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Transport systems are facing an impossible dilemma: satisfy an increasing demand for mobility of people and goods, while decreasing their fossil-energy requirements and preserving the environment. Additionally, transport has an opportunity to evolve in a changing world, with new services, technologies but also new requirements (fast delivery, reliability, improved accessibility).
The subject of traffic is organized into two separate but complementary volumes: Volume 3 on Traffic Management and Volume 4 on Traffic Safety.
Traffic Management, Volume 3 of the 'Research for Innovative Transports' Set, presents a collection of updated papers from the TRA 2014 Conference, highlighting the diversity of research in this field. Theoretical chapters and practical case studies address topics such as cooperative systems, the global approach in modeling, road and railway traffic management, information systems and impact assessment.
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Seitenzahl: 562
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2016
Cover
Title
Copyright
Acknowledgments
Preface
Introduction
I.1. Main findings
I.2. Conclusion
PART 1: Data Collection
1 A Review of Statewide Traffic Data Collection, Processing, Projection and Quality Control
1.1. Introduction
1.2. Current traffic data collection in New Mexico
1.3. NMDOT data processing and reporting
1.4. Traffic data projection and quality control
1.5. Conclusions
1.6. Acknowledgments
1.7. Bibliography
2 SYNCRO – An Innovative Public Procurement of an Advanced Data Gathering System for Interurban Roads Based on its Technologies
2.1. Introduction
2.2. Elaboration of the SYNCRO technical vision: the SYNCRO functional program
2.3. A system to gather road data and to provide the current operational road management center with data
2.4. Impact and potential of the SYNCRO system
2.5. An innovative legal framework to implement three phases of the SYNCRO project
2.6. Conclusion
2.7. Acknowledgments
3 Tailoring a Reference Model for C-ITS Architectures and Using a DATEX II Profile to Communicate Traffic Signal Information
3.1. Introduction
3.2. Architecture of intelligent transport systems
3.3. A generic C-ITS architecture
3.4. A tailored architecture for the use case “Traffic Light Phase Assistant”
3.5. A DATEX II profile to communicate traffic light information
3.6. Summary
3.7. Bibliography
4 Sensor City Mobility: The City of Assen as a “Living Lab” for Smart Mobility Solutions Using Sensor Data
4.1. Introduction
4.2. Architecture, sensor network and technologies used
4.3. Use cases for mobility
4.4. Modeling
4.5. Preliminary results and evaluation of the experiment
4.6. Acknowledgments
4.7. Bibliography
PART 2: Traffic Modeling and Simulation
5 Forecasting Capabilities of a Micro-Simulation Method for Trip Generation
5.1. Introduction
5.2. Methodology
5.3. Results
5.4. Conclusion
5.5. Acknowledgments
5.6. Bibliography
6 Modeling and Solving International Journey Planning Problems
6.1. Introduction
6.2. Defining international itinerary planning problems
6.3. Modeling issues
6.4. Previous related work
6.5. Algorithmic approach
6.6. Concluding remarks
6.7. Acknowledgments
6.8. Bibliography
7 Optimized Intermodal Roundtrips in Transport Networks
7.1. Introduction
7.2. Model description
7.3. Computational applications
7.4. Conclusions
7.5. Bibliography
8 Modeling Traffic Hindrance Caused by Road Construction as Part of a Multicriteria Assessment Framework
8.1. Introduction
8.2. Framework
8.3. Route choice during road works
8.4. Example
8.5. Conclusion
8.6. Acknowledgments
8.7. Bibliography
PART 3: Traffic Management, Monitoring and Routing
9 Behavioral Responses to Traffic Congestion – Findings from Paris, São Paulo and Mumbai
9.1. Introduction
9.2. Methodology
9.3. Results
9.4. Conclusions
9.5. Acknowledgments
9.6. Bibliography
10 Empirical Analysis of Lane Changing Behavior at a Freeway Weaving Section
10.1. Introduction
10.2. Data collection site and technique
10.3. Methodology and definitions
10.4. Results
10.5. Discussion and conclusion
10.6. Bibliography
11 Applying and Testing a New Generation Traffic Management with Multi-objectives
11.1. Introduction
11.2. Definitions
11.3. Literature review
11.4. Methodology
11.5. Application cases and results
11.6. Concluding remarks
11.7. Acknowledgments
11.8. Bibliography
12 ON-TIME: A Framework for Integrated Railway Network Operation Management
12.1. Introduction
12.2. Real-time perturbation management
12.3. Train speed control
12.4. Demonstration and validation approach
12.5. Conclusions
12.6. Acknowledgments
12.7. Bibliography
13 A Multi-Lane Capacity Model Designed for Variable Speed Limit Applications
13.1. Background
13.2. MLC model
13.3. Meso-LWR model and multi-lane capacity model
13.4. Application
13.5. Discussion
13.6. Acknowledgments
13.7. Bibliography
14 Evaluation Parameters of Re-routing Strategy
14.1. Introduction
14.2. Simulation framework
14.3. Determination of the dynamic re-routing start based on traffic flow conditions
14.4. Conclusion
14.5. References
PART 4: Travel Information
15 Pre-Trip Road Information Impact Assessment: A Literature Review
15.1. Introduction
15.2. Pre-trip road information content and broadcasting media
15.3. Determining factors for user choice
15.4. Pre-trip road information impacts
15.5. Conclusions and discussion
15.6. Bibliography
16 Transferability Study on Full-scale Implementation of Real-time Passenger Information
16.1. Introduction
16.2. RTPI testing in Maribor
16.3. Benefits of the RTPI system
16.4. Cost benefit analysis and RTPI system
16.5. Mobility toolbox as transferability tool
16.6. Conclusion
16.7. Acknowledgments
16.8. Bibliography
17 Excess Commuting and Commuting Economy: Peak and Off-Peak Variation in Travel Efficiency Measures
17.1. Introduction
17.2. Excess commuting, commuting economy and off-peak travel
17.3. Data and methods
17.4. Results
17.5. Conclusions and limitations
17.6. Bibliography
18 Deployment of Interoperable Cross-Border Multimodal Traveler Information in Central Europe
18.1. Introduction
18.2. The EDITS concept
18.3. Conclusion
18.4. Bibliography
PART 5: Assessment and Impacts
19 The Impacts of Cooperative Traffic Systems on Safety, Environment and Travel Times: A Literature Survey
19.1. Introduction
19.2. Description of systems and bundles
19.3. Reviewed literature
19.4. Methodology
19.5. Results
19.6. Conclusions and recommendations
19.7. Acknowledgments
19.8. Bibliography
20 The Impact of Navigation Support and Traffic Information on Distance-keeping Behavior
20.1. Introduction
20.2. Methods
20.3. Results
20.4. Discussion
20.5. Bibliography
21 Impact Evaluation of Traffic Performance and Road Safety: A Case Study on an Urban Motorway in France
21.1. Introduction
