MEASURING CONGESTION: THE GTA TRIP TRAVEL-TIME STUDY, A METHODOLOGICAL DISCUSSION

J Gorys
S Keen

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

1999

Subject Area

operations - capacity, operations - traffic, planning - surveys, land use - planning, policy - congestion, mode - bus, mode - rail, mode - mass transit

Keywords

Travel time, Transportation planning, Transit, Traffic volume, Traffic speed, Traffic measurement, Traffic flow, Traffic corridors, Traffic congestion, Traffic capacity, Toronto (Canada), Surveys, Rush hour, Rail transit, Public transit, Peak hour traffic, Ontario (Province), Off peak periods, Mobility, Mass transit, Local transit, Level of service, Journey time, Intracity bus transportation, Highways, Highway corridors, Highway capacity, Gridlock (Traffic), Commuter service, Bus transit, Benchmarks, Accessibility

Abstract

In 1996, the Ontario Ministry of Transportation in Canada undertook a comprehensive travel-time survey of the principal road network of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) to measure congestion. This feature presents a synopsis of the methodology deployed and some of the lessons learned. The project achieved it goals by establishing a benchmark of travel times and speeds on the major highway network in the GTA, allowing for future updating and comparisons; providing a common measurement to enable the evaluation of alternative network improvements (capital and operational as well as alternative modes such as intercity bus); providing a measure of accessibility to suburban nodes; and generating data for use in detailed operational simulations and testing of alternatives. The results of the study are being used as input into the ongoing GTA Transportation Plan exercise, which will help identify and prioritize capital and maintenance expenditures for the GTA transportation network by both provincial and municipal governments in coming years.

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS