Travel Demand Modeling for a Small MPO Using TRANSIMS

This paper is focused on developing a travel demand model for a small sized Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) using the Transportation Analysis and Simulation System (TRANSIMS), which is a set of software tools initially developed at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) to analyze transportation systems. It also sought to determine whether TRANSIMS would be able to provide the necessary tools to achieve the functional requirements of travel demand modeling for small sized MPOs using readily available or relatively easily accessible data. Most small MPOs do not have the necessary resources to provide for travel demand modeling in their regions. The initial and maintenance costs of commercially available tools for travel demand modeling are not affordable for most small sized MPOs. As part of this study, a travel demand model was developed for the Champaign Urbana Urbanized Area Transportation Study (CUUATS), a small sized MPO in Illinois using TRANSIMS. The model was calibrated and validated and the results were analyzed. The study documented issues, advantages, and future opportunities for small sized MPOs in developing a travel demand model using TRANSIMS. The outcomes of the study would provide a better understanding of the TRANSIMS tools and would encourage the small sized MPOs to consider TRANSIMS as a viable alternative to other travel demand modeling packages which are commercially available in the market.

• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Ullah, Mohammad Sharif
  • Rahman, Asadur
  • Morocoima-Black, Rita
  • Mohideen, Ahmed
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 90th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2011-1-23 to 2011-1-27
• Date: 2011

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: DVD
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 15p
• Monograph Title: TRB 90th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers DVD

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Metropolitan planning organizations; Regional planning; Small cities; Software; Travel demand
• Identifier Terms: TRANSIMS (Computer model); Transportation Analysis and Simulation System
• Uncontrolled Terms: Transportation systems
• Geographic Terms: Champaign (Illinois); Urbana (Illinois)
• Subject Areas: Planning and Forecasting; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01340192
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 11-1183
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: May 18 2011 11:21AM