21.2. The site and the its application
21.3. Evaluation of the impact on traffic
21.4. Road safety implications
21.5. Discussion
21.6. Conclusions
21.7. Bibliography
22 Assessment of the Main New Travel-times Calculation Technologies on Lyon East Ring Road
22.1. Introduction
22.2. The trial site
22.3. Assessed technologies
22.4. Implemented methodology
22.5. Innovative administrative procedure
22.6. Conclusion
22.7. Acknowledgments
22.8. Bibliography
23 Rail Externalities: Assessing the Social Cost of Rail Congestion
23.1. Introduction
23.2. Related literature
23.3. The model and the econometric strategy
23.4. The data set
23.5. Results
23.6. Conclusions
23.7. Acknowledgments
23.8. Bibliography
List of Authors
Index
End User License Agreement
1 A Review of Statewide Traffic Data Collection, Processing, Projection and Quality Control
Table 1.1. Short-count sections by functional class
Table 1.2. Location and type of WIM technology in NM
5 Forecasting Capabilities of a Micro-Simulation Method for Trip Generation
Table 5.1. Sociodemographic evolution of the inhabitants in the perimeter of the 1985 survey between 1985 and 2006 (expansion coefficients taken into account)
Table 5.2. Summary statistics for the distribution of SRMSEs across simulations for each trip purpose and forecasted year
7 Optimized Intermodal Roundtrips in Transport Networks
Table 7.1. Travel cost between the nodes of the network
Table 7.2. Total cost and number of transport modes changes for a one-way journey and roundtrip
Table 7.3. Variants to the origin/destination 1–17
8 Modeling Traffic Hindrance Caused by Road Construction as Part of a Multicriteria Assessment Framework
Table 8.1. Decisions in a maintenance project
9 Behavioral Responses to Traffic Congestion – Findings from Paris, São Paulo and Mumbai
Table 9.1. General data
Table 9.2. Sample characteristics
Table 9.3. The two scenarios
Table 9.4. The 15 behavioral responses and the number of times they occurred
Table 9.5. The frequency of the responses per trip for each region
12 ON-TIME: A Framework for Integrated Railway Network Operation Management
Table 12.1. Comparison of the proposed architecture alternatives for Driver Advisory Systems (DAS)
13 A Multi-Lane Capacity Model Designed for Variable Speed Limit Applications
Table 13.1. Parameters and formulae for the MLC model on a 2-lane section
Table 13.2. Parameters calibrated with real field data
Table 13.3. Parameters with the activation of VSL
Table 13.4. Comparison of simulation results, without and with VSL strategy
14 Evaluation Parameters of Re-routing Strategy
Table 14.1. Implementation of the route choice models and their parameters due to the type of scenarios
Table 14.2. Recommendations for dynamic traffic flow re-routing
15 Pre-Trip Road Information Impact Assessment: A Literature Review
Table 15.1. Frequency of the consultation of CORALY (Lyon urban area traffic information website) [COR 04]
Table 15.2. Benefits sought by travelers when changing travel plans in the Puget Sound region [TSI 05]
Table 15.3. Assessment of pre-trip road information impacts: the absence of changes in travel plans
Table 15.4. Assessment of pre-trip road information impacts: impact on the route choice
Table 15.5. Assessment of pre-trip road information impacts: impact on departure time
Table 15.6. Assessment of pre-trip road information impacts: impact on the mode choice
16 Transferability Study on Full-scale Implementation of Real-time Passenger Information
Table 16.1. Benefits and costs of RTPI system by Welde et al. [WEL 11]
Table 16.2. Foreseen costs of RTPI implementation at 10 bus stops for 10 years period
Table 16.3. Additional costs of RTPI system implementation at one bus stop for 10 years period
Table 16.4. Foreseen costs of RTPI implementation at 83 bus stops for 10 years period
Table 16.5. Foreseen costs of RTPI system full scale implementation for 10 years period
17 Excess Commuting and Commuting Economy: Peak and Off-Peak Variation in Travel Efficiency Measures
Table 17.1. Peak and off-peak travel scales
Table 17.2. Peak and off-peak travel efficiency measures
Table 17.3. Changes in travel ranges for the peak and off-peak period, 1991–2001
Table 17.4. Mean changes in Ce and NCe for the peak and off-peak period, 1991–2001
19 The Impacts of Cooperative Traffic Systems on Safety, Environment and Travel Times: A Literature Survey
Table 19.1. Description of systems and bundles
Table 19.2. Impact assessment results for free traffic flow (given in %)
Table 19.3. Impact assessment results for congested traffic (given in %)
21 Impact Evaluation of Traffic Performance and Road Safety: A Case Study on an Urban Motorway in France
Table 21.1. Calibrated values of the fundamental diagram
Table 21.2. Changes in capacity due to the ITS application
Table 21.3. Changes in free-flow speed (km/h)
Table 21.4. Changes in average speed (km/h)
Table 21.5. Model estimation results for random parameters ordered probit models: crash severity
22 Assessment of the Main New Travel-times Calculation Technologies on Lyon East Ring Road
Table 22.1. Definition of types of traffic
Table 22.2. Assessed technologies on Lyon East ring road
23 Rail Externalities: Assessing the Social Cost of Rail Congestion
Table 23.1. Summary variables
Table 23.2. Regressions results
Table 23.3. Congestion marginal cost
Table 23.4. Robustness test
1 A Review of Statewide Traffic Data Collection, Processing, Projection and Quality Control
Figure 1.1. ATR and AWAC sites in New Mexico. For a color version of this figure, please see www.iste.co.uk/jacob/traffic.zip
2 SYNCRO – An Innovative Public Procurement of an Advanced Data Gathering System for Interurban Roads Based on its Technologies
Figure 2.1. Multiple road data collecting system. For a color version of this figure, please see www.iste.co.uk/jacob/traffic.zip
Figure 2.2. Double functional requirements of the SYNCRO system For a color version of this figure, please see www.iste.co.uk/jacob/traffic.zip
Figure 2.3. Road management center of the Conseil général of Isère. For a color version of this figure, please see www.iste.co.uk/jacob/traffic.zip
Figure 2.4. Three examples of advanced services to road users currently delivered by the Conseil général of Isère. For a color version of this figure, please see www.iste.co.uk/jacob/traffic.zip
Figure 2.5. Organization of the cross-border public procurement of ITS System in the SYNCRO project
3 Tailoring a Reference Model for C-ITS Architectures and Using a DATEX II Profile to Communicate Traffic Signal Information
Figure 3.1. The ITS pyramid. For a color version of this figure, please see www.iste.co.uk/jacob/traffic.zip
Figure 3.2. A generic ITS model. For a color version of this figure, please see www.iste.co.uk/jacob/traffic.zip
Figure 3.3. Traffic light phase assistant via service provider. For a color version of this figure, please see www.iste.co.uk/jacob/traffic.zip
