Transportation Investment Corporation
Port Mann Bridge Traffic Report January, 2014
Executive Summary
This monthly summary report provides an overview of January 2014 traffic on the Port Mann Bridge, with comparisons to the same period in 2013. To provide an accurate year over year comparison, data from the first week of January has been excluded. This week, which falls in the Holiday season, has atypical traffic patterns. The data collection begins on the first “work day” following the holiday period – the day when traffic volumes typically return to normal. In 2014, this was Monday January 6th. For 2013, the post-holiday period began on Monday January 7th.
Traffic modeling and forecasting conducted during the Port Mann/Highway 1 Improvement Project planning indicated that diversion is most likely to occur in the off-peak direction where there is additional capacity on alternate routes. Likewise, the modeling predicted higher volumes on the Port Mann Bridge in the peak direction where time savings are most significant. The traffic pattern changes on the Port Mann Bridge observed to date are consistent with this modeling.
Port Mann Bridge Weekday Traffic Profile The January 2014 traffic data is consistent with this earlier modeling. Weekday volumes are generally consistent with January 2013, while showing some signs of minor diversion. Significant increases in the rush hour periods have been off- set by smaller hourly decreases during the mid-day and overnight periods, resulting in weekday volumes that are within three per cent of volumes seen during the same period last year.
Average Weekday Traffic January 2013 January 2014 % Change Comparisons Daily 98,131 95,147 -3.0%
Peak Period Traffic During peak periods, new capacity on the Port Mann Bridge and Highway 1 and limited capacity on other Fraser River crossings means drivers on the Port Mann will be saving relatively more time, making it a more attractive choice. These significant time savings on the improved Highway 1 corridor have led to higher traffic volumes during the morning and evening rush hours. Westbound morning rush hour volumes are up close to 10 per cent over last year and eastbound evening rush hour volumes are up almost six per cent.
Average Weekday Traffic January 2013 January 2014 % Change Comparisons AM Westbound Peak (6AM-9AM) 11,563 12,653 9.4% PM Eastbound Peak (3PM-6PM) 13,293 14,040 5.6%
Morning Peak Period Occurs Later The significant time savings enjoyed by drivers during the AM peak period means that commuters no longer need to be on the road as early as previously required. As a result, the profile of the rush hour is changing as drivers take advantage of this faster commute. In the mornings, the peak volume is at 7AM, not 6AM as in 2013, as many commuters begin their commutes an hour later.
Off-Peak Period Diversion During off-peak hours (mid-day, overnight and on weekends) when there is additional capacity on other routes, time savings on the Port Mann Bridge aren’t as pronounced. As a result, some drivers are diverting to alternate routes during these times. In January, this off-peak diversion was most noticeable during weekends.
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The variance between weekend volumes in January 2014 and January 2013 is approximately 10 per cent. This is higher than the average weekday variance, but not unanticipated. Traffic volumes are generally lower on all roads and crossings on weekends as fewer drivers commute to and from work. Drivers regularly choose between saving time or money, and with time available on weekends, some drivers choose alternate routes rather than the Port Mann Bridge.
Average Weekend Traffic January 2013 January 2014 % Change Comparisons Daily 76,940 68,767 -10.6%
Truck Traffic Truck volumes on the Port Mann Bridge are generally consistent with last year, with a weekday increase of approximately 4% compared to January 2013.
Even more than general traffic, truck traffic volumes increased during the morning and evening peak periods. Most significantly, this increase is highest in the westbound morning rush when truck traffic was 17% higher in January 2014 than a year ago at the same time. The increase in general traffic for the same time was nearly 10%, showing the high value trucks and businesses place on time savings.
Average Weekday Truck Traffic January 2013 January 2014 % Change (>6m) 11,131 11,552 3.8%
Share of Fraser River Crossings Historically, the Port Mann Bridge has accounted for between 25 and 30 per cent of all Fraser River crossings. In the first month of 2014, its share continues to be in that range.
January 7, 2013 to February 1, 2013 January 6 - 31, 2014 George George Port Mann Pattullo Alex Fraser Massey Port Mann Pattullo Alex Fraser Massey Bridge Bridge Bridge Tunnel Bridge Bridge Bridge Tunnel Weekday Percentage 26.5% 19.8% 30.7% 23.1% 25.6% 21.4% 31.6% 21.5% Weekend Percentage 28.1% 20.5% 28.0% 23.4% 25.1% 22.8% 29.9% 22.2% Daily Percentage 26.9% 20.0% 29.9% 23.2% 25.4% 21.8% 31.1% 21.7%
Total Traffic As anticipated, traffic in January showed significant fluctuation compared to the same period in 2013. Despite this fluctuation, and the associated traffic pattern changes during peak and off-peak times, the total number of crossings between January 2013 and January 2014 was generally consistent, with a difference of 130,000 year over year.
