Highway Capacity Manual 2010: Review of ITE Overview Webinar

I watched the Institute of Transportation Engineer's webinar yesterday that covered an overview of the new HCM 2010.  This is a huge change from the 2000 Highway Capacity Manual (explaining why the 2010 HCM is coming out in April 2011.....).  Here are the slides from the webinar (Download HCMoverview).

Here are some of the highlights from the webinar:

• HCM 2010 is supposed to ship this week.
• ITE will have ten webinars to go over individual components of HCM 2010 (more info here)
• The three hard copy volumes total 1200 pages
• New elements
  • Multi-modal approach (ways to analyze bikes, peds, transit in addition to vehicles)
  • Chapter describing when/how to use advanced traffic analysis tools such as micro-simulation
  • Refined Level of Service criteria based on current research
  • Primer for non-technical audiences
  • Analysis accounts for actuated controllers and left turn lane queueing at traffic signals
  • Tools for analyzing roundabouts (this is probably my favorite update - we finally have a simple apples to apples way of comparing stop signs/signals/roundabouts)
  • All way stop signs - include three approach lanes instead of just two
  • Side street stop signs - considers traffic from adjacent intersections
  • Quick estimation method for interchange ramp terminals
  • Volume 4 is an online site that contains discussion boards/errata/additions.  Tools to make this more of a living document.

I plan to attend about half of the upcoming HCM 2010 webinars (assuming NCITE continues to host them for a $10 fee).  I'll post a summary for each webinar I've attended.  I'll also post some thoughts on the HCM once I have a chance to go through my copy.  I'm also considering posting my login/password for Volume 4 so all of my loyal readers can log onto the website (without having to buy the $275 book).  Stay tuned...

Comments

[Brian Geiger]

Thank you Mr. Spack! I appreciate the summaries and PDFed slides.

[Geoff Pritchard]

Mr. Spack -

Can you explain how the highway capacity manual defines a "delay" and, if a state transportation department has the authority to change/override those definitions when applied to an interstate highway?

Thanks.

[Mike]

Geoff - Here's the definition of delay from the HCM 2010 - "Additional travel time experienced by a driver, passenger, bicyclist, or pedestrian beyond that required to travel at the desired speed." For different types of travel, delay is calculated using different algorithms. HCM is the generally accepted way to calculate delay, but every agency has the right to say how much delay is acceptable. There are also more detailed micro-simulation models that can be used to calculate delay. These are heavy duty programs and require calibration of the model. HCM 2010 has a lengthy discussion on when it would be appropriate to consider the more refined analysis available with micro-simulation. Mike