CE 355 Assignment 3
Assignment 3
Problem 1 (10 points)
A six-lane freeway (three lanes in each direction) has regular weekday users and
currently operates at maximum LOS C conditions. The lanes are 11 ft wide, the
right-side shoulder is 4 ft wide, and there are two ramps within three miles
upstream of the segment midpoint and one ramp within three miles downstream
of the segment midpoint. The highway is on rolling terrain with 10% large trucks
and buses (no recreational vehicles), and the peak-hour factor is 0.90. Determine
the hourly volume for these conditions.
Given,
N=3
LOS C, density >18 – 26
Lane width = 11ft
Right shoulder clearance = 4ft
Total ramps six miles about midpoint = 2+1 = 3
Rolling terrain,
PT = 10%
PHF = 0.9
With LOS C, the maximum allowable density = 26pc/mi/ln
1) Calculate Free Flow Speed
From table 6.3, fLW = 1.9
From table 6.4, fRLC = 0.8
TRD = 3/6
𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 = 75.4 − 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 − 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 − 3.22 ∗ 𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝐷𝐷0.84
30.84
𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 = 75.4 − 1.9 − 0.8 − 3.22 ∗ = 70.9 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚/ℎ
6
2) Calculate Flow rate
Let us assume the flow rate is greater than the break point,
BP < vp < c
CE 355 Assignment 3
c = Min[2200 + 10(FFS-50), 2400] = Min[2409,2400] = 2400 pc/h/ln
BP = [1000+40(75-FFS)] = 1164 pc/h/ln
𝑐𝑐
�𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 − � (𝑣𝑣𝑝𝑝 − 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵)2
𝑆𝑆 = 𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 − 45
(𝑐𝑐 − 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵)2
2400
�70.9 − � (𝑣𝑣𝑝𝑝 − 1164)2
= 70.9 − 45
(2400 − 1164)2
𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅
𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷 =
𝑆𝑆
2400
�70.9 − � (𝑣𝑣𝑝𝑝 − 1164)2
𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟 = 26 ∗ 70.9 − 45
(2400 − 1164)2
𝑣𝑣𝑝𝑝 1743 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙
= /
ℎ
You can also interpolate value of vp from Table 6.2
3) Calculate hourly volume
From table 6.5, ET = 3.0 (rolling terrain)
1 1
𝑓𝑓𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻 = = = 0.83
1 + 𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃 (𝐸𝐸𝑇𝑇 − 1) 1 + 0.1 (3 − 1)
𝑉𝑉
𝑣𝑣𝑝𝑝 =
𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃 ∗ 𝑁𝑁 ∗ 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓
𝑉𝑉 = 𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃 ∗ 𝑁𝑁 ∗ 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 ∗ 𝑣𝑣𝑝𝑝
𝑉𝑉 = 0.9 ∗ 3 ∗ 0.83 ∗ 1743 = 3922 𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣ℎ/ℎ
CE 355 Assignment 3
Problem 2 (10 points)
A freeway is being designed for a location in rolling terrain. The expected free-
flow speed is 55 mi/h. Lane widths will be 12 ft and shoulder widths will be 6 ft.
During the peak hour, it is expected there will be a directional peak-hour volume of
2700 vehicles, 12% large trucks and buses and 6% recreational vehicles. The PHF
is 0.88. If a level of service no worse than D is desired, determine the necessary
number of lanes.
Given,
Rolling terrain, ET = 3.0
FFS = 55mi/h
Lane width = 12ft, from table 6.3, fLW = 0
Desired LOS is D, therefore density = 35pc/mi/ln
V = 2700 veh/hr
PT = 18%
PHF = 0.88
1) Calculate flow rate
𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅
𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷 =
𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹
𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝
𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟 = 35 ∗ 55 = 1925 /𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙
ℎ
2) Calculate the number of lanes
1
𝑓𝑓𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻 = = 0.735
1 + 0.18(3 − 1)
𝑉𝑉 𝑉𝑉
𝑣𝑣𝑝𝑝 = → 𝑁𝑁 =
𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃 ∗ 𝑁𝑁 ∗ 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃 ∗ 𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣 ∗ 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓
2700
𝑁𝑁 = ≈ 3 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙
0.88 ∗ 1925 ∗ 0.735
CE 355 Assignment 3
Problem 3 (10 points)
A segment of four-lane freeway (two lanes in each direction) has a 3% upgrade
that is 1500 ft long. It has 12-ft lanes and 3-ft shoulders. The traffic flow consists
of 5% heavy vehicles (50% SUTs / 50% TTs). The total ramp density for this
freeway segment is 2.33 ramps per mile. If it has the following vehicle counts,
Passenger Cars
8:00-8:15 525
8:15-8:30 612
8:30-8:45 507
8:45-9:00 448
what is the level of service of this grade freeway segment?
