Implementing and Assessing the Performance Evaluation Methodology of Urban Street Facilities for Motorized Vehicles in the Highway Capacity Manual Using Vehicle Trajectory Data

Abstract

Evaluating arterial operational performance plays a pivotal role in arterial system management and enhancement. As a fundamental reference guide for traffic engineers, the Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) provides a series of analysis methodologies for evaluating multimodal operations on urban streets, highways, freeways, and off-street pathways. However, the efficient use of the performance evaluation methodology of urban street facilities for motorized vehicles in the HCM can be restricted by a large amount of traffic volume collections at signalized and access point intersections, roadway segment geometric data inputs, and complicated calculation procedures on urban street segments. Further, the use of alternative tools, such as vehicle trajectory data, remains to be explored to supplement the urban street facility calculation framework in the HCM. To bridge the gap, this research utilizes vehicle trajectory data as an alternative tool and proposes a combined vehicle trajectory data and HCM calculation framework to implement and assess the existing performance evaluation methodology of urban street facilities for motorized vehicles in the HCM 7th Edition. A case study was carried out on three major signalized arterials in Sparks, Nevada, for HCM methodology implementation and performance evaluation. Based on evaluation results, it was found that vehicle trajectory data can be utilized as an alternative tool to implement the performance evaluation methodology of urban street facilities for motorized vehicles in the HCM 7th Edition. It is recommended to combine arterial through-vehicle trajectories, the time-space diagram, arterial level of service (LOS), and the poorest segment LOS for arterial operational performance evaluation and further enhancement. The proposed automobile traveler perception score (ATPS) in the HCM was found to be insensitive to reflecting traveler’s perception of service quality. Additional traveler perception-based factors are recommended to be included for further ATPS development and enhancement. The HCM serves as a fundamental reference guide to assist traffic engineers in analyzing and evaluating multimodal operations on various types of roadways. The implementation of performance evaluation methodology of urban street facilities for motorized vehicles in the HCM relies on a large amount of traffic volume collections, roadway segment geometric data inputs, and complicated calculation procedures on urban street segments, which can become a barrier against the efficient use of the HCM. Further, the use of alternative tools remains to be explored to supplement and facilitate the HCM calculation framework. Therefore, this research is focused on utilizing vehicle trajectory data as an alternative tool to implement and assess the existing performance evaluation methodology of urban facilities for motorized vehicles in the HCM 7th Edition. The findings from this research aim to facilitate and expand the use of HCM for practitioners in arterial operational performance evaluation and offer recommendations for further performance evaluation methodology development and enhancement in the HCM.