Romblon State University
Department of Civil Engineering
Highway and Railway traffic flow characteristics
traffic capacity study
Engineering – CE 2204 parking study
Instructor: Engr. Mary Joy M. Fruelda accident studies
Module 7 Traffic Volume Study
• generally accepted as a true measure of
Traffic Engineering and Traffic Operation the relative importance of roads and in
deciding the priority for improvements
By definition, according to the Institute of Traffic
and expansion
Engineers, USA, "traffic engineering is that
• study used in planning, traffic operation
phase of engineering which deals with planning
and control of existing facilities and also
and geometric design of streets, highways,
for planning and designing new facilities
abutting lands, and with traffic operation
• used in analysis of traffic patterns and
thereon, as their use is related to the safe,
trends
convenient and economic transportation of
person and goods." • classified volume study is useful in
structural design of pavements and
Scope of Traffic Engineering computing roadway capacity
Traffic characteristics • also used in planning one-way streets
Traffic studies and analysis and other regulatory measure
Traffic operation-control regulation • pedestrian traffic volume study is used in
Planning and analysis planning sidewalks, cross walks,
Geometric design subways and pedestrian [Link]
Administration and management data collected from these studies are
then sorted out and presented in these
Traffic Characteristics forms:
o Road User Characteristics - human element ✓ -Annual average daily
in involved in all actions of the road users either traffic or the AADT - helps
as pedestrian, cyclist, driver or motorist. Our in deciding the relative
physical, emotional and mental characteristics importance of a route.
affect our ability to operate a vehicle, or to act ✓ Trend charts showing
as a pedestrian trying to cross an intersection. volume trends over period
of years- useful for
o Vehicular Characteristics - It is important the planning future expansion
vehicle's characteristics must be studied for
these characteristics affect the design and traffic ✓ variation charts showing
performance. The basic criterion of highway hourly, daily and seasonal
engineering is to cater for the needs of existing variations - useful in
and anticipated traffic. It will not be feasible to deciding facilities and
keep on increasing the geometric road regulations needed during
standards just to meet the needs of the vehicles peak periods
with larger weight and bigger dimensions. The ✓ traffic flow maps along the
dimensions to be mainly considered are the routes helpful in finding
overall width, height and length of different traffic volume distribution at
vehicles, particularly the largest ones. Weight is a glance.
also one of the factors to be considered in Speed Studies
designing highways, higher wheel loads put • travel time is a simple measure of
more stress in the pavement, which causes how well a road network operates
settlements and cracks. • spot speed - instantaneous speed of
vehicle at a specified section or location
o Traffic Studies - different studies and • average speed - average spot speeds of
surveys are laid out to analyze the traffic all vehicles passing a given point on the
characteristics. highway
Traffic volume study • running speed - average speed
speed studies - spot speed and speed maintained by a vehicle over a particular
and delay stretch of a road while the vehicle in
origin and destination study motion.
• overall speed or travel speed effective the max. number of vehicle in a lane or road that
speed with which a vehicle traverses a can pass a given point in unit time, usually an
particular route between two terminals, hour
obtained by dividing the total distance o basic capacity - maximum number of
travelled by the total time taken (including passenger cars that can pass a given point on a
all delays) lane or roadway during one hour under the most
nearly ideal roadway and traffic conditions
Origin and Destination Studies which can be possibly attained.
This study is mainly carried out to plan the road o possible capacity - maximum number of
network and other facilities for vehicular traffic vehicles that can pass a given point on a lane
and plan the schedule of different modes of during one hour under prevailing traffic
transportation for the trip demand of commuters. conditions.
These studies are carried out through road-side
interviews, license plate method, return post Traffic capacity can be affected by several
card method, home interview method. The factors like:
various applications of O & D studies are:
• to judge the adequacy of existing routes lane width - as the lane width decreases, the
and to use in planning a new network of capacity also decreases.
roads lateral clearance capacity – also vertical
• to plan transportation system and mass obstructions such as retaining walls, or parked
transit facilities including routes and vehicles near the traffic lane reduce the effective
schedules of operation width of a lane
• to locate expressway along desired lines width of shoulders - narrow shoulders
• establish preferential routes reduce the effective width as the vehicles travel
• to locate terminals and to plan terminal towards the center of the pavement, this
facilities. decreases the capacity or the lane width
• to locate new bridge as per traffic Commercial vehicles - large vehicles like
demands trucks and buses occupy greater space and
influence the other traffic in the same lane as
• locate intermediate stops of public
well as the vehicles along the adjoining lanes.
