A SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURE FOR MAJOR THOROUGHFARE PLANNING IN SMALL URBAN AREAS

Abstract

THE PURPOSE OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT WAS TO DEVELOP A SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURE FOR MAJOR THOROUGHFARE PLANNING IN SMALL URBAN AREAS. PREVIOUSLY DEVELOPED CORRIDOR GROWTH FACTOR MODELS FOR DEVELOPING FUTURE ESTIMATES OF INTERNAL TRAFFIC INSMALL URBAN AREAS WERE TESTED, MODIFIED, AND REFINED. LAFAYETTE, INDIANA, DATA WERE USED. RESGRESSION MODELS TO PROVIDE DATA USUSALLY OBTINED BY USE OF EXTERNAL CORDON SURVEYS WERE DEVELOPED. EXTERNAL SURVEY REPORTS FROM 36 CITIES IN 14 STATES, RANGING IN POPULATION FROM 10,000 TO 90,000, PROVIDED MOST OF THE EATA USED. ALTERNATE PROCEDURES FOR PROVIDING THE EXTERNAL SURVEY INFORMATION, BASED ON USE OF HISTORICAL DATA FROM THE SUBJECT CITY, WERE ALSO DEVELOPED. THE COMPLETED PROCEDURE PROVIDES FORECAST TRAFFIC VOLUMES WITHIN THE ACCURACY NECESSARY FOR MAJOR THOROUHGFARE PLANNING IN SMALL URBAN AREAS AT LOW COST AND WITH A LEVEL OF SOPHISTICATION THAT WILL PERMIT APPLICATION BY PERSONNEL USUALLY AVAILABLE IN SMALL COMMUNITIES. THE FEASIBILITY OF THE COMPLETE PROCEDURE FOR PROVIDING THE REQUIRED TRAFFIC VOLUME FOR MAJOR THOROUGHFARE PLANNING IN SMALL URBAN AREAS WAS DEMONSTRATED IN COLUMBUS, INDIANA.