Traffic Study Process Manual

Traffic Study Manual – Spack & Ficek

contains three lines. It has five syllables in As a starting point, this is our basic process
Why a Traffic Study the first line, seven syllables in the second for all traffic studies:
Manual? line and five syllables in the third. Go. 1. Document how the existing
This is the manual we wish we had when transportation system is working.
we started doing traffic studies almost Mike’s not going to share the couple of 2. Determine how the transportation
twenty years ago. It details the complete words of his first poem, but here’s his system will work in the future.
process for preparing traffic studies for haiku: 3. Determine how the transportation
new land developments/re‐developments I like chocolate. system will work in the future with
and we guarantee it will shorten your It makes me very happy. the traffic added from the
learning curve. It improves my day. proposed development.
4. Determine what, if any,
We’ll teach you how to: Mike didn’t get anywhere with his first improvements need to be made to
 Conduct a thorough inventory of poem and you can see his haiku isn’t accommodate the traffic in any of
existing conditions. exactly brilliant. Here’s the deal though – those scenarios.
 Prepare traffic forecasts. he could easily follow the prescribed
 Analyze the capacity of roads and structure and create an acceptable haiku. We’ve broken these general four tasks into
intersections. Odds are the haiku exercise was a lot a nine step procedure for preparing traffic
 Determine if roadway or traffic easier than the open ended poetry studies. By following this structure, you’ll
control improvements need to be assignments for you too. be able to efficiently create a sound traffic
made for a proposed development. study. The steps are shown below in
 Write easy to understand traffic We need to be honest with you ‐ this Figure 1 and they’re the topics for each
study reports. manual won’t make you an overnight chapter in this manual.
expert on traffic studies. It will, however,
Quick diversion – take 90 seconds and give you the structure and process for The nine steps are listed in the preferred
write a poem. It can be any length, any creating a basic traffic study, much like order of completion, but we recommend
style, any subject. Go ahead. Time giving you a basic structure for how to you work on many of the steps in a parallel
yourself. Go. write a haiku. You’ll also discover that like process, not a sequential one. On day one,
when writing haikus, the more traffic you could:
Now take another 90 seconds and write a studies you prepare, the better you’ll get.  Do a very quick review of the site
haiku about chocolate. Here’s a quick plan to see if any fatal flaws jump
reminder for you ‐ a haiku is a poem that out at you.

www.SpackAcademy.com 1

 Contact your data collector’s to get manual so you can translate traffic
on their schedule in the next couple engineering‐ese.
Document
of weeks. Assumptions to
Existing
 Contact the reviewing agencies. A list of references is also provided at the Reviewers
Conditions
 Get out to the site for an initial end of the manual. These are resources
review. that have helped us through our careers
and are a suggested reading list to help
We’ve come to understand that you need you further your education.
Prepare Traffic Traffic Data
to get the ball rolling on any items that Forecasts Collection
could end up being sticking points and
delay completing the study on time. You
Bonus Resources
can always make adjustments as you go The precursor task to preparing a traffic
through the study steps in more detail. study is to develop the scope of work and
provide a fee in a proposal. This includes Perform Determine
Capacity Necessary
determining what intersections and future
How to Use This Manual year scenarios should be studied. We Analyses Improvements
First, we recommend you read through the assume you won’t prepare a proposal if
whole manual so you understand what a you’ve never done a study, but just in case,
traffic study involves from start to finish. we provide a free guide at Spack Academy.
After that, you can use this manual as a Perform Micro‐
Site Review
guide, referring to the appropriate chapter We also include a free guide on managing simulations
when you are in different stages of your a traffic study at Spack Academy. You may
traffic study. Also, at the end of each not be a manager now, but think big and
chapter, we’ve included easy‐to‐use you’ll get there. In addition, this guide will
checklists for quick reference. help you work with your boss.
Prepare Traffic
Study Report
We work hard throughout this manual and
on the job to talk in plain English, but you’ll
still need to talk with other traffic
Figure 1 – Traffic Study Process
engineers who love jargon and acronyms.
We provide a glossary at the end of the