Transport
Alignment - if the alignment and geometrics
• establish design standards for the road,
are not up to the desired standards, the capacity
bridges, etc.
will decrease.
Presence of intersections at grade - though
Traffic Flow Characteristics and Studies
needed, presence of multiple intersections at
relatively short distance actually decreases the
Traffic stream generally has a flow and the basic
traffic capacity for it restricts the free flow of
traffic maneuvers are - diverging, merging,
passing vehicles in a lane.
crossing, weaving. Crossing traffic is the
greatest problem in case of road intersections at
Parking Studies
level, because vehicles on of the roads have to
The demand by vehicle owners of parking space
stop in order to regulate the flow/stream of
is one of the major problems of highway
vehicles from the other side. The points to be
transportation, especially in the metro. Various
particularly studied in traffic flow are the
aspects are investigated, these are:
transverse and longitudinal distribution of
parking demand - maybe evaluated by
vehicles on various routes.
counting the vehicles going in and out of a
selected area and recording the accumulation of
Traffic Capacity Studies
vehicles during peak hours.
Before studying the details of traffic capacity
parking characteristics - note the present
studies, it is important to know the different
parking practices prevalent in the area under
terminologies used.
consideration.
o traffic volume - number of vehicles moving in
parking space inventory- the are under
a specified direction on a given lane or roadway
study is fully surveyed and a map prepared
during a specified unit of time. Expressed as
showing all places where curb parking and off
vehicles per hour or vehicles per day.
street parking facilities can be provided to meet
o traffic density - number of vehicles
parking demands
occupying a unit length of lane of roadway at a
given instant. usually expressed in vehicles per
kilometer. The highest traffic density will occur
when the vehicles are
practically stand still on a given route
o traffic capacity - the ability of a roadway to
accommodate a traffic volume. Expressed as
Accident Studies trained personnels should be sent to
The various objectives of the accident studies check if traffic rules and regulations
are: are being followed.
• study the causes of accidents and to
suggest corrective measures. C. Education Measures
• evaluate existing designs • education of road users - it is very
• support proposed designs important to educate the road users the
• carry out before and after studies and various precautionary measures to use
to demonstrate the improvements the road way facilities with safety.
• make computations of financial loss Passengers and pedestrians should be
taught the rules of the road, correct
Causes of accidents manner of crossing, etc.,
• the road users • safety drive - conducting traffic safety
• vehicles seminars should be done with the direct
• road conditions supervision of the transport authorities in
• environmental factors - e.g. weather order to further educate road users
defensive driving and correct manners
Measures for Reduction in Accident Rates when using the road.
A. Engineering Measures Traffic Operations
It is necessary to impress the public that the
• Road Design - geometric design of the
rules and regulations imposed are for the
road such as sight distances, width of
interest of the public and for their safety.
pavement, intersection elements, etc.,
are checked and corrected if necessary.
Traffic Regulations
• Preventive maintenance of vehicles -
Traffic regulations and laws cover the following
braking system, steering and lighting
four phases:
etc., are checked regularly
• before and after studies - the record for o driver controls - includes driving licenses for
accidents and their patterns for different light and heavy vehicles, driver tests and
locations are maintained by means of minimum requirements.
collision and condition diagrams. After o vehicle controls - vehicle registration,
making the necessary improvements requirements of vehicles, equipment and
from the previous designs, it is necessary accessories, max dimensions and weight
to collect data again to check the o flow regulations - regulations of traffic flow
effectivity of the improvements done. have been laid down such as directions, turning
• road lighting - proper road lighting can and overtaking, etc.
decrease the rate of accidents during
night, due to poor visibility. Traffic Control Devices
The various aids and devices used to control,
B. Enforcement Measures regulate and guide traffic.
• Speed control - to enable drivers of
buses to develop correct speed habits o Traffic Signs - signs should be backed by law
• traffic control devices - signals may be in order to make them useful and effective.
re-designed or signal system be Signs should be placed such that they could be
introduced if necessary. Similarly proper seen and recognized by users easily and in
traffic control device like signs, markings, time. Traffic signs have been divided into three
etc., may be installed is necessary. categories as used by the LTO.
• training and supervision - transport
authorities should be strict in testing and o Traffic Signal - at intersection where there
issuing license to drivers of public service are a large number of crossing and right-turning
and taxis. Even the drivers who have vehicles, an accident is inevitable if there wont
passed should be strictly monitored. be orderly movements. Thus traffic signals are
• medical check - drivers should be tested created.
for vision and reaction time at prescribed
intervals, say once a year. o Road Markings - markings on the pavement.