Figure 3.4. Three publications for the traffic signal information
Figure 3.5. Stop line points and traffic streams. For a color version of this figure, please see www.iste.co.uk/jacob/traffic.zip
Figure 3.6. Prognosis information. For a color version of this figure, please see www.iste.co.uk/jacob/traffic.zip
4 Sensor City Mobility: The City of Assen as a “Living Lab” for Smart Mobility Solutions Using Sensor Data
Figure 4.1. Sensor City mobility architecture
Figure 4.2. Sensor City network and sensors. For a color version of this figure, please see www.iste.co.uk/jacob/traffic.zip
Figure 4.3. Location plot of travel alert users. For a color version of this figure, please see www.iste.co.uk/jacob/traffic.zip
6 Modeling and Solving International Journey Planning Problems
Figure 6.1. International and national layers of the transportation network under study. For a color version of this figure, please see www.iste.co.uk/jacob/traffic.zip
Figure 6.2. Hierarchical structure of the international transportation network under study. For a color version of this figure, please see www.iste.co.uk/jacob/traffic.zip
Figure 6.3. The two-phase solution approach dealing with the international itinerary planning problems
7 Optimized Intermodal Roundtrips in Transport Networks
Figure 7.1. Example
Figure 7.2. Case 1: roundtrip
8 Modeling Traffic Hindrance Caused by Road Construction as Part of a Multicriteria Assessment Framework
Figure 8.1. Different solutions of road maintenance work with values for cost and hindrance, both expressed in €. For a color version of the figure, see www.iste.co.uk/jacob/traffic.zip
Figure 8.2. Framework
Figure 8.3. Definitions of local and non-local, road works and no road-works traffic
Figure 8.4. Project area with rerouting options. For a color version of this figure, please see www.iste.co.uk/jacob/traffic.zip
Figure 8.5. Location of the traffic counts. For a color version of this figure, please see www.iste.co.uk/jacob/traffic.zip
9 Behavioral Responses to Traffic Congestion – Findings from Paris, São Paulo and Mumbai
Figure 9.1. Maps of the three metropolitan regions
Figure 9.2. Behavioral thresholds according to the delay in scenario 2 for compulsory trips
10 Empirical Analysis of Lane Changing Behavior at a Freeway Weaving Section
Figure 10.1. a) Aerial view of the site; b) sketch of the site. For a color version of this figure, please see www.iste.co.uk/jacob/traffic.zip
Figure 10.2. Conceptual framework to study lane changing behavior at weaving section
Figure 10.3. Cumulative distributions for lane changes positions for different classes of speed. We consider the lane changes of main road weaving vehicles (black line) and the lane changes of ramp weaving vehicles (gray line)
Figure 10.4. Mean lane changing positions for main road weaving vehicles as a function of the mean lane changing positions for ramp weaving vehicles. The color of the dot gives an indication of the speed of the weaving vehicle at the time of the lane change: the darker the dot, the lower the speed
Figure 10.5. Temporal aggregation of the lane changing positions: the mean temporal lane changing positions and their corresponding confidence intervals at à 5% significance level are represented. The upward-pointing triangles represent the maximum observed lane changing position. The downward-pointing triangles represent the minimum observed lane changing position
Figure 10.6. Cumulative distribution for accepted gaps
11 Applying and Testing a New Generation Traffic Management with Multi-objectives
Figure 11.1. The concept of multi-criteria management explained based on the case study in The Hague
Figure 11.2. Key performance indices with value of time for a color version of the figure, see www.iste.co.uk/jacob/traffic.zip
Figure 11.3. A picture of the Helmond alternative routes
Figure 11.4. Route choice for a given increase of green time
12 ON-TIME: A Framework for Integrated Railway Network Operation Management
Figure 12.1. Project approach as control loop
Figure 12.2. Conflict detection and resolution module as simplified SysML diagram
Figure 12.3. Nested structure of speed control loop
Figure 12.4. Screenshot of the microscopic train simulator HERMES for a part of the East Coast Mainline. For a color version of this figure, please see www.iste.co.uk/jacob/traffic.zip
Figure 12.5. Flexible service-oriented architecture used to demonstrate
13 A Multi-Lane Capacity Model Designed for Variable Speed Limit Applications
Figure 13.1. a) LFD on two-lane motorway, France; b) LFD on three-lane motorway, France. For a color version of this figure, please see www.iste.co.uk/jacob/traffic.zip
Figure 13.2. LFD versus total demand on a two-lane section. For a color version of this figure, please see www.iste.co.uk/jacob/traffic.zip
Figure 13.3. a) Fundamental diagrams on lane 1 and lane 2; b) LFD on a 2-lane section; c) multi-lane capacity model for a 2-lane section. For a color version of this figure, please see www.iste.co.uk/jacob/traffic.zip
Figure 13.4. a) Capacity-drop on 2-lane motorway versus flow percent difference; b) capacity on 2-lane motorway versus flow percent difference and speed on lane 2
Figure 13.5. MLC model with and without VSL a) LFD b) fundamental diagram
Figure 13.6. Fundamental diagram a) in its original version and b) coupled with the multi-lane capacity model
Figure 13.7. Layout of the A31motorway corridor, Thionville (France)
Figure 13.8. Calibration of link 3: a) estimation of the LFD and b) estimation of the fundamental diagram. For a color version of this figure, please see www.iste.co.uk/jacob/traffic.zip
Figure 13.9. Capacity of 2-lane motorway (vph) versus flow percent difference and speed on lane 2: minimum p-drop for a given speed-drop. For a color version of this figure, please see www.iste.co.uk/jacob/traffic.zip
Figure 13.10. Simulation results without and with VSL strategy a) Outflow and b) Travel time. For a color version of this figure, please see www.iste.co.uk/jacob/traffic.zip
14 Evaluation Parameters of Re-routing Strategy
Figure 14.1. Schematic for traffic routes in a simulated road network
Figure 14.2. LOS changes in scenarios rank. For a color version of this figure, please see www.iste.co.uk/jacob/traffic.zip
Figure 14.3. LOS changes depending on the cycle of alternate route calculations. For a color version of this figure, please see www.iste.co.uk/jacob/traffic.zip
Figure 14.4. Schematic for traffic routes in the simulated road network
Figure 14.5. Changes in the average vehicle travel time in the network. For a color version of this figure, please see www.iste.co.uk/jacob/traffic.zip
Figure 14.6. Traffic flow phase diagrams
Figure 14.7. Determination schematic for use condition for dynamic traffic flow re-routing. For a color version of this figure, please see www.iste.co.uk/jacob/traffic.zip
