Measuring Congestion Relief Benefits

This project seeks a nationally-consistent method for predicting congestion-relief benefits of proposed transit capacity expansion projects. The performance of best-practice forecasting procedures will be tested in selected case study areas to determine (a) the accuracy with which existing procedures predict current traffic volumes and (b) the reasonableness of forecasts of traffic volumes and highway speeds for a major transit alternative that reduces the number of vehicle trips assigned to the current highway network. In evaluating and rating proposed New Starts projects, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is required to consider mobility improvements, including reduction in highway travel times resulting from a transit improvement. The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has not yet been able to develop methodologies capable of making reliable, nationally-consistent estimates of project-specific benefits related to congestion relief. This research will examine and test existing forecasting methods and identify those suitable for national application. It will identify a nationally-consistent approach to measure the highway travel time savings from transit improvements and produce a final report.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $425000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  MA-26-1018

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Department of Transportation

  Office of the Secretary
  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  Federal Transit Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Project Managers:

  Islam, Nazrul

• Performing Organizations:

  Caliper Corporation

  Newton, MA  United States 
• Principal Investigators:

  Slavin, Howard

• Start Date: 20110900
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 20140600
• Source Data: RiP Project 30015

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Best practices; Highways; Networks; Traffic congestion; Traffic volume; Travel time
• Uncontrolled Terms: Transit capacity; Vehicle trips
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Public Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01465731
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Federal Transit Administration
• Contract Numbers: MA-26-1018
• Files: RIP, USDOT
• Created Date: Jan 3 2013 3:04PM