CAPACITY EVALUATION OF TWO-LANE, TWO-WAY HIGHWAYS BY SIMULATION MODELING

A tool developed during the last four years, a microscopic Monte Carlo simulation model of a two-lane, two-way highway, was used to evaluate capacity more accurately. The model operates by processing individual vehicles traveling along a two-lane road where grades and no-passing zones can be specified. The performance of passenger vehicles and trucks is modeled in detail. The validity of the model is demonstrated by comparing specific simulated output to published data obtained under similar conditions. The model is applied in a comparison with the analysis procedures given in the Highway Capacity Manual for two-lane, two-way roads. Satisfactory agreement is obtained between the manual operating speed-volume to capacity ratio curve and a similar relation obtained from model runs. Poorer agreement is obtained between the manual truck equivalency factors for two-lane, two-way roads and similar factors derived from model runs. The conclusion is that the manual may overestimate the adverse effects of trucks on steeper grades. This paper should be of interest to practicing engineers because it introduces an important new tool for detailed evaluation of traffic operations on two-lane highways, and it provides evidence that revision is needed in two-lane highway analysis procedure in the Highway Capacity Manual. /Author/

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1976/615/615-005.pdf
• Summary URL:
  http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=CAPACITY+EVALUATION+OF+TWO-LANE%2c+TWO-WAY+HIGHWAYS+BY+SIMULATION+MODELING&author=W.+Stock&author=A.+May&publication_year=1976
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/309025915
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Highway Capacity and Quality of Service. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • Stock, William A
  • May, Adolf D
• Conference:
  • 55th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia, United States
  • Date: 1976-1-19 to 1976-1-23
• Publication Date: 1976

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: pp 20-27
• Monograph Title: Capacity and measurement of effectiveness
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 615
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Evaluation; Highway capacity; Performance; Simulation; Traffic volume; Trucks; Two lane highways; Vehicle performance; Volume
• Uncontrolled Terms: Two way traffic
• Subject Areas: Highways; Motor Carriers; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00162979
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309025915
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Oct 13 1977 12:00AM