Figure 14.8. ANOVA analysis graphs. For a color version of this figure, please see www.iste.co.uk/jacob/traffic.zip
Figure 14.9. Simulation area
Figure 14.10. Speed–time–distance graphs of all modeled strategies. For a color version of this figure, please see www.iste.co.uk/jacob/traffic.zip
Figure 14.11. Quantitative analysis of microsimulation’s results
16 Transferability Study on Full-scale Implementation of Real-time Passenger Information
Figure 16.1. Architecture of the test RTPI system in Maribor
Figure 16.2. Mobility Toolbox concept [ATA 13]
17 Excess Commuting and Commuting Economy: Peak and Off-Peak Variation in Travel Efficiency Measures
Figure 17.1. Schematic of hypothetical city-regions. For a color version of this figure, please see www.iste.co.uk/jacob/traffic.zip
18 Deployment of Interoperable Cross-Border Multimodal Traveler Information in Central Europe
Figure 18.1. Countries involved
Figure 18.2. The EDITS MTI service
Figure 18.3. The EDITS concept
Figure 18.4. Not the goal: a centralized system and central MTI service
Figure 18.5. The goal: a decentralized system enabling regionally operated cross-border MTI services
19 The Impacts of Cooperative Traffic Systems on Safety, Environment and Travel Times: A Literature Survey
Figure 19.1. COBRA methodology overview
Figure 19.2. Methodology of the impact assessment
20 The Impact of Navigation Support and Traffic Information on Distance-keeping Behavior
Figure 20.1. In-vehicle data collection
Figure 20.2. Mean time headway (sec). For a color version of this figure, please see www.iste.co.uk/jacob/traffic.zip
Figure 20.3. Mean SD for time headway (sec). For a color version of this figure, please see www.iste.co.uk/jacob/traffic.zip
Figure 20.4. Mean minimum time headway in DFOTs. For a color version of this figure, please see www.iste.co.uk/jacob/traffic.zip
21 Impact Evaluation of Traffic Performance and Road Safety: A Case Study on an Urban Motorway in France
Figure 21.1. A4–A86 dynamic lane
Figure 21.2. LOS time distribution on weekdays
Figure 21.3. Speed contours during recurrent traffic peaks on the A4
Figure 21.4. Crash type distribution
22 Assessment of the Main New Travel-times Calculation Technologies on Lyon East Ring Road
Figure 22.1. a) Localization of recognition points (green arrow) and inductive loops stations (yellow); b) localization on a map. For a color version of this figure, please see www.iste.co.uk!jacobltraffic.zip
Figure 22.2. Temporal graph of traffic flows and 6 min average speed of N346 road. For a color version of this figure, please see www.iste.co.uk/jacob/traffic.zi
Figure 22.3. “Micropack” SURVISION ANPR
Figure 22.4. Example of travel time graph and matching rate. For a color version of this figure, please see www.iste.co.uk/jacob/traffic.zip
Figure 22.5. Example of travel time graph and reliability indicator. For a color version of this figure, please see www.iste.co.uk/jacob/traffic.zip
Figure 22.6. Definition of relative and mean relative errors of data
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Research for Innovative Transports Set
coordinated by
Bernard Jacob
Volume 3
Edited by
Simon Cohen
George Yannis
First published 2016 in Great Britain and the United States by ISTE Ltd and John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of research or private study, or criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, this publication may only be reproduced, stored or transmitted, in any form or by any means, with the prior permission in writing of the publishers, or in the case of reprographic reproduction in accordance with the terms and licenses issued by the CLA. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside these terms should be sent to the publishers at the undermentioned address:
ISTE Ltd
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www.iste.co.uk
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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USA
www.wiley.com
© ISTE Ltd 2016
The rights of Simon Cohen and George Yannis to be identified as the authors of this work have been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
Library of Congress Control Number: 2016936177
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A CIP record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 978-1-78630-028-7
The European Commission, DG MOVE and RTD, the Conference of European Road Directors (CEDR), the European Road Transport Research Advisory Council (ERTRAC), the European Rail Research Advisory Council (ERRAC) the European technology platform WATERBORNE-TP are acknowledged for their support and active contribution to the Programme Committee of the TRA2014, in charge of reviewing and selecting the papers presented at the conference, which forms the main input of this volume.
The French Institute for science and technology for transport, development and network (Ifsttar) is aknowledged for the successful organisaation organization of the conference TRA2014, in which 600 high quality papers were presented.
Joëlle Labarrère, former secretary of the Programme Committee of TRA2014, and executive assitant of the department COSYS with Ifsttar, is aknowledged for her valuable help to the editors and for this volume making.
The transport sector is very much concerned about environmental adaptation and mitigation issues. Most of these are related to the objective of curbing GHG emission by 20% by 2020, alternative energy and energy savings, sustainable mobility and infrastructures, safety and security, etc. These objectives require the implementation of advanced research work to develop new policies, and to adjust education and industrial innovations.
The theme and slogan of the Transport Research Arena held in Paris (TRA2014) were respectively: “Transport Solutions: From Research to Deployment” and “Innovate Mobility, Mobilise Innovation”. Top researchers and engineers, as well as private and public policy and decision-makers, were mobilized to identify and take the relevant steps to implement innovative solutions in transport. All surface modes were included, including walking and cycling, as well as cross modal aspects.
Policies, technologies and behaviors must be continually adapted to new constraints, such as climate change, the diminishing supply of fossil fuels, the economic crisis, the increased demand for mobility, safety and security, i.e. all the societal issues of the 21st Century. Transport infrastructures and materials, modal share, co-modality, urban planning, public transportation and mobility, safety and security, freight, logistics, ITS, energy and environment issues are the subject of extensive studies, research work and industrial innovations that are reported in this series of books.
