Trends in Urban Roadway Congestion - 1982 to 1991, Volume 2: Methodology and Urbanized Area Data (1131-6)

This research report represent the sixth year of a ten-year research effort focused on quantifying urban mobility. This study contains the facility information for 50 urban areas throughout the country. The database used for this research contains information on vehicle travel, system length, and urban area characteristics from 1982 to 1991. Various federal, state and local agencies provided the information used to update and verify the primary database. The primary database ad original source of most of the information is the Federal Highway Administration's Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS).|Vehicle travel and system length data were combined to delevop Roadway Congestion Index (RCI) values for 50 urban areas including the seven largest in Texas. The RCI values provide an indicator of the relative mobility level within an urban area.|An analysis of the cost of congestion was also performed using travel delay and increased fuel consumption as estimated quantities. The impact of congestion was also estimated by the amount of additional facility required to provide urban mobility. Congestion costs were estimated on an areawide, per registered vehicle, and per capita basis.