Highwa的y Planning.docVIP

Highway Planning 6.3 Traffic Studies In the planning process , traffic studies provide information on the fundamental characteristics of flow , the behavior and desirer of drivers , and the traffic capabilities of highway facilities . Characteristics such as volume , classification , size , weight , speed , lateral placement , and auto occupancy are evaluated and hence provide data for planning and programming. Information obtained from a com prehensive survey of an area provide data useful in system selection , route location and design , cost-benefit analysis , justification , and priority determination. A volume count program is important in supplying data for classification , study of demands , programming , economic studies , evaluation of service , design requirements , prediction of future traffic volumes , and expansion of counts from a short period of time to average annual daily traffic. Volumes are subject to hourly , daily , and seasonal fluctuations and to annual trends , but they form a relatively stable pattern , especially in rural areas . This characteristic permits the use of a method of controlled counting which utilizes sampling procedures. The traffic volume count program may be carried out in both rural and urban areas and is of four basic types: Continuous Counts . These are obtained at locations at which is installed an automatic detector or sensor , a recorder , or sometimes a memory device for counting and recording the number of vehicles passing the location each hour or less on a daily basis throughout the year and over a number of years . Locations should be chosen to reflect the effect of different social and economic conditions , geographic location , location with respect to rural , urban , an suburban areas , and traffic volume. Seasonal Counts . These are used for controls in statistical analyses . Counts are made at selected locations using automatic traffic detectors and recorders , usually for seven consecutive days , and r