This book is a part of a set of six volumes called the Research for Innovative Transports set. This collection presents an update of the latest academic and applied research, case studies, best practices and user perspectives on transport carried out in Europe and worldwide. The presentations made during TRA2014 reflect on them. The TRAs are supported by the European Commission (DG-MOVE and DG-RTD), the Conference of European Road Directors (CEDR) and the modal European platforms, ERRAC (rail), ERTRAC (road), WATERBORNE, and ALICE (freight), and also by the European Construction Technology Platform (ECTP) and the European Transport Research Alliance (ETRA).
The volumes are made up of a selection of the best papers presented at the TRA2014. All papers were peer reviewed before being accepted at the conference, and they were then selected by the editors for the purpose of the present collection. Each volume contains complementary academic and applied inputs provided by highly qualified researchers, experts and professionals from all around the world.
Each volume of the series covers a strategic theme of TRA2014.
Volume 1, Energy and Environment, presents recent research work around the triptych “transports, energy and environment” that demonstrate that vehicle technologies and fuels can still improve, but it is necessary to prepare their implementation (electromobility), think about new services and involve enterprises. Mitigation strategies and policies are examined under different prospective scenarios, to develop and promote alternative fuels and technologies, multi-modality and services, and optimized transport chains while preserving climate and the environment. Evaluation and certification methodologies are key elements for assessing air pollution, noise and vibration from road, rail and maritime transports, and their impacts on the environment. Different depollution technologies and mitigation strategies are also presented.
Volume 2, Towards Innovative Freight and Logistics, analyzes how to optimize freight movements and logistics; it introduces new vehicle concepts, points out the governance and organization issues, and proposes an assessment framework.
Volumes 3 and 4 are complementary books covering the topic of traffic management and safety.
Volume 3, Traffic Management, starts with a survey of data collection processes and policies and then shows how traffic modeling and simulation may resolve major problems. Traffic management, monitoring and routing tools and experience are reported and the role of traffic information is highlighted. Impact assessments are presented.
Volume 4, Traffic Safety, describes the main road safety policies, accident analysis and modeling. Special focus is placed on the safety of vulnerable road users. The roles of infrastructure and ITS in safety are analyzed. Finally railway safety is focused upon.
Volume 5, Materials and Infrastructures, is split into two sub-volumes, investigating geotechnical issues and pavement materials’ characterization, innovative materials, technologies and processes and introducing new techniques and approaches for auscultation and monitoring. Solutions to increase the durability of infrastructures and to improve maintenance and repair are presented, for recycling as well as for ensuring the sustainability of the infrastructures. Specific railways and inland navigation issues are addressed. A focus is put on climate resilient roads.
Volume 6, Urban Mobility and Public Transport, highlights possible innovations in order to improve transports and the quality of life in urban areas. Buses and two-wheelers could be a viable alternative in cities if they are safe and reliable. New methodologies are needed to assess urban mobility through new survey protocols, a better knowledge of user behavior or taking into account the value of travel for public transport. The interactions between urban transport and land planning are a key issue. However, these interactions have to be better assessed in order to propose scenarios for new policies.
Bernard JACOB, Chair of the TRA2014 Programme Committee
Jean-Bernard KOVARIK, Chair of the TRA2014 Management Committee
March 2016
Advances in telecommunications and information technologies are changing the practices used in both everyday life and in professional life. The transport world, sensitive to innovation, does not escape to this movement.
Our daily environment demonstrates successful mutations. New equipment is deployed along the roads or on board vehicles. Variable message signs display real-time travel times. Cameras detect incidents and trigger alerts. Information terminals provide service schedules and waiting times for buses or trains. Other technologies facilitate the management of daily travel, making it more reliable, safer and more comfortable.
These developments highlight various aspects of advanced traffic management as well as transport safety. Behind, there is transport research. Its role is to imagine, assess and support the emergence of new approaches and innovative systems. Multi-disciplinary by essence, transport research is well adapted to deal with these issues. This is the purpose of this volume, resulting from the international TRA2014
Conference, held in Paris in April 2014. The Conference was organized under the sign of the transition from research to deployment in transport solutions.
The topic of traffic is organized into two separate but complementary volumes, Volume 3 on Traffic Management and Volume 4 on Traffic Safety, both presenting a selection of chapters in the aforementioned fields. As a major event on transport in Europe, the Conference covered a broad range of issues linked to Traffic Management and Safety. Naturally, the shortlist presented here does not cover the wide spectrum of these area. It aims to highlight its diversity through a choice of updated papers from the Conference. Selection is primarily based on a quality criterion, taking also into account the geographical diversity of papers in order to restore the originality and richness of the current research.
The selected 23 chapters included in this volume on traffic management demonstrate how technological innovations as well as new methodologies applied to traffic management can modify usual practices, and offer efficient solutions to the ongoing challenges of increasing congestion, environmental issues and economical constraints. Both theoretical papers and practical case studies explore topics such as data collection, modelling, traffic operations, information and assessment.
The quality of traffic management is strongly dependent on the availability of reliable and accurate data. But what are good practices in data collection? Surveys can help to outline the best practices among existing systems and identify possible areas for improvement. How can managers prepare for the evolution towards a new generation of sensors while taking into account the contributions of cooperative systems? These questions concern both the nature of data as well as the system architecture. These are themes discussed during the conference and reported in this volume.
Many lessons are provided to traffic managers from practical case studies. In this regard, the recent concept of living laboratory (living lab), as a large-scale sensor network, is becoming more and more popular. In the last few years, living labs have been expanding. They enable in situ experimentation and stimulate activities in sensor technology, data collection, innovative services and products. In living labs, stakeholders such as public, private, research institutions, industry, and especially users, closely collaborate in an open-innovation process. A large amount of open data become available and enables a better insight into what happens on the network. The involvement of users is increased. Finally, living labs lead to the development of better adapted innovations at a lower cost, for all the different stakeholders.
Traffic modeling is at the heart of planning issues and projects assessment. Several of the innovations illustrated in some papers concern the traditional four steps process. In the field of modeling, the Conference reveals a more important use of comprehensive approaches. The objectives and criteria become multiple and simultaneously concern the issues of efficiency, safety and environmental aspects. Sustainability becomes a key theme. Multimodality issues are discussed frequently. Management becomes integrated and juxtaposes the stages of operation and decision. Several categories are taken into account, such as transport operators, users and institutions.
Different case studies in railway and road traffic management illustrate these trends.
