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    Highway Capacity Manual

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    Hassan Mahmoud
    The Highway Capacity Manual was revised to address changes in travel patterns and new analytical methods. Researchers conducted extensive testing and review over 8 years. The updated 1985 manual provides more flexible, accurate tools to analyze highway capacity and service quality. It allows continuous updates and software tools. Benefits include more consistent, reliable analysis to support improved transportation planning, design and operations.

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    Highway Capacity Manual

    Uploaded by

    Hassan Mahmoud
    984 views2 pages
    The Highway Capacity Manual was revised to address changes in travel patterns and new analytical methods. Researchers conducted extensive testing and review over 8 years. The updated 1985 manual provides more flexible, accurate tools to analyze highway capacity and service quality. It allows continuous updates and software tools. Benefits include more consistent, reliable analysis to support improved transportation planning, design and operations.

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    The Highway Capacity Manual was revised to address changes in travel patterns and new analytical methods. Researchers conducted extensive testing and review over 8 years. The updated 1985 manual provides more flexible, accurate tools to analyze highway capacity and service quality. It allows continuous updates and software tools. Benefits include more consistent, reliable analysis to support improved transportation planning, design and operations.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    984 views2 pages

    Highway Capacity Manual

    Uploaded by

    Hassan Mahmoud
    The Highway Capacity Manual was revised to address changes in travel patterns and new analytical methods. Researchers conducted extensive testing and review over 8 years. The updated 1985 manual provides more flexible, accurate tools to analyze highway capacity and service quality. It allows continuous updates and software tools. Benefits include more consistent, reliable analysis to support improved transportation planning, design and operations.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
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    of 2

    RESEARCH PAYS OFF

    The Highway Capacity Manual


    Development and Application

    Problem highway capacity analysis. The com- the 8 years of development. Each of the
    bined effect of these changes created a 14 chapters of the 500-page manual
    The major problems facing motorists on
    pressing need for a revised manual. went through at least three drafts and
    today's highways are congestion, acci-
    cycles of review and revision, and was
    dents, and costs—too many automo-
    submitted to at least 32—and as many
    biles traveling to the same place at the
    Solution as 200—reviewers. More than 750
    same time; too many automobiles,
    pages of reviewers' comments were
    trucks, buses, bicycles, and pedestrians In the early 1970s the National Coop-
    received. This effort culminated in the
    attempting to use the same space; too erative Highway Research Program
    publication of the third edition of the
    many motorists losing time unneces- (NCHRP) and the Federal Highway
    Highway Capacity Manual by TRB in
    sarily; too many accidents occurring; Administration (FHWA) initiated ma-
    August 1985.
    and too many decisions being made on jor research efforts to study various
    highway improvements without ade- aspects of highway capacity analysis.
    quate analytical tools. Final preparation of the 1985 Highway
    From these problems comes the need Capacity Manual was accomplished Application
    to quantify congestion and highway by the Transportation Training and
    operations in such a way that rational Research Center of the Polytechnic The 1985 Highway Capacity Manual. a
    solutions can be determined. For more Institute of New York with the assis- collection of procedures and method-
    than 35 years, the Highway Capacity tance of the Texas Transportation In- ologies for calculating highway capac-
    Manual has been used extensively for stitute of Texas A&M University. The ity and level of service, neither consti-
    this purpose. However, much has research team performed massive ed- tutes nor attempts to establish legal
    changed in the years since the earlier iting of source materials in order to standards for highway construction. It
    editions were published, regarding both provide a uniform approach, philoso- provides methods for analyzing in ad-
    travel characteristics and improved pro- phy, and style. Some procedures un- vance the quantity of service a highway
    cedures for capacity analyses. Travel derwent additional development, while can provide as well as the quality of
    characteristics have changed because of others were only slightly modified. All that service. In particular, the 1985
    a shifting mix in both the driver and of this work was done under the guid- manual will change the way analysts
    vehicle populations, and also because ance of the Transportation Research consider service quality and will pro-
    operational changes have occurred, Board Committee on Highway Capac- vide greater flexibility in adapting pro-
    such as the 55-mph speed limit and the ity and Quality of Service. cedures to actual conditions. Designed
    right-turn-on-red regulations. Research More than 60 professionals directly for use in planning, design, and opera-
    by many individuals, private organiza- participated in substantive reviews of tional analyses, the manual is particu-
    tions, and public agencies has led to the procedures through the TRB com- larly relevant to the current concerns of
    new understandings and insights, mittee and its several subcommittees. maximizing the utility of existing
    which, in turn, have resulted in proce- More than 30 NCHRP panel and TRB streets and highways.
    dural revisions and new techniques in committee meetings were held during Unlike previous editions, the High-

    26 TR News, March–April 1987


    different countries. Furthermore, people
    with limited technical training will be
    better able to conduct technical analy-
    ses, and will be able to do so even more
    easily with introduction of the new
    software. Finally, in an age in which the
    availability of a recognized set of
    credible procedures is a requirement in
    convincing the courts that acceptable
    techniques are being used, the manual
    has proved to be a valuable tool with
    significant benefits to the highway pro-
    fession.

    To obtain a copy of the 1985 Highway


    way Capacity Manual will be updated Benefits Capacity Manual, published as TRB Special
    continuously on a chapter-by-chapter Report 209, contact the Business Office,
    basis, so that users may benefit from The 1985 Highway Capacity Manual
    Transportation Research Board, 2101 Con-
    the latest research as soon as it is prac- represents the latest approach to making stitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C.
    ticable. To permit this continual updat- major decisions about highway con- 20418 (telephone: 202-334-3218) (price:
    ing, the 1985 manual was published in struction and operational improve- $40.00). The FHWA computer programs
    loose-leaf form. ments. Quantifying the benefits of a can be ordered from the McTrans Center,
    Because of the complexity of some of better approach is practically impossi- 512 Weil Hall, University of Florida,
    the new analysis methods, there was a ble; however, even without looking at Gainesville, Fla. 32611 (telephone: 940-
    numbers, it is clear that, with the most 392-0378) (price: $50.00). Information on
    need for microcomputer software. The
    conservative estimates of savings, an the FHWA training courses can be obtained
    FHWA responded by developing mi- from Dennis Lee, FHWA, HTO-31, 7th and
    crocomputer software to provide an impressive benefit-cost ratio exists for
    D Streets, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590
    official set of programs and greater the research that led to the new manual. (telephone: 202-366-1993).
    uniformity in their application. The Even less quantifiable but equally
    FHWA is also developing a set of important are benefits in the form of
    training materials for use in short consistency, reliability, and recognized Suggestions for "Research Pays Off" ar-
    courses. Many universities have been credibility. With nearly 20,000 copies ticles are welcome. Contact Nancy A.
    using the new Highway Capacity Man- of the publication already in use, deci- Ackerman, Editor, TR News, Transpor-
    sions will not only be better, they will tation Research Board, 2101 Constitu-
    ual since September 1985 in both short
    be more consistent from project to proj- tion Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C.
    courses and undergraduate and graduate 20418 (telephone 202-334-2972).
    curricula. ect, from city to city, and even among

    TR News, March–April 1987 27

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