Stratification of Locally Owned Roads for Traffic Data Collection

In Pennsylvania, there are over 72,000 mi roadways owned by 2,565 municipalities that are not on the Federal-aid system, and are classified as local roads. Currently, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) does not have a systematic approach to monitoring the traffic volumes on this portion of the highway system to produce estimates of vehicle-miles traveled (VMT). Federal guidelines such as the Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) Field Manual and Traffic Monitoring Guide (TMG) are of some benefit but provide the most complete and detailed guidance for higher class facilities. This research project aimed to determine a sampling method to collect the data required to produce VMT estimates on local roads owned by municipalities. The proposed research methodology built upon (1) the guidance contained in the TMG and HPMS Field Manual; (2) the experiences of others as discovered through a survey of state DOTs; (3) and an extensive literature search, to develop a plan specific to the circumstances facing PennDOT. It was designed to be feasible within the resources PennDOT has available to devote to local road monitoring, and to provide a foundation of data upon which VMT estimates could be made at the county level for each urban/rural code. The end result was a plan that contained 7,171 count stations spread proportionally over 152 strata.

• Corporate Authors:

  French Engineering, LLC

  114 Cooler Estate Road
  Smithfield, PA  United States  15478

  Pennsylvania Department of Transportation

  Bureau of Planning and Research
  400 North Street, 6th Floor
  Harrisburg, PA  United States  17120-0064

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • French, Lloyd J
  • French, Millie S
• Publication Date: 2006-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: 37p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cities and towns; Data collection; Guidelines; Literature reviews; Roads; State departments of transportation; Surveys; Traffic counting stations; Traffic data; Traffic volume; Vehicle miles of travel
• Uncontrolled Terms: Local roads; Statewide
• Geographic Terms: Pennsylvania
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01039124
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-PA-2006-009-050210, CE/ST 29
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jan 3 2007 10:26AM