Information tools play a fundamental role in network management. Before a journey, they influence the route choice, the departure times and, to a lesser extent, the modal choice. Traveler information systems are more and more becoming real time, interoperable, multimodal, regional and even transnational.
Assessment should provide answers to the new questions arising. For example, what are the impacts of cooperative systems? What are the comparative performances of classical and innovative systems? How to introduce the social costs of congestion of rail networks and therefore improve cost-benefit analysis? Impact assessment as described in several case studies facilitates the decision of the different stakeholders.
This third volume extracted from the TRA Conference 2014 will interest both the research community and higher education, professionals in the management of road and rail traffic, economic and institutional decision-makers increasingly require new forms of network management. They will find both state of the art of some key issues, chapters on some methods and illustrative case studies.
The presentation of Traffic Management is split into five parts. It begins with data collection, continues with modeling, describes some traffic operations and information systems and ends with evaluation.
Part 1 considers both classic and innovative data collection systems. The reader, especially the traffic manager, will find descriptions of best practices as well as the potential of some advanced technologies. Issues on cooperative ITS architectures are also discussed. The living lab in the Dutch City of Assen shows how it contributes to improve use cases.
In Part 2, researchers will be interested by theoretical innovations in the traditional four steps process: a new approach to trip generation, optimized intermodal roundtrips and an alternative assignment method.
Part 3 deals with traffic operations, congestion monitoring and routing. It will be of particular interest to professionals. Behavioral responses to daily traffic congestion are investigated, showing that marginal adjustments are preferred to alterations. Lane changing behavior is also analyzed under free flow and heavy traffic. Effects of variable speed limits are estimated while various dynamic route guidance algorithms are compared.
Part 4 lists first the influence of pre-trip information systems from a literature review. Concrete experiences of real time passenger information and multimodal traveler information are reported.
Finally, Part 5 focuses mainly on impact assessment. The impact of various cooperative systems on safety, traffic efficiency and environment are reported. The conclusion provides decision support for road authorities on future investments in the field. Performance of classic and innovative technologies for travel time calculation are compared in a pilot. The issue of the social cost of rail congestion is also addressed.
The chapters gathered in this volume provide an insight into research, best practices and transport policies with focus on state-of the-art advances in traffic management. They demonstrate the progress made in the various process of data collection, modelling, management, information and assessment, assisting academics, transport professionals, practitioners and decision makers to a better understanding of the current and future trends. The crucial and increasing role of ITS applications becomes evident and more frequently researchers and practitioners apply a universal approach and interdisciplinary methodologies to address transport related issues, including global approaches in modelling. Furthermore, special focus is given to the sustainability of presented solutions, with an emphasis onto optimized and sustainable traffic management, as well as new concepts such as living labs.
Introduction written by Simon COHEN and George YANNIS.
Three of the most essential metrics of highway system operation are the volume, composition and weight of traffic using the roadway and street network. Agencies need timely and reliable traffic information to perform their varied duties in the areas of planning, design, construction, maintenance and operation of roads. If the collected data are not current and accurate, decisions made by the agency may be delayed or incorrect. This study identifies appropriate measures to ensure that high-quality traffic data are collected, processed, analyzed and reported in an optimal and cost-effective way by the New Mexico Department of Transportation. This is achieved through an in-depth review of the Department’s current procedures, including interviews with individuals, both inside and outside of the agency, who have traffic data responsibilities. A survey of best practices in traffic data collection at the national level, as identified in the technical literature and an examination of programs in selected states was also undertaken.
One of the most essential metrics of highway system operation is the volume of traffic using the roadway and street network. The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) needs timely and reliable traffic volume information to perform its varied duties in the areas of planning, design, construction, maintenance and operation of roads. If volume data collected by the NMDOT and others are not current, the decisions made by the department may be delayed or incorrect.
On the other hand, if the data are current but erroneous, then any decisions made on the basis of faulty data will certainly be wrong. Part of the challenge, however, is that the collection, processing and storage of traffic volume data is decidedly not glamorous and, like all traffic studies, is subject to cutbacks in financial support when department resources are tight.
There can easily be adverse financial consequences for not collecting and maintaining traffic volume data in a manner consistent with recommended practices. To improve the results of other applications of traffic data, the NMDOT foresees a need to: (1) identify inefficiencies, inaccuracies and redundancies in the department’s current practices of data collection, analysis, and forecasting and (2) develop justifiable recommendations for enhancing data collection, quality control and data use.
The State of New Mexico has approximately 68,000 centerline miles of roadway (20). Over 14,000 of these miles are on non-local roads which are monitored by the NMDOT with both short-term volume (coverage) counts and approximately 150 active permanent count locations. The permanent count sites include both Automatic Traffic Recorders (ATRs) recording volume, speed and classification data; 15 Automatic Weight and Classification (AWAC) sites collecting weigh-in-motion data in addition to volume and classification, and 30 ITS/camera sites, primarily in the Albuquerque area. A map of the permanent site locations is shown in Figure 1.1 and a complete listing of the permanent sites may be found in a separate document. The number of active sites may vary slightly due to maintenance and construction schedules as well as down time caused by incidents.
Equipment installed at a typical volume, classification and speed site includes both inductive loops and piezoelectric sensors; the weigh-in-motion sites have either bending plates, piezoelectric sensors or load cells along with inductive loops while the ITS sites have Smart Sensors (microwave) and cameras installed to provide both volume and speed data. For data polling from the ATR and AWAC sites, the NMDOT uses TDP (Peek) and TRADAS software developed by Chaparral Systems for data processing and analysis. Traffic count data is stored in an Oracle database.
Based on the Department’s Consolidated Highway Data Base (CHDB – recently replaced by TIMS – Transportation Information Management System), a total of 14,853 short-count (coverage count) roadway sections have been identified; it appears that these sections were established based not only on ADT (the TMG suggests that homogeneous segments have traffic volumes that remain within ±10%) but also by the lengths of various construction projects, the location of political boundaries, and physical reference points such as interchange or intersection locations. Broken down by functional classification, these sites, along with their roadway mileages, as reported to FHWA for 2009, are shown in Table 1.1.
Counts at locations on these sections, except for the urban local system and minor rural collectors and local roads, are supposed to occur for 48 hours on a three-year cycle for the higher functional classes and on a six-year cycle for the lower functional classes. For example, in preparing the count program for the years 2012, 2013 and 2014, all of the high functional class sections counted in 2011 would be placed on the 2014 count program, 2010 sections would be counted again in 2013, and the remaining sections would be placed on the 2012 program. The traffic technician conducting the count may place the counter anywhere in the section where it is safe to do so. While the department has approximately 120 portable counters, only about 90 are currently being used because of staff shortages.