January 2013 January 2014 % Change Total Crossings 2,784,006 2,656,906 -4.6%
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Port Mann Bridge Traffic Profiles - January 2014
Port Mann Bridge Average Weekday Hourly Profile
10,000 8,000 6,000 4,000 2,000 0 Average Hourly Volume Hourly Average 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Hour 2013 Average Total 2014 Average Total
January 2013 January 2014 % Change Average Weekday Traffic 98,131 95,147 -3.0%
Port Mann Bridge Average Hourly Profile - WB AM Peak
5,000
4,000
3,000
2,000
Average Hourly Volume Hourly Average 1,000 5 6 Hour 7 8 9 2013 Average WB 2014 Average WB
January 2013 January 2014 % Change AM Westbound (6AM-9AM) 11,563 12,653 9.4%
Port Mann Bridge Average Hourly Profile - EB PM Peak
6,000
5,000
4,000
3,000
2,000 Average Hourly Volume Hourly Average 14 15 16 17 18 Hour 2013 Average EB 2014 Average EB
January 2013 January 2014 % Change PM Eastbound (3PM-6PM) 13,293 14,040 5.6%
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Port Mann Bridge Average Weekend Hourly Profile 7,000
6,000 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 1,000 Average Hourly Volume Hourly Average 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Hour
2013 Average Total 2014 Average Total
Average Weekend Traffic January 2013 January 2014 % Change Comparisons 76,940 68,767 -10.6%
Port Mann Bridge Average Weekday Truck Profile 1,000
800
600
400
200 Average Hourly Volume Hourly Average 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Hour 2013 Average Total >6m 2014 Average Total >6m
Average Weekday Truck Traffic January 2013 January 2014 % Change (>6m) 11,131 11,552 3.8%
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Port Mann Bridge Daily Traffic and Fraser River Comparisons
Port Mann Bridge 2014 Volume vs. 2013 Volume for January
January, 2013 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 01 120,000
100,000
80,000 106,560
105,198 105,037
104,089 99,276 99,184 99,017 98,971 103,240
102,775 98,161 98,061 97,877 97,806 97,699 102,115
101,975
101,407
96,215
100,587
96,036 100,496
95,791
94,975 94,949
94,445 94,319
94,100
93,587 93,372
92,348
92,207
91,928 91,639
90,730
89,941
89,236
87,977
86,344
60,000 85,871 84,650
83,855
80,843 80,783
75,320
73,190
70,675 70,049
Traffic Data 68,424 68,418
40,000 61,042
56,992
20,000
- 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 January, 2014
Port Mann Bridge 2013 Volume Port Mann Bridge 2014 Volume
Fraser River Crossings - Percent Share Comparison 40%
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10% Percent of Total Crossings Total of Percent 5%
0% 07-Jan-13 08-Jan-13 09-Jan-13 10-Jan-13 11-Jan-13 12-Jan-13 13-Jan-13 14-Jan-13 15-Jan-13 16-Jan-13 17-Jan-13 18-Jan-13 19-Jan-13 20-Jan-13 21-Jan-13 22-Jan-13 23-Jan-13 24-Jan-13 25-Jan-13 26-Jan-13 27-Jan-13 28-Jan-13 29-Jan-13 30-Jan-13 31-Jan-13 06-Jan-14 07-Jan-14 08-Jan-14 09-Jan-14 10-Jan-14 11-Jan-14 12-Jan-14 13-Jan-14 14-Jan-14 15-Jan-14 16-Jan-14 17-Jan-14 18-Jan-14 19-Jan-14 20-Jan-14 21-Jan-14 22-Jan-14 23-Jan-14 24-Jan-14 25-Jan-14 26-Jan-14 27-Jan-14 28-Jan-14 29-Jan-14 30-Jan-14 31-Jan-14 01-Feb-13
Weekend Port Mann Bridge % Pattullo Bridge % Alex Fraser Bridge % George Massey Tunnel %
NOTE: Dashed line indicates estimate due to missing data
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