Investigation of Peak Flow Variations: Preliminary Field Studies

This paper studies peak flow factor (PFF) characteristics through analysis of the peak interval flow rate, the peak hourly volume, and the stability of their dynamic relationship. Despite wide recognition of the importance of the peak hour factor (PHF) in traffic studies, including capacity and level of service evaluation as well as measures of effectiveness analysis of highways and intersections, limited research has focused on PHF characteristics that are affected by variations of traffic conditions during the peak hour. The statistical properties of the PFF are analyzed and its changing patterns are compared at peak time intervals varying from 3 to 20 min. Field data from freeways, signalized intersections, and unsignalized intersections were used in the analysis. Results showed that the PFF became larger with an increase in the peak time interval and remained relatively stable for time intervals of 5 min or more for freeways and 10 min or more for intersections. Reliability tests indicated that the results of the PFF analysis based on field data were highly dependable.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.3141/2130-10
• Summary URL:
  • http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=Investigation+of+Peak+Flow+Variations%3a+Preliminary+Field+Studies&author=P.+Yi&author=J.+Wolfenbarger&author=V.+Raavi&author=L.+Yu&publication_year=2009
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9780309142625
• Supplemental Notes:
  • The title of this paper by the authors is "Investigation of Peak Flow Variations--Preliminary Field Studies".
• Authors:
  • Yi, Ping
  • Wolfenbarger, Jeanne
  • Raavi, Venkata Suresh
  • Yu, Lei
• Publication Date: 2009

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 75-82
• Monograph Title: Highway Capacity and Quality of Service 2009
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board
  • Issue Number: 2130
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Field studies; Freeways; Highway capacity; Level of service; Peak hour traffic; Signalized intersections; Traffic congestion; Traffic flow rate; Traffic volume; Unsignalized intersections
• Uncontrolled Terms: Field data; Peak flow characteristics
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01126695
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 9780309142625
• Report/Paper Numbers: 09-1955
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Apr 17 2009 9:56AM