PMSS Project Details

Project ID:	FHWA-PROJ-10-0019
Project Name:	Traffic Analysis and Simulation Pooled Fund Study--Task 2: Guidance on the Level of Effort Required to Conduct Traffic Analysis
Status:	Completed
Contact:	Last Name: VanGorder First Name: Randy Telephone: 202-493-3266 E-mail: randall.vangorder@dot.gov
Organization:	Federal Highway Administration - Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC)
Office:	Office of Operations Research and Development
Team:	Trans Ops Concepts and Analysis Team
Roadmap/Focus area(s):	Not Applicable
Project Findings:	Data not yet available
Project Description:	This study will develop guidance/templates for State and local agencies and consultants by demonstrating, through case studies and/or examples, the proper application of traffic modeling and simulation process, from cradle to grave. The templates will display traffic modeling in simulation process information from system monitoring and problem identification through demand forecasting, into design and operational analysis, and into deployment and operations and management resulting from the transportation decision. A boilerplate/template Statement of Work will be developed so that State and local agencies can use it in their Request for Proposals to reflect the required level of effort and resources needed to effectively and efficiently carry out the work. This project will enable agencies to scope projects properly and determine more realistic levels of effort required, leading to better decisions on transportation improvement projects.
Laboratories:	Not Applicable
Start Date:	April 1, 2010
End Date:	February 28, 2012
Funding Amount:	$356,320.00
FHWA Program Name:	Other
Goals:	The key project objective is to develop guidance for analysis/modeling managers to successfully conduct traffic analyses. This guidance will benefit transportation agencies by providing systematic ways to scope and budget for their traffic analysis efforts and review traffic analysis outputs, resulting in better project and program decisions on transportation improvement projects with fewer project delays and cost overruns.
Project Type:	Offsite
Background Information:	In an effort to get the most out of every system, new technologies and policies such as High-Occupancy-Toll (HOT) lanes are being combined with existing approaches like High-Occupancy-Vehicle (HOV) or carpool lanes. Increasingly sophisticated traveler information systems are being deployed, which have a significant impact on travel patterns under both incident and nonincident operational conditions. The capability of existing tools to address some of these new technologies and policies is limited. At the same time, levels of congestion are rising across the networks; an analyst is asked to model and represent tools that may not deal with “gridlock” conditions in an accurate way. Decision-makers are asking an increased amount of complex questions about system improvements. They may ask for an impact assessment that goes beyond a single facility and may span a range of effects beyond delay to travel reliability, environmental, and other impacts. Even “standard” analyses that are considered routine requests have become more complex. Putting into perspective the challenge of meeting the increasing needs of traffic analyses while keeping up with limited budgets, a guide is needed to help tackle different critical areas of those analyses, pinpointing best practices and identifying ways to tailor the level of effort invested to analysis expectations.
Test Methodology:	Microscopic simulation
Other Information:	Data not yet available
Partners:	Federal Highway Administration: Resource Center; Role(s): Technical Alabama Department of Transportation; Role(s): Advisory California Department of Transportation; Role(s): Advisory Colorado Department of Transportation; Role(s): Advisory Florida Department of Transportation; Role(s): Advisory Missouri Department of Transportation; Role(s): Advisory Nevada Department of Transportation; Role(s): Advisory Ohio Department of Transportation; Role(s): Advisory Washington State Department of Transportation; Role(s): Advisory Wisconsin Department of Transportation; Role(s): Advisory
More Information URL(s):
Fieldtest:	Data not yet available
Expected Benefits:	This project will enable agencies to scope projects properly and determine more realistic levels of effort required, leading to better decisions on transportation improvement projects.
Deliverables:	Data not yet available
Related URL(s):
FHWA Topics:	Road Operations and Congestion--Tolling and Pricing Program Road Operations and Congestion--Congestion Mitigation
TRT Terms:	TAS PFS Traffic Analysis Simulation
FHWA Disciplines:	Design Environment Operations Planning Program and Management Analysis
Subject Areas:	Operations and Traffic Management Education and Training Data and Information Technology