Incorporating Truck Analysis into the Highway Capacity Manual (2014)

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1 National Cooperative Freight Research Program (NCFRP) Project 41 is a 24-month, $500,000 research project to facilitate the incorporation of trucking industry considerations into all plan- ning studies by developing performance measures, level-of-service models, and truck analysis methodologies that can be applied within the Highway Capacity Manual framework. 1.1 Problem Statement In 2009, trucks moved 10.9 billion tons—63% of the estimated 16 billion tons of freight shipped in the United States; by 2040, trucks are expected to move 18.4 billion tons of freight (FHWA, 2010: Freight Facts and Figures 2010). The growth in trucking can be attributed to a number of factors including changes in population and employment, the modal shift of freight to trucks from other modes, and changes in the economy and business practices that affect the freight transportation system. Transportation decisions should facilitate and account for freight flows, but analysts lack the tools needed to evaluate them. State Departments of Transportation (state DOTs) and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) currently take into account the importance of trucking to state and local economies through various specialized freight studies and action plans. However, the vast majority of these agencies’ planning efforts do not explicitly incorporate trucking industry perspectives and needs when planning and prioritizing general transportation improvements. Freight planning is a par- allel, specialized effort of these agencies, not part of their mainstream planning practice. This “separate but equal” approach to truck planning is caused partly by the specialized nature and needs of the trucking industry, but also by the lack of tools for evaluating trucking industry needs when performing conventional planning studies. The Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) is the fundamental reference for the operational analysis of streets and highways. It is one of the fundamental analysis tools used in conventional planning practice, and while it provides several methods for evaluating the impacts of trucks on automobile traffic, it has no methods for evaluating the impacts of facility performance on truck LOS. Incor- poration of truck analysis into the HCM will help transportation agencies address the freight and highway needs of their community, region, state, and nation. 1.2 Research Objective and Products The objective of the research has been to develop improved, nationally accepted capacity and level-of-service techniques suitable for incorporation into the HCM that • Improve transportation agencies’ abilities to plan, design, manage, and operate streets and highways to serve trucks and S e c t i o n 1 Introduction

2 incorporating truck Analysis into the Highway capacity Manual • Better evaluate the effects of trucks on other modes of transportation and vice versa. Techniques are needed for uninterrupted and interrupted flow facilities in both rural and urban conditions. 1.3 Approach The research proceeded according to the tasks and schedule described below. Task 0: Amplified Work Plan The objective of this task was to provide an expanded version of the approved research plan, budget, and schedule in response to comments from the project panel on the draft work plan. Task 1: Literature Review The purpose of this task was to analyze, describe, and critique pertinent domestic and inter- national research on the basis of applicability, conclusiveness of findings, and usefulness for the analysis of truck operations on streets and highways. This task documented how trucks are addressed in the HCM 2010 and identified deficiencies. This task also reviewed the HCM equivalents found in research and used in other countries to identify techniques and material that could be useful additions to truck application of the HCM 2010 (TRB, 2010). Task 2: DOT and MPO Survey and Interview Data Collection The purpose of this task was to interview representative state DOT and MPO personnel and other practitioners to • Determine how the HCM could be appropriately used in the analysis of truck operations on streets and highways (e.g., freight corridors and connectors, rural mountainous freeways and multilane highways, and urban streets). • Identify deficiencies in the HCM related to truck analysis. • Identify and describe methods that practitioners have used to successfully adapt the HCM methodologies to meet their needs in analyzing truck traffic. • Describe how the results of truck analysis should be considered in the planning and prioritiza- tion of projects and the performance measurement of the system. Task 3: Shipper/Carrier Survey and Interview Data Collection The objective of this task was to identify the critical performance measures that affect truck- ing industry (shipper/carrier/logistical consultants) perceptions of the operation of streets and highways and to develop information on their perceptions of different levels of highway and street operation for use in developing and calibrating truck level-of-service models. Task 4: Truck Classification The aim of this task was to develop a classification scheme for trucks that is consistent with national schemes but suitable for inclusion in the HCM. Performance characteristics (e.g., acceleration, deceleration, weight, length, emissions, and operational constraints) for each class should be described in both laden and unladen states. Task 5: Conceptual Framework The purpose of this task was to develop a conceptual framework for analyzing truck opera- tions in the HCM. This task identified and described the specific data collection and analysis

introduction 3 efforts needed to develop the framework and methodologies within the framework. This task catalogued the input data that was likely to be needed for the analysis methodologies included in the framework and described sources for that data. Task 6: Interim Report and Panel Meet A project interim report was prepared summarizing the work done in Tasks 1 through 5 and presenting an updated work plan for the remaining tasks. The research team met with the NCFRP project oversight panel for the review and approval of the interim report. Task 7: Execute Data Collection Efforts, Develop Models and Methodologies Data collection and analysis efforts were conducted during this task to develop the framework and methodologies as identified in Task 5 and approved at the interim meeting. Task 8: Case Studies and Panel Meet This task developed case studies demonstrating how the framework and methodologies devel- oped in Task 7 could address typical applications identified in Task 2. The case studies were intended to highlight improved capabilities over existing methods and to advance the adoption and implementation of the NCFRP Project 41 research results by the profession. Task 9: Supplemental Chapter Development This task developed a supplemental chapter to the HCM 2010 that fully presents the frame- work and methodologies. The draft chapter identifies the limitations of these methods as well as any special considerations such as for sensitivity analysis. The chapter provides and discusses the appropriate use of default values. This chapter is intended to be suitable for publication in Volume 4 of the HCM 2010. Task 10: Computational Engine A computational engine (software with very basic user interface) was developed to illustrate the application of the truck analysis methodology in a way that was more robust than selected case studies. In addition, the computational engine was developed to expedite the development of the case studies. The computational engines were also intended to promote the development of more commercially oriented software products that would greatly facilitate adoption and application of the NCFRP Project 41 research results by the profession. Task 11: Public Agency Workshops to Evaluate Methods This task involved field testing of the draft chapter through workshops with public agency personnel. Public agency participants at the workshops were asked to provide insights and feed- back for consideration of the panel and the Highway Capacity Committee. The public agency workshops also had the serendipitous result of making key local agency practitioners aware of the new NCFRP Project 41 methodologies and how to best apply them. Task 12: Final Report The purpose of this task was to finalize the draft HCM chapter on truck analysis and to develop a final report that documents the entire research effort including the revised HCM chapter as a stand-alone appendix. The report also describes how the material in that chapter could be incorporated into a future edition of the HCM. Task 13: Presentations and Webinars The objective of this task was to keep the TRB Committee on Highway Capacity and Quality of Service (HCQS) and the profession informed of study progress and results so as to facilitate inclusion of the research results in the next edition of the Highway Capacity Manual.

4 incorporating truck Analysis into the Highway capacity Manual Project Time Schedule The project began April 5, 2012 and was completed by April 4, 2014. The time schedule is presented in Exhibit 1. 1.4 Relationship to Reliability Research Projects NCFRP Project 41 and SHRP2-L08 reliability research project are intimately related. The reliability performance measures produced by the SHRP2-L08 project are key inputs to the truck level-of-service models for NCFRP Project 41. 2012 2013 2014 Task Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 0 Amplified Work Plan 1 Literature Review 2 DOT/MPO Interviews 3 Shipper/Carrier Interviews 4 Truck Classification 5 Conceptual Framework 6 Interim Report/Panel Meet 7 Model Development 8 Case Studies/Panel Meet 9 Chapter Development 10 Software Engines 11 Evaluation Workshops 12 Final Report 13 Presentations TRB X X X Exhibit 1. Planned project time schedule.