• special precautions for commercial These are the current pavement markings used
vehicles - it may be insisted on having a in the Philippines.
conductor or attendant to help and give
proper direction to drivers of heavy • Chevron - markings that are often used to
commercial vehicles. guide traffic into the right turning lanes
• observance of law and regulation - separated by an
island, such as Corner Island at an intersection. Density of Traffic
-number of vehicles in a given length of road
• Rumble Strips - thermoplastic lane markings (veh/km)
designed to aid and provide motorist with visual, 𝑛
𝑘=
audio and motion warnings on the road. 𝑑
Space Mean Speed (𝜇𝑠 )
• Continuity line - when a driver see a continuity -harmonic mean of speeds of vehicle passing a
line on the side, it means that the lane is ending point or highway during an interval of time
or near an exit and the driver must change lane
• Motorcycle Lane - lane alloted for motorcycles
and can be shared by other vehicles. Riders are
not allowed to stay on the other lanes unless
instructed by enforcers. Time Mean Speed (𝜇𝑡 )
- arithmetic mean of vehicle speeds
• Bus Lane - designated lane for buses. Bus
drivers are not allowed to use other lanes except
instructed by enforcers.
• Pavement Arrows - used for lane control and
in white color
• Bike Lanes - lanes provided for bicycle users
• Center Line - crossing of solid white lines Peak Hour Volume (PHV)
requires special care and is discouraged. - sum of 15 min. count whole peak hour
• Double Solid Yellow Lines - crossing or Design Hour Volume (PHV)
overtaking is prohibited - number of interval multiply to max. 15 min.
count
• Single Solid Line - overtaking is prohibited in - number of interval multiply to max. 5 min.
both directions count
• Lane Line - changing of lane is allowed Peak Hour Factor (PHF)
𝑃𝐹𝑉 𝑞
provided that it is safe to do so and will not 𝑃𝐻𝐹 = 𝐷𝐻𝑉 = 𝑞𝑚𝑎𝑥
result to obstruction
Rate of Flow (q)
• Broken Yellow Line - passing is allowed 𝑞 = 𝑘 𝜇𝑠
• Stop Lines - vehicles are required to stop Spacing of Vehicle
before the white line 1𝑘𝑚
𝑠=
•Holding Line - markings consisting of a two 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦
adjacent broken white lines across the
carriageway at which drivers must give way to Traffic Intensity (p)
all traffic in accordance with the standard sign - measure of how busy the system, how
close the system to capacity
•Cat's Eyes - used to guide drivers to traverse in 𝑝=
µ
a line
- arrival rate in veh/hr
•Parking Bay - used to park vehicles, also take µ- service rate veh/hr
note of PWD parking spaces Average Length of Queue (hr/veh or min/veh)
𝑝2
𝑄=
•Yellow Box - consist of yellow box within the 1−𝑝
intersection and yellow diagonal lines forming
an X inside the box. The box should be open Average delay per vehicle (W)
and no vehicles must stay inside the box.
𝑝
𝑄= =
µ(µ − ) µ−
•Transition Lines - used to guide traffic safely
past obstructions on roadways such as islands, Minimum Time Headway (hrs)
1
median strips, bridge piers or indicate changes. 𝑀𝑇𝐻 = 𝑞
Problems:
1. Five vehicles were traversing a 2-km highway
and the following data were taken:
a. Find the density of traffic in vehicles/km.
b. Find the space mean in kph.
c. Compute the time mean speed in kph.
2. The table shows a 15-minute volume counts
during the peak hour on an approach of an
intersection.
a. Determine the Peak Hour Volume (PHV).
b. Compute the Peak Hour Factor (PHF).
c. Find the Design Hourly Volume (DHV) of the
approach.
3. The speed of a car moving on a single lane is
60 kph. If the length of the car is 4.2 m and the
value of the reaction time is 0.7 sec.,
a. Compute the average center to center
spacing of cars in meters.
b. Determine the capacity of the single lane in
vehicles per hour.
c. Compute the average density of traffic in
vehicles per km
4. Vehicles arrive at stop signs at average rate
of 300 per hour. Ave. waiting time at stop sign is
10 s. per vehicle. If both arrivals and departures
are exponentially distributed, what are the
average queue lengths and average delay per
vehicle