ARC’s Strategic Thoroughfare Plan

Bridging the Gap from Travel Demand Model to Micro-Simulation

GPA ConferenceFall 2012

Presented By:David Pickworth, PE

The Project

• Arterials are the most challenged facilities in Atlanta

• Competing travel interests• Cohesive planning, operations, and

management

EFFICIENT PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION

Overall Project Goals

• Prioritized arterial roadway network• Develop guidelines on management and

design• Create a Geographic Database• Perform case studies to test concept

designs

Case Studies

• Transportation Assessment for MMCS• 5 Case Study Corridors• Case Studies selected based on differing

developments, area types, and roadway configurations

Case StudiesStrategic Regional Thoroughfare Plan Case Studies

Aviation Blvd./Conley Rd. – Clayton CountyMoreland Ave. – Fulton CountyMemorial Dr. – DeKalb CountyRoswell Rd. (SR 9) – Sandy Springs/RowsellMcDonough Rd. (SR 155) – Henry County

The Problem

Regional

Subarea

CorridorDevelop An Analysis Process That Maintains, And Is Consistent With, The Overall Travel Pattern Relationships Established In The Regional Travel Demand Model Through Several Levels of Analyses

Analysis Provided

Regional

Subarea

Corridor

Regional Travel Patterns

Establish Peak Period Travel Routes (DTA)

Detailed Transportation System Operations During Peak Hours

Highway Transit Pedestrians

The ProcessRegional TravelDemand Model

Application(Daily Trips)

Matrix VariegationProcedure

(Hourly Trips)

Peak Period(AM and PM)

Traffic Assignments

Extract Peak Period(AM and PM)

Subarea Networkand Trip Tables

MatrixEstimationProcedure

(If Required)

Subarea DTAAM and PMPeak Period

Assignments

TrafficCounts

VISSIM ModelNetwork

Development

VISSIM ModelApplication

Extract AM and PMPeak Period

Trip Tables ForCorridor

EvaluationMeasures

Evauation Measures

Study Area (AM & PM Peak Period)Vehicle Miles of Travel (VMT)Vehicle Hours of Travel (VHT)Average Peak Period SpeedsVehicle Hours of Delay

Corridor (AM & PM Peak Hour)Average Speeds Average Vehicle Delay (Seconds)Approach & Intersection Level of Service (LOS)Transit Boardings (Daily)Queue Lengths

By Facility Type

Example StudyArea NetworkRoswell Road (SR9)

Example CorridorNetwork (VISSIM)

N. H

airs

ton

Rd.

N. H

airs

ton

Rd.

INTERSTATE

285INTERSTATE

285

Memorial Drive Corridor

VISSIM Network

Example CorridorNetwork (VISSIM)

Memoria

l Driv

e N. H

airston Raod

Memorial Drive Corridor

Example Roswell Rd. Study AreaDTA Assignment Animation

Roswell Rd. CorridorContinuous Flow Intersection

Concept Animation

Roswell Road (SR 9) atRiverside Road/Azalea Drive

2040 PM Peak HourRTP

2040 PM Peak HourScenario Improvement

(Continuous Flow Intersection)

Conclusion

• Use regional travel demand model• Bridge the gap between different local

agencies for consensus in development strategies

• Using the appropriate tools to “funnel” travel demand down to peak hour microsimulation-level traffic

• More information: www.atlantaregional.com