About the Authors Engineers and he’s a Fellow of the Institute

of Transportation Engineers. A University of Minnesota graduate, his
work history includes stops at Benshoof &
Mike Spack, PE, PTOE is the A University of Minnesota graduate, his Associates (where he completed his share
founder and president work history includes stops at Bonestroo & of traffic counts), TKDA and at Bonestroo &
of Spack Consulting, Associates, Benshoof & Associates and the Associates. He is an active member of both
Traffic Data Inc, and City of Maple Grove, MN. the Institute of Transportation Engineers
CountingCars.com. and the American Society of Civil
He’s prepared traffic Outside of work, Mike enjoys fishing, Engineers.
studies for projects playing catch with his kids, and cooking
ranging from 5,000 with his wife. He’s always wanted to be Throughout his career, he has been
acres in size down to a able to do back handsprings, but doing a grateful for the opportunity to work on
few townhomes. headstand is probably a more realistic goal memorable projects such as Minnesota’s
Mike’s led more than a as a forty year old. first Diverging Diamond Interchange at Elk
thousand traffic engineering projects in his Run and the reconstruction of the I-35W
career – never missing a deadline or going St. Anthony Bridge. His work has also
over budget. Bryant Ficek, PE, PTOE is the included hundreds of traffic impact
Vice-President of Spack studies, from small single stores to
He’s also behind the industry leading blog Consulting where he’s complex multi-phased mega-
MikeOnTraffic where he writes about responsible for the developments.
traffic analysis, data collection, our quality of all
profession, and projects he finds transportation Outside of work, Bryant enjoys his
interesting. Mike was a municipal traffic consulting projects. He basketball (playing or watching), coloring
engineer before going out on his own, he’s provides traffic with his kids, and running with his wife. He
a past president of the North Central engineering and also hopes to someday be able to play
Section of the Institute of Transportation transportation planning services for public more than one chord on the guitar.
and private clients.

Table of Contents
Why a Traffic Study Manual? _____________________________________________________________________________________________ 1
About the Authors ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 3
Table of Contents _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 4
Assumptions to Reviewers ________________________________________________________________________________________________ 5
Document Existing Conditions ____________________________________________________________________________________________ 10
Traffic Data Collection __________________________________________________________________________________________________ 16
Prepare Traffic Forecasts ________________________________________________________________________________________________ 31
Perform Capacity Analyses ______________________________________________________________________________________________ 40
Determine Necessary Improvements ______________________________________________________________________________________ 46
Determine Whether to Use Simulation _____________________________________________________________________________________ 51
Site Review ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 57
Prepare Documentation _________________________________________________________________________________________________ 63
Thank You So Much! ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ 69
References/Resources __________________________________________________________________________________________________ 70
Acknowledgements ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ 72
Glossary _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 73
APPENDIX – Using ITE’s Trip Generation Manual _____________________________________________________________________________ 79


under the public works or engineering assumptions those studies make. It’s good
Document Existing sections of the website, if it isn’t under the for your study to make assumptions
Conditions planning department. The transportation
Once you have your traffic counts ordered plan is usually a PDF file; save it to your Mike had an especially bad
or internally lined up, you can turn your network or bookmark it for easy access experience with this about ten years
attention to the second task – later. ago. The city’s ordinance
documenting existing conditions. Your conservatively required all
purpose here is to gain an understanding Also, figure out if the city has a policy intersections to operate at Level of
of the area around the proposed related to traffic impact studies. It’s rare Service C or better and all individual
development, both its land uses and traffic in our experience, but some cities do have movements to operate at Level of
operations. This chapter also coordinates explicit policies. They may be detailed Service E or better. He prepared the
with your traffic counts – confirm your enough to give you a full outline for the study based on a less‐conservative,
data collection plan is adequate. study along with what to include in each industry standard ‐ Level of Service D
section and what graphics are required. overall, with individual movements
operating at Level of Service F being
Online Research Sometimes the city’s standards are part of acceptable in some situations. This
In the last five years, government agencies their ordinance and almost all cities have was caught by city staff as part of the
have embraced the internet and are now their ordinances posted. You should scan city’s review of the whole
posting a wealth of information which may through them to see if there is anything development package, which included
be relevant to your traffic study. The first relevant to how closely intersections can Mike’s traffic study. Mike had to
place you should start your online research be spaced or how much vehicle delay is apologize profusely and work through
is at the planning department page of the considered unacceptable. the weekend to make things right
local government (city/town/village) with his client. The end result was
website; this could be done at the same The city’s planning page may also list that a costly traffic signal had to be
time as your search for traffic data from nearby developments either under installed at an intersection where he
Chapter 1. You’re trying to find their construction or in the approval process. wouldn’t normally have
transportation plan, if they have one. The They may even include traffic studies recommended one. The moral of the
transportation plan is usually a section of prepared for those specific developments. story is making sure you know about
the city’s overall comprehensive plan and Prior traffic studies are always useful for all policies/guidelines that may affect
describes the vision for their seeing the types of studies the city your study.
transportation network. It could be listed typically approves and what kinds of


