Some issues regarding the numerical value of freeway capacity

Abstract

Fifty-two days of data on peak period traffic volume, occupancy and speed from a section of the Queen Elizabeth Way in Mississauga, Ontario, were used to investigate the possibility of a drop in capacity as a queue forms, as well as the numerical definition of capacity. A drop in capacity of 98 passenger cars per hour per lane (pcphpl) was found when a queue formed. The numerical values of capacity before and after the queue formed were 2,300 pcphpl and 2,200 pcphpl, respectively.