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Cover of Improved Traffic Management Guidance: Freeway Capacity Analysis
Improved Traffic Management Guidance: Freeway Capacity Analysis
  • Publication no: AP-R644-20
  • ISBN: 978-1-922382-41-2
  • Published: 27 November 2020

This report documents the extensive reviews and evaluations of established and emerging methodologies in Freeway Capacity Analysis. It also documents the extensive consultations with Australian and New Zealand practitioners to capture their current approach and views on emerging practices in freeway capacity analysis.

The report recommends the adoption of both the Maximum Sustainable Flow Rate and Flow Rate at Maximum Productivity approaches to freeway capacity analysis, subject to the collection of data relevant to Australian conditions.

The webinar recording below presents the research and findings outlined in the report, including the consultations with practitioners from across Australia and New Zealand, the comparative study of different capacity analysis methodologies and the recommendations made for updating Austroads FCA guidance.

  • Summary
  • 1. Introduction
    • 1.1 Purpose
    • 1.2 Scope
    • 1.3 Methodology
  • 2. Literature Review and Scan of Austroads FCA Guidance
    • 2.1 Introduction
    • 2.2 Capacity Analysis Approaches
      • 2.2.1 US Highway Capacity Manual
      • 2.2.2 German Highway Capacity Manual
      • 2.2.3 Dutch Highway Capacity Manual
      • 2.2.4 VicRoads Approach
      • 2.2.5 Transport for NSW Approach
      • 2.2.6 Main Roads Western Australia Approach
      • 2.2.7 Capacity Analysis for Merge, Diverge and Weaving Segments
    • 2.3 Scan of Austroads GTM and GSM
    • 2.4 Summary of Methodologies
  • 3. Practitioner Consultations and Recommendations
    • 3.1 Introduction
      • 3.1.1 Practitioner Consultations
    • 3.2 Summary of Consultations
      • 3.2.1 Urban Freeways in Australia and New Zealand
      • 3.2.2 Freeway Data and Performance KPIs
      • 3.2.3 Current Practices in Freeway Capacity Analysis
      • 3.2.4 Current Austroads Guidance in Freeway Capacity Analysis
      • 3.2.5 Need for New Guidance in Freeway Capacity Analysis
      • 3.2.6 Potential Changes to Austroads Guides
    • 3.3 Recommendations
      • 3.3.1 Requirements for Achieving Agreed Guidelines
      • 3.3.2 Key Principles and Approaches for Proposed New Guidance
      • 3.3.3 Data Collection Requirements
    • 3.4 Conclusions
  • 4. Comparative Study of FCA Methodologies
    • 4.1 Introduction
      • 4.1.1 Data Collection and Analysis
    • 4.2 Freeway Capacity Analysis Methodologies
      • 4.2.1 US HCM Methodology
      • 4.2.2 van Aerde Methodology
      • 4.2.3 German Methodology (Adaption of van Aerde Methodology)
      • 4.2.4 Product Limit Method (PLM)
      • 4.2.5 Dutch Methodology (Adaption of PLM)
      • 4.2.6 VicDoT Methodologies
    • 4.3 Analysis of Jurisdictional Freeway Data
      • 4.3.1 VicDoT – Monash Freeway Data
      • 4.3.2 MRWA – Kwinana Freeway Data
      • 4.3.3 Qld TMR – Centenary Motorway Data
      • 4.3.4 Other Jurisdictions
    • 4.4 Comparison of the Methodologies
      • 4.4.1 Commentary on US HCM Methodology
      • 4.4.2 Commentary on van Aerde Methodology
      • 4.4.3 Commentary on German Methodology (Adaption of van Aerde Methodology)
      • 4.4.4 Commentary on Dutch Methodology (Adaption of PLM)
      • 4.4.5 Commentary on VicRoads/VicDoT Methodology
      • 4.4.6 Comparative Summary Table
    • 4.5 Conclusions and Recommendations
      • 4.5.1 Recommended Methodologies for Austroads Guidelines
      • 4.5.2 Further Requirements for Capacity Guidance
  • 5. Recommendations for Austroads FCA Guidance
    • 5.1 Introduction
    • 5.2 The Need for Updated Austroads Guidance
    • 5.3 Proposed FCA Guidance
      • 5.3.1 Proposed Methodologies
      • 5.3.2 Bottleneck Capacity Analysis
      • 5.3.3 Basic Segment Capacity Analysis
      • 5.3.4 Merge, Weave and Diverge Capacity Analysis
    • 5.4 Adopting New Methodologies into Austroads Guidance
      • 5.4.1 Project Working Group Votes
      • 5.4.2 Understanding the Recommendations
      • 5.4.3 Adoption of the New Methodologies
    • 5.5 Next Steps for Development of Austroads FCA Guidance
      • 5.5.1 Development Tasks for Austroads FCA Guidance
      • 5.5.2 Parallel Tasks
  • References
  • Appendix A Consultation Questions
  • Appendix B Consultation Meeting Minutes
    • B.1 Victorian Department of Transport
    • B.2 Queensland Transport and Main Roads
    • B.3 Main Roads Western Australia
    • B.4 Transport for NSW
    • B.5 New Zealand Transport Authority
    • B.6 Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure, SA
    • B.7 Tasmania DSG
    • B.8 Australia Capital Territory TCCS
  • Appendix C Template for Freeway Data Requests
  • Appendix D Workshop Discussions
    • D.1 Practitioner Workshop Session 1 – General Discussion Minutes
    • D.2 Practitioner Workshop Session 2 – General Discussion Minutes
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