Given,
TRD = 2.33 ramps/mile
Hourly volume V = 525+612+507+448 = 2092 veh/hr
PHF = V / (4 * V15) = 2092 / (4*612) = 0.854
12 ft lanes, fLW = 0
3ft shoulder, fRLC = 1.8 (2 lanes in one direction)
N =2
PT = 0.05,
To calculate ET,
Grade = 3%, 50% SUTs / 50% TTs split hence, from table 6.7
Length = 1500 ft = 0.284 miles
For 2.5% grade,
@ 5% heavy vehicles and 0.125 miles length, ET2.5,0.125 = 2.31
@ 5% heavy vehicles and 0.375 miles length, ET2.5,0.375 = 2.92
@ 5% heavy vehicles and 0.284 miles length, ET2.5,0.284 = 2.70
0.375−0.125 0.375−0.284
= → 𝑥𝑥 = 2.70
2.92−2.31 2.92−𝑥𝑥
CE 355 Assignment 3
For 3.5% grade,
@ 5% heavy vehicles and 0.125 miles length, ET3.5,0.125 = 2.31
@ 5% heavy vehicles and 0.375 miles length, ET3.5,0.375 = 3.25
@ 5% heavy vehicles and 0.284 miles length, ET3.5,0.284 = 2.91
0.375−0.125 0.375−0.284
= → 𝑥𝑥 = 2.91
3.25−2.31 3.25−𝑥𝑥
For 3% grade,
3.5 − 2.5 3.5 − 3
= → 𝑥𝑥 = 2.805
2.91 − 2.7 2.91 − 𝑥𝑥
@ 5% heavy vehicles and 0.284 miles length and 3% grade, ET = 2.805
1. Find FFS
𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 = 75.4 − 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 − 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 − 3.22 ∗ 𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝐷𝐷0.84
𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 = 75.4 − 0 − 1.8 − 3.22 ∗ 2.330.84 = 67.04 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚ℎ
2. Find design volume
1
𝑓𝑓𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻 =
1 + 𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃 (𝐸𝐸𝑇𝑇 − 1)
1
𝑓𝑓𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻 = = 0.917
1 + 0.05 (2.805 − 1)
2092 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝
𝑣𝑣𝑝𝑝 = = 1335.69 /𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙
0.854 ∗ 2 ∗ 0.917 ℎ𝑟𝑟
3. Find speed at design flow rate
BP = [1000+40(75-FFS)] = [1000+40(75-67.04)] = 1318.4 pc/h/ln
c = Min[2200 + 10(FFS-50), 2400] = Min[2370.4,2400] = 2370.4 pc/h/ln
Since, BP < vp < c , Therefore
𝑐𝑐
�𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 − � (𝑣𝑣𝑝𝑝 − 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵)2
𝑆𝑆 = 𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 − 45
(𝑐𝑐 − 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵)2
2370.4
�67.04 − � (1335.69 − 1318.4)2
= 67.04 − 45 = 67.04 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚ℎ
(2370.4 − 1318.4)2
CE 355 Assignment 3
4. Find density
𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅 1335.69 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝
𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷 = = = 20 /𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙
𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 67.04 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
The LOS is C.
