Development of a Peak Period Traffic Assignment Capability (454-1F)

The basic objective of this study was to develop and incorporate into the Texas Travel Demand a peak hour or peak period travel demand modeling capability. Peak hour and peak period travel demand modeling techniques vary considerably in their level of sophistication. These techniques can generally be categorized into three basic approaches: factoring of 24-hour trip tables; factoring of 24-hour trip ends; and direct generation.|Two sets of data analyses were performed: (1) analyses of traffic count data from 254 locations in Houston; and (2) analyses of peak period data from the recent Houston travel survey. Based on the results of these analyses and some basic conceptual concerns, the use of three-hour peak periods instead of a single peak hour for travel demand modeling applications is strongly encouraged.|Perhaps the most important product of this study is the software. Three new routines were developed, tested and implemented in the Texas Travel Demand Package to provide for peak period modeling applications.