F is for fantasticNew Directions in Transportation LOS

Jim Charlier Charlier Associates, Inc.

This Morning

Jim Charlier, Charlier AssociatesIntroduction to LOS

Ronald Milam, Fehr & PeersState of the Practice

Mark Jackson, City of Fort CollinsImplementation Experience

Discussion, Q & A

Introduction: The Issue

What is LOS?Why do we do things this way?How is it working?

What is LOS?

Road supply performance measureMeasurement:

Volume / capacity (V/C)Average delay

Current and forecast

Traditional Definition

A= Free flowB=Reasonably free flowC=Stable flowD=Approaching unstable flowE=Unstable flowF=Forced or breakdown flow

Measured For:

Links (segments of roads)IntersectionsAveraged along corridorsAverage across a cordon lineAveraged in districts

(Traffic) LOS Used For:

Sizing of Roads & StreetsCorridor studiesRoadway designRight of way

Traffic Impact StudiesEntitlement of developmentSub –area planning

Growth Management SystemsConcurrency/adequate public facilities

Introduction: The Issue

What is LOS?Why do we do things this way?How is it working?

From no roads…

1600 1700 1800 1900 2000

100

200

300

milli

ons

Exploration, Initial Settlement

1893 Frontier Closes

Expansion of Cities & Suburbs

New Millennium

???

Major Phases in U.S. History

population

Our Learned Approach

Build it quick, build it cheapFaster, straighter, wider = betterDon’t worry about land usesJust get ‘er doneRole of LOS

How big should the “pipes” be?What has the highest priority?

Supply Side Focus

“Oops”

Introduction: The Issue

What is LOS?Why do we do things this way?How is it working?

Not Very Well

Congestion alleviation = sprawlWe need networks, not corridorsStreets are more than “facilities”Streets should be multimodal

Have you ever noticed...?

Predict Growth

Forecast TrafficWiden Streets

Induced Traffic

Types of Induced Traffic

………………… ImmediateChanges in travel route

……………. < 6 monthsChanges in mode of travel

……………. < 6 monthsChanges in time of travel

..…….. < 6 monthsChanges in amount of travel

Changes in origins & destinations…… < 10 years

% of new capacity consumed by induced traffic…

80%

60%

40%

20%

100%

Short Term: less than five years

Long Term: five to 10 years

Are we responding to traffic growth…

…or are we causing it?

“Project & Provide”

Effects of “Project & Provide”

High rates of drivingHigh risk of accidentsLower rates of walkingHigh of air pollution, esp. ozoneHigh levels of GHG emissionsNo reduction in congestion delay

Road Building Has Not Reduced Delay

What we’ve learned about “congestion alleviation”

1. Congestion Alleviation = Sprawl

2. Sprawl = More Traffic

3. Traffic Forecasting ≠ Planning

Not Very Well

Congestion alleviation = sprawlWe need networks, not corridorsStreets are more than “facilities”Streets should be multimodal

Networks not Corridors

Poor Connectivity Means:

“You can’t get there from here . . .”

(without driving on an arterial)

Lakewood, CO

Aurora

Focusing on Corridors

Redmond, WA

Facility-Centered Approach

Redmond, WA

Not Very Well

Congestion alleviation = sprawlWe need networks, not corridorsStreets are more than “facilities”Streets should be multimodal

St. Louis Region

Newbury, Boston

Neighborhood

Abutting Property

Abutting Property

Street

Street Abutting Property

Neighborhood

Lakewood, CO

Boulder

Portland

You can’t design a street like this…

Oahu

…and expect this to result.

Boulder

Anywhere, USA

Berkeley, CA

Not Very Well

Congestion alleviation = sprawlWe need networks, not corridorsStreets are more than “facilities”Streets should be multimodal

Multimodal Streets?

Multimodal Streets

This Morning

Jim Charlier, Charlier AssociatesIntroduction to LOS

Ronald Milam, Fehr & PeersState of the Practice

Mark Jackson, City of Fort CollinsImplementation Experience

Discussion, Q & A