Getting Started - Page 1 of 5 |
ID# C1GS001 |
Getting Started
Printable Overview, Introduction, and Getting Started
As we begin this case study, we will
consider several issues, including the scope of the analysis that we will
undertake, the stakeholders and the issues that are important to them, the
goal of the case study, the performance measures that we will use to support
this decision-making process, the analyses that we will perform to generate
our performance measures, the tools that we will use, the data that is
required, and some of the technical issues with respect to the Highway
Capacity Manual that are included in each problem. Click here to
see what kinds of problems will be considered as part of this case study.
Scope of the Analysis
Our major focus is the intersection of
U.S. 95 with Styner Avenue and
Lauder Avenue. But we will see as our discussion proceeds that it is
important to consider not just this intersection but some of the surrounding
highway system as well. For now, we'll define the segment of
most interest to us as the U.S. 95 corridor from State Highway 8 on the north to Palouse River Drive on the south.
We will also consider travel patterns that normally occur
during a typical weekday, while the University of Idaho is in session. Traffic volumes vary throughout this typical weekday, with peak periods
occurring during the morning and afternoon, with a secondary peak during the
midday. There are also mini-peak periods during class change times, but
these variations are not significant enough to consider for our analysis
here. We'll see later in the analysis, however, that there are other
time periods, such as during special university events, that traffic volumes
increase significantly and have a bearing on the results that we need to
consider.
While many people are concerned about the operation of the
intersection today, it is also important to consider how the intersection is
likely to operate in the future. The investment in signal controllers
and related equipment is sizable, and its feasibility must be justified by
looking at both conditions present today and those likely to exist in the
future. For this reason, we will also consider future traffic volume
projections for the U.S. 95 corridor.
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