Figure 1.1.ATR and AWAC sites in New Mexico. For a color version of this figure, please see www.iste.co.uk/jacob/traffic.zip
While the current number of identified short-count roadway sections is adequate given the rural nature of the state, not enough sections in the lower functional classifications (minor arterials, collectors) are actually being counted because of staff and funding shortages. In fact, information from the Data Management Bureau indicates that a total of only 1,597 short-term counts from all agencies were conducted in 2009 and 1,690 in 2010. While these numbers may indicate adequate coverage of the Principal Arterials on a three-year cycle, they show that little coverage was provided to the lower functional classes.
Within the NMDOT, the counter shop at the General Office in Santa Fe conducts the counts statewide. District offices do not provide count data to the General Office although they may conduct specific counts (turning movements, speed, etc.) within their jurisdictions. Although there is no seasonal rule on when short counts are performed, the technicians try to avoid snow plows which tend to tear up the road tubes. Otherwise, counts are performed anytime the technician is in the area.
Table 1.1.Short-count sections by functional class
Functional Classification
No. of Sites
Miles of Rwy.
Urban
Principal Arterial – Interstate
529
156
Principal Arterial – Other Freeways
1
5
Principal Arterial – Other
1,117
706
Minor Arterial
1,111
611
Collector
1,552
1,503
Local System
987
5,012
Total Urban
5,297
7,993
Rural
Principal Arterial – Interstate
966
844
Principal Arterial – Other
298
1,841
Minor Arterial
252
1,953
Major Collector
513
3,882
Minor Collector
598
3,150
Local System
6,929
48,721
Total Rural
9,556
60,391
GRAND TOTAL
14,853
68,384
NMDOT traffic monitoring efforts are also supplemented by MPOs which provide data on many road sections within their jurisdictions. In the Albuquerque metropolitan area, for example, the Mid-Region Council of Governments (MRCOG) collects traffic data for all major state and non-state roads in Bernalillo, Valencia, Torrance, Sandoval and southern Santa Fe counties. MRCOG collects 48-hour data at a location every three years, usually on a Monday or Tuesday. Growth factors are applied to the counts during off-years and classification data from MRCOG is also available. Among the products produced by the MRCOG are annual traffic flow maps. Currently, traffic monitoring activities have not been contracted to any consultants by either the state or the MRCOG.
The ITS Bureau maintains a number of camera and sensor locations in the Albuquerque metropolitan area, primarily along Interstates I-25 and I-40. XML data feeds from sensor locations provide lane by lane count, speed and occupancy information by one-minute intervals. Average speeds and volumes are also computed and a four-bin length-based classification system is collected. The data collected is used primarily for traffic management and emergency response applications and is being archived and shared with MRCOG for Federal reporting and other purposes.
The New Mexico Department of Public Safety (NMDPS) Smart Roadside program uses electronic screening to improve its commercial vehicle enforcement operations. It employs imaging systems for automatic USDOT number and license plate recognition and provides alerts to roadside inspectors for high risk vehicles. Real-time safety information, as well as pass/fail indications for compliance with weight/distance tax requirements and various registration requirements, are gained. Three fixed sites (at the ports of entry at San Jon, Gallup and Anthony) and one mobile reader (in the Albuquerque area) are operational, with an additional seven fixed and two mobile sites planned.
Short-term counts for volume and classification (because of unreliable data, no short-term (portable) WIM data is collected) take place over a 48-hour period of time, while speed data, when required, is ordinarily obtained over a 24-hour period. Turning movement data, typically used by the Districts or by consultants for traffic impact analyses, is collected for a total of nine hours, focused around the AM, Mid-Day and PM peaks. AADTs and AAWDTs, however, are never calculated from turning movement counts.
Equipment failure prior to the completion of the indicated data collection time requires the entire count to be retaken for the entire 48-hour period. Missing values from permanent counters are never estimated; that day’s data is left blank. Seasonal correction factors are calculated from similar functionally classified routes and are applied to all short-term counts. Axle correction factors are calculated from the ATR classification sites and are also applied to all short-term counts.
Vehicle occupancy data is required by 23 CFR 500 Part B. 500.202(e) further states that this data is to be collected on the average number of persons per automobile, light two-axle truck and bus, as appropriate to support the data uses identified in 500.203(a). One of those uses is in transportation management systems, such as those at the MRCOG. Similarly, while speed data can be collected at ATR sites, it is not clear whether/how this information is reported/used.
Currently, the type of sensors that NMDOT are using for their 15 WIM stations are: piezo sensors (Mikros Raktel 8000, all except US 550) and bending plates (IRD 1058, three locations on US 550). In 2011, the bending plates at the three US 550 locations (San Ysidro, Cuba and Bloomfield) will be replaced by PAT plates. Also, the three counters will be replaced at the same time at these three WIM sites. Table 1.2 shows the name, code, location and type of technology of each of the WIM sites.
Table 1.2.Location and type of WIM technology in NM
Site Name
Site Code
County
Road Name
Milepost
Technology
Hatchita
4
Grant
I-10
50.05
Piezo
Logan
100
Quay
US-54
328
Piezo
Gallup
111
McKinley
I-40
10.7
Piezo
Hobbs
202
Lea
US-62/180
84
Piezo
Lemitar
252
Socorro
I-25
158.8
Piezo
Rincon
300
Dona Ana
I-25
37.2
Piezo
Tucumcari
B20
Quay
I-40
340.9
Piezo
Raton
B28
Colfax
I-25
445
Piezo
Roswell
916
Roosevelt
US-70
354.3
Piezo
Vado
74
Dona Ana
I-10
155.6
Piezo
Tularosa
919
Otero
US-70
231.65
Piezo
San Antonio
915
Socorro
US-380
15.7
Piezo
San Ysidro
103
Sandoval
US-550
24.738
Bending Plate
Cuba
102
Sandoval
US-550
71.051
Bending Plate
Bloomfield
155
San Juan
US-550
121.5
Bending Plate
The performance and accuracy of the bending plate sensors is much better than that of the piezo sensors, but they are much more expensive and difficult to install. However, the reliability and accuracy of piezo sensors is good regardless of the surface of the road if calibration is performed often.
The main reasons for inaccuracy in collected WIM data appear to be lack of calibration and the influence of temperature. Changes in temperature produce a bias in the weight measured by the sensor. If the temperature gets lower, the weight measured decreases, and vice-versa. Temperature sensors at all piezo WIM sites could correct the error due to temperature; currently, these stations do not have such a sensor.