consistent with those of previous traffic jurisdiction should provide detailed  Transportation plans
studies. formulas for you to use in determining any  Capital improvement plans
traffic impact fees. In addition to the city’s  Traffic volume data
The city may also list the construction website, a good clearinghouse is located at  Historic daily traffic volumes
projects scheduled for the next five years, ImpactFees.com.  Peak hour turning movement
often labeled the Capital Improvement volumes
Plan. See if there are any construction While you’re in the city’s comprehensive  Crash data
projects affecting your study area. It’s also plan, you can gather land planning
wise to let your client know if the road in information for your development. Some Through the property records section of
front of their development will be under relevant questions to ask include: the county’s website, you can typically find
major reconstruction the year after their  What is the current land use of the parcel information, including public right‐
project opens. This kind of information parcel? of‐way widths. This right‐of‐way
may cause a developer to delay an opening  Is the land use proposed to change information may be useful if you end up
date for a commercial/retail project and in the plan? recommending road or intersection
may affect your analysis data, but we’ll get  What is the current and proposed widening as part of your traffic study.
to that later. zoning of the parcel?
 What is the land use and zoning of Lastly, if your study area is served by bus
Many government agencies around the the adjacent parcels? WalmartTM, or rail transit service go to the transit
country charge traffic impact fees for new for one, likes to have this operator’s website to get routes and
developments. These fees are charged for background information in their schedules. You may need to account for
future transportation improvements and traffic studies. transit operations in your capacity
are typically assessed based on a analyses.
proportion of traffic the development will Now it’s time to move up the chain of
generate compared to the total traffic on government agencies to the county and Existing Conditions from
the facility. Traffic impact fees are not eventually the state. The state will
allowed in Minnesota, but they’re widely definitely have some jurisdiction over your Aerials
used in states such as Florida and traffic study, if one of the site’s driveways As part of your online research, we also
California. is proposed on one of their roads. As you recommend you start with your favorite
did at the city; look for: aerial online site or software, such as
You may need to devote a whole section of  Traffic study policies MapQuestTM, Google EarthTM, BingTM or
your study to calculating impact fees. Each  Traffic study standards Google Street View. Draw a quick and


dirty sketch of each study intersection Field Visit add the following details to them while
based on the aerial with the following You may be asking yourself why you even you’re in the field:
details: need to go out in the field when  Transit stops
 Exclusive left or right turn lanes ‐ everything is right there on the aerial.  Traffic signal operations
measure their storage lengths on First, because the aerials aren’t always (protected left turn
the aerial and include them on the right. Imagine the disaster if he had phasing is shown on
sketch turned in a whole traffic study based on the left, protected/
 Through lanes and/or shared lanes the obsolete road network. The study permitted left turn
if turn lanes aren’t provided would have had zero credibility. In reality, phasing is shown on
 Traffic control ‐ stop signs, traffic the data collection staff would have caught the right)
signals or roundabouts this, but it would have caused confusion  No turn on red restrictions
 Medians and some delay to the project.  Parking restrictions
 Shoulders  Speed limits
 Sidewalks/trails/paths Mike worked on a church project in a  Non‐ADA compliant signal push‐
 On‐street bike lanes quickly growing suburb. He arrived in buttons or pedestrian ramps
 Nearby parking lots the field and realized one of the study  Excessive grades or slopes (that
 On‐street parking intersections didn’t even exist. Also, either affect traffic operations or
 Street names there were two new intersections he making widening a road difficult)
didn’t know existed. The roads in the  Excessive grades that may affect
Also, print out a street map of the study study area were rebuilt during the traffic (for instance, if you’re
area. We like to make field notes on maps. summer and the aerials weren’t up to working in Duluth, Minnesota
Ensure the map is zoomed in enough so date. He had to adjust the data where steep hills get iced over in
you can make notes of things between collection plan to account for reality. the winter)
your study intersections. We find we’re  Objects or buildings on the
more accurate correcting our sketches in intersection corners that block sight
the field than trying to create originals The second reason to go out to the site is lines
while we’re on the side of the road. there are frequently many important
Something usually gets missed if we skip details you can’t always see on an aerial. While you’re at the site, take plenty of
this first task in the office. In addition to verifying the information on pictures. Smart phones are a convenient
your hand sketches is correct, you should and amazing tool for this task because they
produce really good photos. Get one