CE 355 Assignment 3
Problem 4 (10 points)
An eight-lane freeway (four lanes in each direction) is on rolling terrain and has
11-ft lanes with a 4-ft right-side shoulder. The total ramp density is 1.5 ramps per
mile. The directional peak-hour traffic volume is 5400 vehicles with 6% large
trucks and 5% buses (no recreational vehicles). The traffic stream consists of
regular users and the peak-hour factor is 0.95. It has been decided that large trucks
will be banned from the freeway during the peak hour. What will the freeway’s
density and level of service be before and after the ban? (Assume that the trucks
are removed and all other traffic attributes are unchanged.)
Given,
N = 4,
11ft lanes, fLW = 1.9
4ft right side shoulder, fRLC = 0.4
TRD = 1.5ramps per mile
V = 5400 veh/hr
PT = 0.11
ET = 3.0 (rolling terrain)
PHF = 0.95
Before Ban
1. Find FFS
𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 = 75.4 − 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 − 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 − 3.22 ∗ 𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝐷𝐷0.84
𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 = 75.4 − 1.9 − 0.4 − 3.22 ∗ 1.50.84 = 68.57 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚ℎ
2. Find design volume
1
𝑓𝑓𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻 =
1 + 𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃 (𝐸𝐸𝑇𝑇 − 1)
1
𝑓𝑓𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻 = = 0.82
1 + 0.11 (3.0 − 1)
5400 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝
𝑣𝑣𝑝𝑝 = = 1732.99 /𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙
0.95 ∗ 4 ∗ 0.82 ℎ𝑟𝑟
3. Find speed at design flow rate
BP = [1000+40(75-FFS)] = [1000+40(75-68.57)] = 1257.2 pc/h/ln
CE 355 Assignment 3
c = Min[2200 + 10(FFS-50), 2400] = Min[2385.7,2400] = 2385.7 pc/h/ln
Since, BP < vp < c , Therefore
𝑐𝑐
�𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 − � (𝑣𝑣𝑝𝑝 − 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵)2
𝑆𝑆 = 𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 − 45
(𝑐𝑐 − 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵)2
2385.7
�68.57 − � (1732.99 − 1257.2 )2
= 68.57 − 45 = 65.80 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚ℎ
(2385.7 − 1257.2)2
4. Find density
𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅 1732.99 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝
𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷 = = = 26.33 /𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙
𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 65.80 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
The LOS is D.
After the ban, PT = 5%, all other traffic attributes remain same.
5. Find new design volume
1
𝑓𝑓𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻 = = 0.91
1 + 0.05 (3.0 − 1)
5400 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝
𝑣𝑣𝑝𝑝 = = 1561.60 /𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙
0.95 ∗ 4 ∗ 0.91 ℎ𝑟𝑟
6. Find new speed at design volume
Since, BP < vp < c , Therefore
𝑐𝑐
�𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 − � (𝑣𝑣𝑝𝑝 − 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵)2
𝑆𝑆 = 𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 − 45
(𝑐𝑐 − 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵)2
2385.7
�68.57 − � (1561.60 − 1257.2 )2
= 68.57 − 45 = 67.43 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚ℎ
(2385.7 − 1257.2)2
7. Find density
𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅 1561.60 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝
𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷 = = = 23.16 /𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙
𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 67.43 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
The LOS is C.
CE 355 Assignment 3
Problem 5 (10 points)
Following observations were made by a person sitting on the side of a road and
counting cars. Calculate the following
Car ID Trucks Speeds (mph) Speed Time
reciprocal headway
1 [Link] 0
2 [Link] 45 0.022222 25
3 [Link] 39 0.025641 50
4 [Link] 42 0.02381 90
5 [Link] 40 0.025 180
6 [Link] 30 0.033333 15
7 [Link] 35 0.028571 135
8 [Link] 47 0.021277 120
9 [Link] 50 0.02 105
10 [Link] 50 0.02 70
11 [Link] 45 0.022222 40
12 [Link] 42 0.02381 80
For the above mentioned scenario, find the density and LOS of the roadway.
Average Time headway = sum of time headways / 11 = 83s
Flow = 1/Average time headway = 0.012 veh/s =43.37 veh/hr
Space mean speed = 1 / (sum of speed reciprocal)/11 = 41.37 mph
Density = flow/speed = 1.049 veh/mi
The LOS is A.
