Office of Operations
21st Century Operations Using 21st Century Technologies

Traffic Analysis Toolbox Volume XIV: Guidebook on the Utilization of Dynamic Traffic Assignment in Modeling

Foreword

Notice

This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The U.S. Government assumes no liability for the use of the information contained in this document. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. The U.S. Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trademarks or manufacturers’ names may appear in this report only because they are considered essential to the objective of the document.

Quality Assurance Statement

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provides high-quality information to serve Government, industry, and the public in a manner that promotes public understanding. Standards and policies are used to ensure and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of its information. FHWA periodically reviews quality issues and adjusts its programs and processes for continuous quality improvement.

Technical Report Documentation Page

1. Report No.

FHWA-HOP-13-015

2. Government Accession No.

3. Recipient’s Catalog No.

4. Title and Subtitle

Traffic Analysis Toolbox Volume XIV: Guidebook on the Utilization of Dynamic Traffic Assignment in Modeling

5. Report Date

November 2012

6. Performing Organization Code

7. Author(s)

Jaimison Sloboden, John Lewis, and Vassili Alexiadis – Cambridge Systematics, Inc.
Yi-Chang Chiu and Eric Nava – University of Arizona

8. Performing Organization Report No.

9. Performing Organization Name and Address

Cambridge Systematics, Inc.
4800 Hampden Lane, Suite 800
Bethesda, MD 20814

10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS)

11. Contract or Grant No.

DTFH61-06-D-00004

12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address

U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
Office of Operations
1200 New Jersey Ave S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20590

13. Type of Report and Period Covered

Final Report
July 2011 December 2012

14. Sponsoring Agency Code

HOP

15. Supplementary Notes

The Contracting Officer’s Task Manager (COTM) for FHWA is John Halkias.

16. Abstract

This document provides guidance to practitioners, managers and software developers on methods for applying Dynamic Traffic Assignment (DTA) in transportation modeling. This guidance will inform Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) and State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) of the potential benefits and applications that are possible from utilization of DTA modeling tools. This Guidebook provides recommended processes and implementations for using DTA tools in transportation analyses. This document provides transportation practitioners with guidance on the appropriate application of DTA tools for transportation decision making. The Guide is intended to assist practitioners in developing and implementing DTA for regional planning, project planning, and other transportation analysis.

17. Key Words

Dynamic Traffic Assignment, DTA, Simulation Modeling, Transportation Analysis Tools

18. Distribution Statement

No restrictions.

19. Security Classif. (of this report)

Unclassified

20. Security Classif. (of this page)

Unclassified

21. No of Pages

120

22. Price

N/A

Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed pages authorized

Acknowledgments

Dr. John Halkias, Mr. Chung Tran, Mr. Eric Pihl, Mr. Douglas Laird and Mr. James Sturrock of FHWA provided significant comments and guidance throughout this project and on the development of this report. Their advice and assistance is much appreciated.

We would like to thank the following peer exchange participants for their substantial contributions and feedback in developing this report:

  • Rob Goodwin (GRTA);
  • Scott Higgins (Portland Metro);
  • Jana Janarthanan (WSDOT);
  • Guy Rousseau (ARC);
  • Elizabeth Sall (San Francisco County Transportation Authority);
  • David Roden (AECOM);
  • Jeff Shelton (TTI);
  • Rama Balakrishna (Caliper);
  • Colby Brown (Citilabs);
  • Alex Gerodimos (TSS);
  • Michael Mahut (INRO);
  • Kiel Ova (PTV America);
  • Mohammed Hadi (FIU);
  • Karl Wunderlich (Noblis); and
  • Xuesong Zhou (University of Utah).