0504343: TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING

HOMEWORK # 2
Due: Sunday, Apr 19, 2020

Answer the following problems:

Problem 1
Assume you are observing traffic in a single lane of a highway at a specific location. You
measure the average headway and average spacing of passing vehicles as 3.2 seconds and
165 ft., respectively. Calculate the flow, average speed, and density of the traffic stream
in this lane.

Problem 2
Assume you are an observer standing at a point along a three-lane roadway. All vehicles
in lane 1 are travelling at 30 mi/h, all vehicles in lane 2 are travelling at 45 mi/h, and all
vehicles in lane 3 are travelling at 60 mi/h. There is also a constant spacing of 0.5 mile
between vehicles. If you collect spot speed data for all vehicles as they cross your
observation point, for 30 minutes, what will be the time-mean speed and space-mean
speed for this traffic stream?

Problem 3
On a specific westbound section of highway, studies show that the speed-density
relationship is
k
u = u f [1 − ( ) 3.5 ]
kj
It is known that the capacity is 4200 veh/h and the jam density is 210 veh/mi. What is the
space mean speed of the traffic at capacity, and what is the free-flow speed?

Problem 4
A section of highway has a speed-flow relationship of the form

𝑞 = 𝑎𝑢2 + 𝑏𝑢

It is known that at capacity (which is 3100 veh/h) the space-mean speed of traffic is 28
mi/h. Determine the speed when the flow is 1500 veh/h and the free-flow speed.

Problem 5
A section of highway has the following flow-density relationship:

q = 50k – 0.156 k2

If q is in veh/h and k is in veh/mi, what is the capacity of the highway section, the speed
at capacity, and the density when the highway is at one-quarter of its capacity?

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Problem 6
An observer has determined that the time headways between successive vehicles on a
section of highway are exponentially distributed and that 65% of the headways between
vehicles are 9 seconds or greater. If the observer decides to count traffic in 30- second
time intervals, estimate the probability of the observer counting exactly four vehicles in
an interval.

Problem 7
A six lane freeway (three lanes in each direction) currently operates at a maximum LOS
C conditions. The lanes are 11 ft wide, the right side shoulder is 4 ft wide, and there are 2
ramps within 3 miles upstream of the segment midpoint and 1 ramp within 3 miles
downstream of the segment midpoint. The highway is on rolling terrain with 10% heavy
vehicles, and the peak hour factor is 0.90. Determine the hourly volume for these
conditions.

Problem 8
Consider the freeway above. At one point along this freeway there is a 3.5% upgrade
with a directional hourly traffic volume of 5435 vehicles. The heavy vehicle split is 50%
single unit trucks/50% tractor trailer trucks. If all other conditions are as described in
problem 6.1, how long can this grade be without the freeway LOS dropping to F?

Problem 9
A freeway segment currently has four 11-ft wide lanes and a 3-ft right shoulder in the
southbound direction. It is operating in LOS B with a traffic density of 15.6 pc/mi/ln and
a peak-hour factor of 0.85. The freeway is on level terrain with 15% heavy vehicles, and
currently has no on- or off-ramps within a distance of 3 miles upstream and downstream
of the mid-point of the analysis section. New interchanges are to be constructed which
would result in 6 on- and off-ramps within the distance of 3 miles upstream and
downstream of the mid-point of the analysis section and total traffic volume is projected
to double, with the same percentage of heavy vehicles, and the peak-hour factor going to
0.95. What would the new level of service and density be after the interchange
construction and new traffic conditions?

Problem 10
A multilane highway (two lanes in each direction) is on a level terrain. The free-flow
speed has been measured at 45 mi/h. The peak-hour directional traffic flow is 1300
vehicles with 8% heavy vehicles. If the peak-hour factor is 0.85, determine the highway’s
level of service. (Note: No need to adjust free-flow speed if measured in the field).

Problem 11
A six-lane multilane highway (three lanes in each direction) has a peak-hour factor of
0.90, 11-ft lanes with a 4-ft right-side shoulder, and a two-way left-turn lane in the
median. The directional peak-hour traffic flow is 4000 vehicles with 14% SUTs and 6%
TTs. What will the level of service of this highway be on a 4% upgrade that is 1.5 miles
long if the speed limit is 55 mi/h and there are 15 access points per mile?
(Use the table below for finding the required PCE)
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Passenger car equivalency factors for 70% SUT and 30% TT fleet mix

Problem 12
A four lanes undivided multilane highway (two lanes in each direction) has 11-ft lanes
and 5-ft shoulders. At one point along the highway there is a 4% upgrade that is 0.62 mi
long. There are 15 access points along this grade. The peak hour traffic volume is 2340
vehicles, with 10% single-unit trucks and 10% tractor-trailer trucks, and 620 of these
vehicles arrive in the most congested 15 min period. The posted speed limit is 60 mi/h.
To improve the level of service, the local transportation agency is considering reducing
the number of access points by blocking some driveways and rerouting their traffic. How
many of the 15 access points must be blocked to achieve LOS C?

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