AN EXPLANATION OF WHY SYNTHETIC TRANSPORTATION STUDIES WORK (ABRIDGMENT)

Although various validation studies have shown that synthetic urban-transportation-study techniques can achieve acceptable results when compared with conventional traffic assignments and ground counts, two questions have been frequently raised: does this favorable comparison indicate that the trip matrix developed by synthetic procedures reflects actual travel patterns?, and how sensitive is the assignment to the input data? This paper discusses a sensitivity analysis that used data from an urban transportation study in Tyler, Texas to help answer those questions. Four matrices were assigned to the same network and compared--the first three of which were assignment matrices and the last being the existing trip matrix: a stochastic trip matrix constrained only to the number of trips in the study area; a stochastic trip matrix constrained only to the number of trips in the study area; a stochastic trip matrix constrained to total trips, trip-length frequency, and trip ends at each external station; and the fully modeled trip matrix. Analysis of the results from the assignment indicates that, as long as an accurate trip-length frequency is used in generating the trip matrix, the assigned vehicle kilometers of travel will very closely match the counted vehicle kilometers of travel, even when the distribution of zonal trip ends is unrealistic. It was concluded that acceptable assignment results can be expected if the following conditions are satisfied: the correct mean trip length is used, the total number of trips in the study area is correct, and a reasonable approximation of the geographical distribution of trip ends is achieved.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/sr/sr187/sr187-030.pdf
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/0360859X
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appeared in TRB Special Report 187, Transportation Planning for Small and Medium-Sized Communities, Proceedings of a Workshop sponsored by UMTA and FHWA, conducted by TRB, Sarasota, Florida, 3-6 December 1978. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Stover, Vergil G
• Conference:
  • Workshop on Transportation Planning for Small and Medium-Sized Communities
  • Location: Sarasota Florida, United States
  • Date: 1978-12-3 to 1978-12-6
• Publication Date: 1980

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 78-79
• Monograph Title: TRANSPORTATION PLANNING FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED COMMUNITIES. PROCEEDINGS OF A WORKSHOP
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Board Special Report
  • Issue Number: 187
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0360-859X

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Analysis; Forecasting; Traffic; Traffic assignment; Traffic counting; Transportation planning; Travel patterns; Trip distribution; Trip length; Urban transportation; Vehicle miles of travel
• Uncontrolled Terms: Traffic analysis
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00311232
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Jul 22 1981 12:00AM