The Furness Method, also commonly referred to as the Fratar Method or iterative proportional fitting (IPF), is one of the most widely used matrix balancing techniques in transportation planning. It is commonly applied when an initial estimate of a traffic matrix exists, but the row and column totals must be adjusted to match observed traffic […]
Traffic congestion is often blamed on accidents, road construction, poor infrastructure, or simply having too many vehicles on the road. While these factors certainly contribute to delays, they do not fully explain why congestion frequently develops even on highways with no visible incidents and sufficient capacity. Traffic engineers have recognized a more fundamental problem: traffic
In transportation planning and traffic impact studies, a common problem is the lack of turning movement counts (TMCs). However, intersection capacity analysis still requires left, through, and right turning volumes. In practice, when turning movement counts are not available, engineers often need a structured way to estimate them from AADT or link volumes. A simple
The Challenge of Counting Traffic from Video Counting vehicles from video footage is a standard part of traffic studies, but it’s also one of the most time-consuming. Whether you’re working on, a Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA), an intersection turning movement count, or general traffic data collection, manual video review quickly becomes a bottleneck. In many
Traffic analysis using Synchro often involves reviewing detailed output reports to assess intersection performance. While Synchro provides comprehensive results, extracting Level of Service (LOS) data and organizing it into a clean, report-ready table can be a time-consuming step, especially for larger networks. This guide outlines the typical process for extracting LOS tables from Synchro reports
Categories, Study Levels, and Memo vs Report Requirements Across Jurisdictions Traffic Impact Assessments (TIAs) are a core component of development review, but requirements vary significantly by jurisdiction. While thresholds like “100 peak hour trips” are commonly cited, agencies such as TxDOT, FDOT, municipalities in New York, and the City of Toronto apply different criteria based
The ITE Trip Generation Manual 12th Edition provides both fitted curve equations and average trip rates for estimating trip generation. However, not all datasets are equally reliable. In many cases, there is either limited data points, or no equation provided. When preparing traffic impact studies for such land uses, engineers and planners must decide: Should
What is Traffic Calming? Traffic calming refers to a range of design strategies and measures used to reduce vehicle speeds, improve road safety, and enhance the overall environment for pedestrians and cyclists. At its core, traffic calming is about shifting streets from being purely vehicle-dominated corridors to shared public spaces where safety and livability come
One of the most common questions in traffic impact assessments (TIAs) is whether to propose turning lanes, acceleration lanes, or deceleration lanes. While adding lanes may seem like a straightforward solution to congestion, proposing them without justification can create unnecessary cost, invite reviewer comments, or even compromise safety. In this post, we’ll explain when to
Road classification (or class) is a fundamental concept in transportation planning and traffic engineering. It provides a framework for organizing roads according to their function within the transportation network, specifically how they balance mobility (moving traffic efficiently) and access (serving adjacent land uses). Higher-class roads prioritize mobility, moving large volumes of traffic over longer distances
