest hourly volume to the using the road are usually lower than for principal or minor AADT from a Continuous Counting Station. arterials, but higher than for local roads. Link: A section of a road for which traffic data is reported. remaining smaller communities, and link the locally important Link termini are located so that the traffic volume is roughly traffic generators with their rural hinterland. constant on a link. Monthly Average Daily Traffic (MADT): The estimated Link Volume: The average number of vehicles passing over a average daily traffic volume for a specific month at a given traffic link in a 24-hour period of time. This is equivalent to the location. It is calculated by averaging the total volumes for Annual Average Daily Traffic. each day of the week then averaging the days of week together Local Roads: Any road (regardless of ownership) that is not Monthly ADT: The estimated average traffic of a continuous classified as any higher type of arterial or collector. Serve counting station for a specific month. This value is calculated primarily to provide access to adjacent land, provide service to by averaging the traffic volumes for the month together. travel over relatively short distances as compared to collectors or other higher systems. Local roads will, of course, constitute Permanent Count: Hourly, directional or non-direction total the rural mileage not classified as part of the principal arterial, traffic volumes collected year-round with Continuous Counting minor arterial, or collector systems. Stations (CCS)’s at established locations. These counts are used to adjust short term counts for seasonal variations to yield Major Arterial Roads: A road serving mostly through AADT’s. movements, but with shorter trip lengths and at lower speeds than principal arterials. Permanent Detector: A vehicle detector that is permanently installed in a roadway, as compared to a portable detector. The Major Collector Roads: Major Collectors provide service to most common permanent detector equipment employs an any county seat not on an arterial route, to the larger towns not inductive loop that senses a vehicle’s presence as a change in directly served by the higher systems, and to other traffic the electrical characteristics of the loop. Piezo electric cables generators of equivalent intra-county importance, such as are used in conjunction with inductive loops to detect and consolidated schools, shipping points, county parks, important sometimes weigh vehicle axles to determine a vehicle’s type mining and agricultural areas, etc. Major Collectors link these (classification) and sometimes weight. places with nearby larger towns or cities, or with routes of higher classification and serve the more important intra-county Pneumatic-Tube (Hose) Detector / Counter: A vehicle- travel corridors. detection device / counter consisting of a pneumatic rubber tube placed across a roadway, and which detects vehicles by Minor Collector Roads: Minor Collectors are spaced at sensing air pressure pulses from the vehicle axles passing over intervals, consistent