SYSTEM DEMAND-CAPACITY ANALYSIS ON THE INBOUND GULF FREEWAY

THIS REPORT DEALS WITH STUDIES RELATED TO THE SYSTEMS PHASE OF THE LEVEL OF SERVICE PROJECT ON THE GULF FREEWAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. A SERIES OF DETAILED STUDIES WERE MADE TO DETERMINE THE FACTORS INVOLVED IN THE DETERMINATION OF PROBLEM AREAS AND THE INTERRELATIONSHIPS OF THESE FACTORS ARE ANALYZED. THE MAIN OBJECTIVE IS TO ESTABLISH CRITERIA AMENABLE TO OPERATIONAL CONTROLS THAT WILL YIELD OPTIMUM OPERATING CONDITIONS ON THE EXPRESSWAY. THE STUDY PROCEDURE INVOLVED MEASUREMENT OF TRAFFIC FLOW THROUGH PREDETERMINED SUBSYSTEMS OF THE FREEWAY ENVIRONMENT. THE STUDIES WERE DESIGNED TO LOCATE CRITICAL BOTTLENECKS OF THE SYSTEM, ESTIMATE THE CAPACITY FLOW AT EACH AND TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT AND DURATION OF THE EXCESS OF DEMAND OVER CAPACITY. ANALYSES OF THE RESULTING DATA ESTABLISH AREAS AND DURATION OF RESTRICTIONS IN THE SYSTEM. CRITICAL VALUES OF EACH SUBSYSTEM AND THE COMPLETE SYSTEM UNDER STUDY ARE OUTLINED WHICH COULD BE USED AS A BASIS FOR THE DESIGN OF OPERATIONAL CONTROLS INTENDED TO IMPROVE THE LEVEL OF SERVICE AFFORDED BY THE FACILITY. /BPR/

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Hpr 1/4/, BPR-37, NO. 2-8-61-24, OCT64
• Corporate Authors:

  Texas Transportation Institute

  Texas A&M University System, 1600 E Lamar Boulevard
  Arlington, TX  United States  76011

  Texas State Department of Highways & Public Transp

  11th and Brazos Streets
  Austin, TX  United States  78701
• Authors:
  • Wattleworth, J A
• Publication Date: 1964-10

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Control; Design; Freeway operations; Freeways; Highway capacity; Improvements; Level of service; Measurement; Systems analysis; Traffic flow
• Geographic Terms: Houston (Texas)
• Old TRIS Terms: Freeway capacity
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00224792
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Bureau of Public Roads /US
• Files: TRIS, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Oct 1 1994 12:00AM