NCHRP Project 08-36
Proposed Research Problem Statement
Title - Development and Evaluation of Potential Modifications to Highway Capacity Manual
Bicycle Level of Service Model for Arterial Roadways
Background – Perhaps the most significant advancement of the 2010 Highway Capacity Manual
(HCM) is its multimodal approach to evaluate the nation’s roadways. Now that the HCM has
been published, a perceived glitch has appeared in the bicycle level of service urban street
facility methodology. Excellent level of service determinations are near impossible to obtain,
and the facility level of service results are of lower quality than both the intersection and link
levels of service. The problem primarily appears to be associated with the numerical constant in
the applicable equation, but also may include the weighting methodology of combining
intersection and link level of service analyses. That perceived glitch is recognized within the
TRB committee overseeing the HCM. A Task Force of the original researchers, NCHRP panel
members, and the HCM committee was formed to address the issue. This problem statement
reflects the consensus from that task force.
Statement of Urgency – High. Analysts using the new HCM multimodal approach may get
greatly discouraged if results are not reasonable.
Project Objective(s) – Provide an update to the HCM so that planners and engineers can better
assess bicycle level of service for various roadway alternatives.
Relationship to Existing Body of Knowledge – This project would refine the bicycle level of
service research of NCHRP 3-70 (Multimodal Arterial Level of Service) which was implemented
in the 2010 HCM.
List of Anticipated Work Tasks
Task 1: Kickoff meeting - The contractor will prepare materials for and lead a conference call to
finalize the goals and approach of this project. The project tasks will be presented and discussed.
Any proposed revisions to the project tasks will be discussed. Decisions made during the
conference call will be documented and submitted to NCHRP. It is anticipated that a group of
TRB Highway Capacity and Quality of Service Committee members will participate as
reviewers on this project. They will be invited to the kickoff call and subsequent e-meetings as
deemed appropriate by the NCHRP project manager.
Task 2: Development of the Revised Bicycle LOS for Arterial Roadways Model
The development of the revised bicycle level of service (LOS) model for arterial roadways will
occur in three phases:
1. development of exposure based coefficients,
2. development of a weighting methodology to reflect the impact of links or intersections
with a particularly poor LOS, and
3. final revisions of the model.
Each of these subtasks is described below.
Development of Exposure Based Coefficients
The exposure coefficients are to be based upon the time bicyclists are actually on each link and
delayed at or within an intersection. Development of these coefficients will be based upon
bicyclists’ midblock speed (possibly 85th percentile speed, or average speed), the length of each
link, the width of each intersection, delay at the intersections, and possible acceleration and
deceleration rates. Once these coefficients are developed, they (and the theoretical construct
used to develop them) will be submitted to NCHRP in a brief technical memorandum for review
and comment. Upon approval of the technical memorandum, the contractor will reprogram the
spreadsheets used in the NCHRP 3-70 testing project and re-evaluate the sections evaluated
during that project with the new bicycle LOS model. The results of this testing will be presented
via an e-meeting with reviewers.
Development of Modification of Weighting the Quality of the Individual Components
It is hypothesized that the quality of an individual link or intersection impacts how much it
influences bicyclists’ overall perception of an arterial roadway. A method for weighting the
quality of the individual links and intersections within an arterial roadway segment will be
developed. Once these coefficients are developed, they (and the theoretical construct used to
develop them) will be submitted to NCHRP in a brief technical memorandum for review and
comment. Upon approval of the technical memorandum, the contractor will reprogram the
spreadsheets used in the NCHRP 3-70 testing project and re-evaluate the sections evaluated
during that project with the new bike LOS model. The results of this testing will be presented via
an e-meeting with reviewers.
Development of Final Model Based upon Comments on the Previous Two Subtasks
It is anticipated that project reviewers will have comments and recommendations on the model
presented at the end of the previous subtask. These recommendations and potential revisions will
be documented and submitted to NCHRP in a brief technical memorandum for review and
comment. Upon approval of the technical memorandum, the contractor will reprogram the
spreadsheets used in the NCHRP 3-70 testing project and re-evaluate the sections evaluated
during that project with the new bicycle LOS model. The results of this testing will be presented
via an e-meeting with reviewers.
Task 3: Document the Project and Results
The project process and findings will be documented in a final report prepared in TRB format.
Additionally, a paper will be written for submittal to TRB.
Estimate of Funds Needed - $37,000 (It is recommended that Sprinkle Consulting Inc. be the
contractor. Sprinkle Consulting did the original national work.)
Estimate of Time Needed to Complete the Research – 8 months
Name, Affiliation and Contact Information of Submitter(s)
Douglas S. McLeod
Florida Department of Transportation
Systems Planning Office
605 Suwannee St. MS - 19
Tallahassee Fl 32399-0450
douglas.mcleod@dot.state.fl.us
Phone: (850) 414-4932
(Panel Chair, NCHRP Project 3-70)
Date of Submittal – March 27, 2012