ODOT Operations Performance Measures Final Report

The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) sponsored the research done by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute for the ODOT operations performance measurement project. The project aimed to identify a small set of mobility performance measures. It also needed to develop, test, and document methods for implementing these measures at a system and corridor level so that ODOT staff is able to fully implement measures statewide. Lastly, the project proponents hoped to recommend future improvements to data gathering and measure estimates to improve the measures' accuracy, geographic precision, and sensitivity to operations programs. The research team used a method that involves obtaining a free-flow speed and peak-period speed estimate from ramp meter data when such data are available and reliable. Given certain operational treatments, the method provided a framework whereby the group could estimate operations performance measures. The researchers tested this methodology on four corridors. When ramp meter data were unavailable, however, they obtained an estimate of the free-flow speed and peak-period speed from the Highway Economic Requirements System-State (HERS-ST) Version by using Highway Performance Monitoring System data. Because of this research, they identified several items that could help improve the methodology and the test results:

• Key elements of data improvement.
• Further analysis. This involves adjusting traffic factors to weekend and/or holiday conditions and local conditions, enhancing data quality control, and performing a sensitivity analysis of HERS-ST.
• Statewide applications and next steps.

The test corridors investigated along with the methodology included the effects of existing operational treatments, and how to estimate the effect of future treatments. The group also noted that it is important to continue the momentum of the operations performance measures Technical Advisory Committee that this project created.