According to the 2018 INRIX Global Traffic Scorecard, Americans lost an average of 97 hours last year due to congestion; this equates to an average loss of $1,348 per driver, or $87 billion in totality. At the same time, resources to invest in infrastructure are becoming increasingly scarce and agencies are being asked to do more with less. Traffic analysis tools are a cost effective method for transportation professions to evaluate alternatives and identify the best solutions to mitigate their congestion challenges. In fact, the most recent Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act, the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, placed increased emphasis on the application of traffic analysis tools in the planning process. Section 1430 explicitly states: “The Department should utilize, to the fullest and most economically feasible extent practicable, modeling and simulation technology to analyze highway and public transportation projects authorized by this Act to ensure that these projects: (1) will increase transportation capacity and safety, alleviate congestion, and reduce travel time and environmental impacts and (2) are as cost effective as practicable” (Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, 2015, p. 117). Thus, the accurate and robust implementation of modeling tools is of increased interest to transportation agencies, consultants, and researchers alike. However, as our transportation solutions become more sophisticated and complex, so do our traffic analysis tools. As a result, many public agencies are facing new and difficult issues regarding the usage of traffic analysis and simulation tools for transportation decision-making. Rather than have each public agency address these challenges and issues separately, agencies could tackle these issues in a collective and comprehensive manner through the Pooled Fund Study (PFS) process.

The Traffic Analysis, Modeling, and Simulation (TAMS) PFS is intended to serve as a forum and provide an opportunity for the participants to identify, address, and collectively tackle key issues and challenges that are common among public agencies in conducting, managing, and/or approving traffic analysis and simulation studies. The TAMS PFS will address key technical and programmatic traffic analysis issues through the investigation and development of best practices, lessons learned, and recommended guidelines or methodologies. The TAMS PFS will also provide an opportunity to facilitate the interaction, sharing of information, and exchange of knowledge with a broader audience to advance and improve upon the current state-of-the-practice related to the usage, management, and/or approval of traffic analysis and simulation tools. The goal of this study is to improve the state-of-the-practice in traffic analysis, modeling, and simulation to enable public agencies to make the best possible transportation investment decisions based upon high-quality traffic analyses. The objectives of this study are to assemble federal, state, regional, and local agencies to: 1) identify challenges and issues common among those responsible for conducting, managing, and/or approving traffic analysis and simulation studies; 2) suggest approaches to address identified challenges; 3) initiate and monitor projects intended to address identified challenges and issues; 4) develop and disseminate noteworthy practices, recommendations, and results; and 5) promote and facilitate technology transfer related to traffic analysis and simulation issues nationally.

The exact nature and scope of the studies will be determined through consensus of the participating agencies. However, a number of study themes are possible, as identified below. Challenges with Applications of TAMS: Many agencies are addressing new issues regarding the usage of traffic analysis and simulation in the project review and approval process. While the FHWA Traffic Analysis Toolbox gives broad guidance on the selection of tools and application of traffic analysis tools, participating agencies may benefit from surveying the practices of peer public agencies and developing best practices at a more detailed level. Moreover, studies could develop and report on methodologies, best practices, lessons learned, and guidance for dealing with fundamental issues including, but not limited to: • Data collection to support traffic analysis. • Calibration and validation challenges in traffic analysis. • Usage of performance measures from traffic analysis output to support agency decision-making. • Appropriate usage of traffic simulation animation and output to support decision-making when using stochastic models. • Implications of using select measures of effectiveness when conducting an analysis of a specific operations deficiency. • Proper calibration of lane-changing models. • Using data from regional planning models and/or preparing data for use in a microsimulation/traffic analysis. • Quantifying performance measures in congested networks using traffic analysis. • Systematic validation procedures. Evaluation of Innovative Applications: Agencies are interested in investigating innovative congestion mitigation solutions using traffic analysis tools. Studies could develop and report on methodologies, best practices, lessons learned, and guidance for using traffic analysis and simulation to evaluate innovative applications including, but not limited to: • Integration of predictions into traffic management strategies. • Connected and automated vehicle (CAV) applications. • High occupancy toll lanes. • Intelligent Transportation Systems strategies. • Multi-Modal transportation systems. • Personal mobility (e.g., scooters, bikes). • Mobility as a service (MaaS). • Real-Time decision support tools. Application and Evaluation of Emerging Data Sources: High-resolution data sources are continuing to become available for public agencies to use for planning and operations. These data sources could be extremely valuable for traffic analysis model calibration and validation once properly vetted. Studies could topics including, but not limited to: • Fusing data sources (e.g., traditional infrastructure based sensors, vehicle-based data, aerially collected data, third party data, and other emerging data sources) together to tell complete picture of transportation system performance. • Using high-resolution data sources (e.g., vehicle trajectories, high resolution traffic signal system data) for model calibration and validation. • Systematic and random error in high-resolution transportation data sources. • Relationship(s) between emerging data sources. • Development of data-driven tools using emerging data sources. Cultivating Corporate Commitment to Traffic Analysis and Simulation Core Competency: In 2017, FHWA hosted a series of webinars to conduct a Traffic Analysis Tools National Capability Assessment. One of the unexpected themes of the conversation is the lack of corporate commitment to traffic analysis as a core competency. Thus, this pooled fund study could sponsor studies to make a stronger business case for the use of traffic analysis tools with topics including, but not limited to: • Case studies illustrating value of traffic analysis. • Value of post-project evaluation. • Development of a capability maturity assessment tool for traffic analysis. • Better understanding of the role of AMS in the transportation decision making process and when and how agencies should apply AMS tools.

Desired level of contribution is $20,000 per year for each agency.