Georgia Ave NW

Traffic Flow Study

Traffic Flow Study

Objectives:
The objective of this study is to conduct a traffic flow study at a location on a selected
corridor and compute the flow rate at the location for an hour.
Introduction/Background:
Traffic flow theory is expressed as numerical models that attempt to correlate
characteristics of traffic movement to each other and to essential traffic parameters. The science
behind traffic flow study was discovered by Bruce Greenshilds and the Yale Bureau of Highway
Traffic in the 1930s (1). The understanding of traffic characteristics has grown and became
beneficial for traffic engineers in developing roads, transportation plans, etc.
Traffic Flow is the study of the movement of individual drivers and vehicles between two
points and the interactions they make with one another. However, studying traffic flow is
difficult because driver behavior is something that cannot be predicted with one-hundred percent
certainty. Factors affecting traffic flow include geometric characteristics (length of the section,
free-flow speed, no. of lanes, lane width), traffic flow characteristics (volume, composition,
turning movements, driver behavior, etc.) and signal settings (cycle time, green times, phase
sequence, offsets) (2). Traffic flow characteristics consist of traffic speed, travel time, volume,
and density (1). These functions are the elements of planning, design and operation of roads and
highways and transport facilities. The relationship of flow, speed, and density help traffic
engineers in planning, designing and evaluating the efficiency of implementing traffic
engineering measures on a road or highway system. The basic for further analyses are data
collecting on several elements of traffic stream. One example of the use of traffic flow theory in
design is the determination of adequate lane lengths for storing left-turn vehicles on separate leftturn lanes (1). The determination of average delay at intersections and freeway ramp merging
areas is another example of the application of traffic flow theory. Another important application
of traffic flow theory is simulation, where mathematical algorithms are used to study the
complex interrelationships that exist among the elements of a traffic stream or network to
estimate the effect of changes in traffic flow on factors such as accidents, travel time, air
pollution and fuel consumption (1).

Traffic conditions can range from almost free flow to highly congested conditions when
the roadways are jammed with slow moving vehicles. The basic variables that can describe the
existing conditions can be determined within a vehicles stream flow, concentration, and mean
speed. The fundamental relationship of these three elements can be used for several traffic
events. Consider the case of vehicles following each other on a long stretch of roadway.
Furthermore, assume that these vehicles are not required to interrupt their motion for reasons that
are external to the traffic stream, such as traffic lights, and transit stations. In this case of
uninterrupted flows the only interference that a single vehicle experiences is caused by other
vehicles on the roadway (1).
Scope:
The study was conducted on Georgia Ave NW between the intersecting roads of Howard
Pl NW and Barry Pl NW. This street is composed of 4 lanes, 2 northbound and 2 southbound.
The traffic flow study was performed on the 2 lanes southbound towards the intersection of
Barry Place NW and Georgia Ave NW. The location is surrounded with local restaurants, bus
stops, Howard University, college dorms, parking lots, Baseball Park, Banneker Recreation
Center, and 2 intersecting roads; Barry Place NW and Howard Place NW.
Methodology and Data Collection:
The flow rate data was collected on Georgia Ave NW
southbound towards the Barry Place NW for 30 minutes on
Thursday, September 4th from 8:30pm to 9:00pm. To

Reference
point

determine the flow rate, a tree was used as a reference point to

count the number of cars passing the tree within 30 minutes.

Figure 1: Aerial View of Georgia Ave NW

The tree location is shown on Figures 1and 2. Tally marks

were used to count the number of vehicles passing the tree
within the time frame. After 30 minutes, 262 vehicles passed

Reference
point

the reference point.

Figure 2: Street View of Georgia Ave NW going Southbound

Analysis of Result:
To calculate the traffic flow rate, the equation q=n/t , where q= traffic flow in vehicles
per unit time, n = number of vehicles passing some designated roadway point during time t, and
t= duration of time interval, was used (3). Theoretically, the flow rate can used to find the traffic
volume by multiplying the number of vehicles found in 30 minutes by 2 to determine the volume
for an hour.
Time (min)
30
60

Vehicles(n)
262
524

Traffic flow(q)
8.73
8.73

Conclusion/ Recommendations:
The traffic flow rate on southbound Georgia Ave NW between Barry Place NW and
Howard Place was computed to be 524 vehicles / hour.

References

1.

McShane, William R., and Roger P. Roess. Traffic Engineering. 4th ed. Upper Saddle River
N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 2011. 107. Print.

2. Gartner, Nathan. "TRAFFIC FLOW CHARACTERISTICS IN COORDINATED SIGNAL

SYSTEMS." tft2010. Traffic Flow Theory and Characteristics Committee (AHB45) of the
Transportation Research Board, n.d. Web. 13 Oct 2014.

3.

<http://www.tft2010.inrets.fr/papers/10-7-i4.pdf>.
McShane, William R., and Roger P. Roess. Traffic Engineering. 4th ed. Upper Saddle River

N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 2011. 107. Print.

4. Lecture 2- Traffic and Vehicle Characteristics, Dr. Stephen Arhin;
https://blackboard.howard.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-1579274-dt-content-rid2690357_1/courses/CIEG46501201408/Traffic%20and%20Vehicle%20Operating%20%20Chapter%202.pdf Accessed Sept. 13, 2014.
5. Valentin, Jan. "Traffic Flow Theory." Web. 15 Sept. 2014.
<http://d2051.fsv.cvut.cz/predmety/tren/trafficflow.pdf>.