Operational Performance Assessment for Two-Lane Highway Facilities

Abstract

Transportation professionals have indicated that a facility-based evaluation methodology for two-lane highways would be much more useful and practical to them than just the individual segment and point analysis methodologies. A facility level analysis will allow the various features (e.g., isolated intersections, continuous grades, passing lanes) that are typical to an extended length of two-lane highway to be addressed in a combined analysis with a single performance measure and level of service value resulting. Currently, no operational analysis methodology exists to address two-lane highways with different segment types at the facility level. The scope of analysis provided in the HCM 2000 for two-lane highways is limited to a single segment within the facility. This paper describes an effort to develop a methodology for the operational analysis of a two-lane highway that includes occasional isolated signalized intersections. The developed methodology provides a model for the basic structure of a facility level analysis that will be amenable to the incorporation of a variety of segment types.