Bending plate sensors are calibrated twice a year. Piezo sensors have not been calibrated since 2008, although it is recommended they be calibrated at least once a year. Therefore, some inaccuracy in the weight data collected by piezo WIM sites is not surprising. Calibration is not being carried out more frequently due to budget constraints. There are two new WIM sites that are planned to be installed soon, one on I-25 and one on I-40.
The Long Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) program also has two WIM sites located in New Mexico for specific pavement studies (SPS). These two sections are: 350110, located on I-25 North at M.P. 36.1, and 350500, located on I-10 East at M.P. 50.2. The data at both sites is processed and the corresponding axle load spectra are available in the LTPP database.
In addition to the monthly data submitted to FHWA for truck weight studies and volume trends, Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) data for the previous calendar year is required to be submitted annually to FHWA by June 15. This data is used not only by the DOT for pavement design but is also input at the Federal level for apportionment of highway funding, the development of performance measures, such as crash rates, and summary reports to Congress.
The traffic survey data collected by the NMDOT is broken down into classification, volume and weight categories. Classification data is further divided into annual class summaries and percentages, both overall and by day of the week. Class percentages of monthly average daily traffic (MADT) at all continuous count sites are also provided, as is the overall percentage of traffic statewide at the permanent sites by functional classification. Typical examples for 2009 are shown in a separate document.
Volume information is also broken down into several categories. In addition to annual volume summaries by site which compare AADT, AAWDT and AAWET totals to the previous year, annual day of week, the 500 highest hours and hourly day of week tables are provided. Tables listing day-of-week percentages, a commercial AADT summary and the highest hours by direction are also reported. Typical examples are again provided separately.
WIM data, by lane, direction and for the entire roadway, are provided from each AWAC site for each of the 13 FHWA classifications. “Off Scale” and “Unclassified” data columns are also listed. The tables list number of vehicles, EASLs for both flexible and rigid pavements (calculated by equations provided in the table) and gross vehicle weight.
Tables providing growth factors, axle factors and daily/seasonal factors, all by both site and functional class, are also provided as part of the annual report. Tables of daily vehicle miles of travel (DVMT), by county, NMDOT district and functional class are also provided. Examples of all are included in attachments.
The documents describing New Mexico’s traffic monitoring program appear to be in compliance with both Federal Regulations and the several guidelines and standards available at the national level; in actual practice, however, the state is not. For example, while the number of counts on those roads classified as urban or rural Principal Arterials appears to be adequate, this is not the case on roads of lower functional classification. This is somewhat surprising since the State has been a leader in the development and enhancement of traffic monitoring activities since the late 1980s.
However, like many agencies currently, the traffic monitoring program suffers from a lack of resources, both personnel and equipment, necessary to increase and improve data collection efforts on minor roadways in both urban and rural areas. Additional resources are also necessary to improve data collection activities at weigh-in-motion sites. This critical item could be provided either in-house or through contract personnel.
In order to identify current NMDOT traffic data procedures, policies, practices and qualities, interviews and written surveys were conducted with NMDOT employees and selected individuals from other agencies, both public and private, who collect, process, store or utilize traffic data.
The project technical panel members were asked to recommend a set of individuals who should be interviewed. The recommendations included 26 individuals, including persons from the planning bureau, traffic engineers at headquarters and in the districts, pavement engineers, ITS experts and individuals from three consulting firms, FHWA and MRCOG. Additional interviews were conducted via an email survey of individuals not previously contacted in person. A second round of surveys with a more detailed questionnaire was conducted. The following sections summarize the input the researchers received from all of these efforts.
Question 1 asked if the individual or his/her office collected traffic data. Not surprisingly, all except one reported that they did. Some actually did collect data, others processed the data and still others supervised the data collection.
Question 2 inquired about the types of data collected. The emphasis of the planning bureau was on traffic volume, vehicle classification and weigh-in-motion (WIM). According to the interviewees, the department maintains about 122 permanent count stations, and conducts shorter-term counts with portable counters, principally in the southern part of the state during the late fall, winter and early spring and in the northern part of the state during the remainder of the year. NMDOT has 120 portable traffic volume counters, but is currently using only about 90 due to staffing shortages. The department has 15 permanent weigh-in-motion sites; formerly, the department employed portable WIMs on a 3-year cycle at about 95 sites. The bureau is able to collect speed data, in bins, and believes that it may be required to do so in the future.
The district traffic engineers collect a more diverse traffic data set; in addition to daily traffic volume, they routinely collect manual traffic volume counts, spot speed data and vehicle delay for traffic signal warrants, citizen complaints, speed zoning and lane blockage/lane rental in construction zones. None of the individuals interviewed reported that they conducted travel time studies.
Question 2a asked why the individuals/offices collected the traffic data. Individuals at the planning bureau gave two primary reasons for the data collection: Federal reporting requirements, both monthly and annual, and in support of engineering purposes. The traffic engineers had more varied reasons for their data collection. In addition to concerns expressed by citizens, these engineers must conduct studies to document the need for traffic control devices, as specified in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (22). They reported that data for turning movement volume counts at intersections and short-term counts at other locations are not available from Santa Fe, although these data were more commonly available in the past.
Question 2b addressed the issue of processing the traffic data. Planning indicated that they use the TRAffic DAta System (TRADAS) from Chaparral Systems Corporation for collecting, editing, summarizing and reporting traffic data. The software meets the data processing requirements of AASHTO’s Guidelines for Traffic Data Programs and FHWA’s Traffic Monitoring Guide. Because of the diversity of traffic data collected by the district traffic engineers, their data processing was more varied. For example, the data collected by consultants for traffic impact analyses (TIAs) is processed in accord with the state’s Access Management Manual (23). These studies also make use of ITE’s Trip Generation Manual (24). Except for special circumstances, traffic volume data in the districts are only collected on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. None of the state’s counts are done using traffic cameras. The pavement engineer reported the need for data processing to address future MEPDG requirements.
Question 2c asked who the data are reported to. The planning bureau indicated that a primary use of the data was for making reports to FHWA, although they also respond to requests for data from others within the department as well as consultants and the public. The reporting by the district traffic engineers appears to vary among the districts. For the most part, the data are used by the districts for the purposes for which it was collected, but are rarely, if ever, shared with Planning. As a result, there is no central database that contains all the traffic data collected by the NMDOT, other agencies or consultants.
