Multimodal Arterial LOS Modeling and Testing

The Highway Capacity and Quality and Service Committee has extensively deliberated the multimodal level of service (LOS) models resulting from the recently completed NCHRP 3-70 project, and has tentatively approved the bus, bicycle, and pedestrian models for inclusion in the 2010 Highway Capacity Manual (HCM). A decision by the committee on the automobile LOS model has been postponed until it is presented with feedback from agencies who have applied these models (for testing purposes) in their jurisdictions. Although the multimodal models have been tentatively approved, the committee would also like to obtain real-world testing results from agencies if possible. Given that the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) currently implements multimodal LOS models in its ARTPLAN software (which is widely used throughout the state), it has a strong interest in the NCHRP 3-70 models. Thus, the objective of this project was to perform testing of the NCHRP 3-70 multimodal LOS models in several Florida metropolitan areas. Individuals from the various organizations involved with LOS analysis in these metropolitan areas were recruited to participate in this project. These individuals, with the assistance of the research team, collected data for the test arterials and performed the LOS analyses for the different modes and arterials. Based on the input received from the agency participants, the following recommendations are offered: 1) An integrated multimodal analysis approach is appropriate and desirable; 2) Adopt the NCHRP 3-70 transit LOS model and bicycle and pedestrian segment and intersection LOS models for use in the HCM 2010 and Florida Q/LOS Handbook, with some minor revisions; 3) Do not adopt the bicycle and pedestrian facility LOS models until an LOS threshold scale can be developed that is consistent with the segment and intersection models; 4) Pursue research that will result in the development of a sidepath model; 5) Changing the HCM 2000 auto LOS methodology to incorporate one of the NCHRP 3-70 models (stops or speed) is not recommended; and 6) For analysis consistency across modes, three urban street classes are recommended (with appropriate revisions to the LOS threshold values).