Passenger Car Equivalents for Heavy Vehicles at Freeways and Multilane Highways: Some Critical Issues

The effect of heavy vehicles on traffic flow historically has been accounted for using passenger car equivalency factors (PCE). This paper examines some issues related to the concept and use of PCE factors for heavy vehicles at freeways and multilane highways, as presented in the Highway Capacity Manual (HCM). Limitations and appropriate use of the current HCM PCE factors are discussed. Based on the findings presented in this paper, HCM PCE factors are shown to be inappropriate for the analysis of queues and congestion. The average weight-to-power figures used in deriving PCE factors for free-flow conditions also are somewhat conservative compared to empirical observations. In addition, it is important to use the queue discharge flow rate as an equivalency criterion in developing PCE factors for use in determining capacity and in analyzing queues and congestion. On the other hand, the equivalency criterion for performance under free-flow conditions should be the same as the performance measures used to assess the quality of service.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/614107147
• Authors:
  • Al-Kaisy, Ahmed
• Publication Date: 2006-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: References;
• Pagination: pp 40-43
• Serial:
  • ITE Journal
  • Volume: 76
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE)
  • ISSN: 0162-8178
  • Serial URL: https://www.ite.org/publications/ite-journal/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Freeways; Heavy vehicles; Highway capacity; Multilane highways; Passenger car equivalence; Performance measurement; Quality of service; Traffic congestion; Traffic flow; Traffic flow rate; Traffic queuing
• Identifier Terms: Highway Capacity Manual
• Uncontrolled Terms: Free flow (Traffic)
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01023315
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Apr 28 2006 8:10AM