photo of each approach at each study area during rush hour. We like to go  Large parking lots that could affect
intersection. Be certain to keep a log of through our hand sketches after lunch and the balance of traffic between study
the photos so you can identify them back then drive around the road network during intersections
in the office. Taking pictures has saved us the evening rush hour.  Large pedestrian generators, such
more than one field visit. It’s amazing how as schools
often one little detail is usually missed Bryant recently started using an  Road construction
while you’re doing your field check, but intriguing alternative ‐ a dashboard  Developments under construction
photos won’t help you find that detail if camera to take video logs. It’s a
you can’t identify their location. camera you mount on your During rush hour, we examine the study
windshield and along with the video, area for some of the following issues:
An even better on‐site option would be a it uses GPS to record your position  Do shoulders get used by cars as
video camera recording both the study site with speed and coordinates. You separate right turn lanes or bypass
and your dictation simultaneously. You download the recorded file from a lanes?
have less organizing to do if you go with removable SD Memory Card and the  Do the traffic signals along a
video. software interface shows your video corridor seem to be coordinated, so
next to a GoogleTM map tracking the through traffic moves down the
You should keep in mind that video is corresponding car location. corridor smoothly?
always recording sounds, so please watch  What are the signal cycle lengths?
the language. We had two interns A cheaper option is the app Ubipix, Bring a stopwatch or use your
collecting video by a Midwest university which provides the same functionality phone to spot check the time it
campus on one of the first nice days of the via your smart phone. You’ll want to takes for the signal timing to rotate
spring and there were several buy a mounting bracket for your all the way through its cycle. Be
inappropriate comments about the coeds phone if you go that route, but the sure to measure several cycles as
caught on the audio. Do feel free to sing bracket is $20 compared to the $200 they can vary.
along with your favorite Elton John song cost of a dash cam.  Are there any queues backing up
though. Your boss should find that from turn lanes into the through

amusing. lane or do queues extend back from
While you’re verifying the accuracy of the
one intersection blocking the
hand sketches, be aware of other things
In addition to documenting the existing upstream intersection?
that could affect traffic in your study area,
conditions of the environment, you should  Is it hard to turn onto a major street
such as:
observe how traffic operates in your study from a cross street with a stop sign?


 Do the routes cars will take to get to further explain how we incorporated those The quality control process in our office is
and from your site correspond to observations in our analysis. as follows:
the major traffic flow you’re 1. The technician draws the sketch
watching? Ideally, the field visit should occur before based on the aerials.
your traffic counts are taken. As we 2. He verifies and corrects the
These firsthand observations could save mentioned earlier, details from an aerial information during a field visit.
your reputation in a public hearing. can be wrong. The field visit will help you 3. He verifies locations for the traffic
Citizens regularly grill us about how traffic figure out if the data collection plan needs counters to park.
currently operates at a specific to change as well as to determine good 4. The engineer completes a final
intersection. If we’ve been on‐site during parking spots for your data collectors. verification of the sketches while
rush hour, we can honestly respond that he’s out observing rush hour
we went out during rush hour and The field visit is ultimately part of your traffic.
observed the traffic patterns. We can quality control process to ensure the
details in your traffic study are correct.


Checklist: Document Existing Conditions
1. Use online mapping tools to document the physical details of each study intersection. The following are items to note:
a. Exclusive left or right turn lanes ‐ measure their k. Confirm the above details during a field visit.
storage lengths on the aerial and include them on Following are items to also note:
the sketch l. Transit stops
b. Through lanes and/or shared lanes if turn lanes m. Traffic signal operations, including left turn phasing
aren’t provided n. No turn on red restrictions
c. Traffic control ‐ stop signs, traffic signals or o. Parking restrictions
roundabouts p. Speed limits
d. Medians q. Non‐ADA compliant signal push‐buttons or
e. Shoulders pedestrian ramps
f. Sidewalks/trails/paths r. Excessive grades or slopes
g. On‐street bike lanes s. Excessive grades that may affect traffic
h. Nearby parking lots t. Objects or buildings on the intersection corners that
i. On‐street parking block sight lines
j. Street names
2. Collect photos or videos of your study area.
3. If a technician prepares sketches with the above items, do your own field verification. While you perform your own field visit,
also be aware of items that could affect traffic in your study area:
a. Large parking lots that could affect the balance of traffic between study intersections
b. Large pedestrian generators, such as schools
c. Road construction
4. Developments under construction
5. During rush hour, analyze the following items:
a. Do shoulders get used by cars as separate right turn lanes or bypass lanes?
b. Do the traffic signals along a corridor seem to be coordinated, so through traffic moves down the corridor smoothly?
c. What are the signal cycle lengths?
d. Are there any queues backing up from turn lanes into the through lane or do queues extend back from one intersection
blocking the upstream intersection?
e. Is it hard to turn onto a major street from a cross street with a stop sign?
f. Do the routes cars will take to get to and from your site correspond to the major traffic flow you’re watching?

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Traffic Study Manual – Spack & Ficek

About the Authors Engineers and he’s a Fellow of the Institute

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