Development of a Texas Congestion Index

Project Description

A mobility performance measure is an important addition to metropolitan transportation planning tools. As part of the state's plan to address the growing congestion problem in the state's largest urban areas, the Texas Congestion Index is a spreadsheet-based technique used to create mobility performance measures for use with regional transportation planning models. The procedures can be used both in technical analysis of regional options and to assist in communication of findings.

Researchers used the Texas Congestion Index process in the 2004 Texas Metropolitan Mobility Plan report to identify the level of transportation needs and costs necessary to accomplish the goal of alleviating serious congestion problems in 2025. All Texas regions show significant increases in congestion over the 25 years. Where the smaller areas have roadway systems with a range of congestion levels, the larger regions have many seriously congested roadways. The regional congestion levels in areas of all sizes are much lower when all seriously congested links are treated.

The Texas Metropolitan Mobility Plan effort has also improved cooperation between the eight metropolitan planning organizations and the Texas Department of Transportation's (TxDOT's) districts and divisions. Pooled resources and expertise have resulted from this team approach, the technical results are much more reliable, data and analytical procedures used are more consistent, and, as a result, conclusions send a stronger message to state and local leaders.

Project Publications

Development of a Texas Congestion Index 0-4853-S

Texas Transportation Researcher Articles

Another weapon in battle against the bottleneck - Volume 42, Number 1

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