[1] http://nexus.umn.edu/Books/FTN.html
[2] http://nexus.umn.edu/Papers/DelayerPays.pdf
Fundamentals of Transportation/
Conclusions
Transportation is multi-modal, multi-disciplinary field that requires the efforts of people from a spectrum of backgrounds. Planners, engineers and policy makers are the primary
groups, but architects, economists, and operations researchers serve in roles that benefit the industry. In order for an idea to become a road, it must go through several planning and design stages. This section serves as a conclusion for this wikibook as well as a summary of the building process for a roadway.
Connecting Places
• Planning
• Assessing Needs: Testing Alternatives (Hypotheses)
• Predicting Demand
• Trip Generation
• Trip Distribution
• Mode Choice
• Route Assignment
Fundamentals of Transportation/Conclusions
176
Determining Road Capacity (Width)
• Level of service
• Design to satisfy standard
• Understand implications of traffic (queues, shockwaves, congestion)
Determining Road Alignment (Length)
• Properties of drivers, vehicles, roadway
• Maximum grade associated with speed, vehicle type
• Stopping sight distance
• Vertical alignment (sags & crests)
• Horizontal alignment
Determining Road Strength (Depth)
• Given load on the road, how long can the road hold up.
• Design pavement depth to satisfy predicted traffic.
Putting it together
Planning determines origin/destination demand by vehicle type … feeds into Level of
Service
• LOS feeds into in-depth traffic analysis and determines number of lanes
• Truck demand determines maximum grade
• Stopping sight distance determines horizontal and vertical curvatures.
• Truck demand determines pavement thickness
Implications
Fraction of demand (trucks) is determining design characteristics (grade, depth)
Fraction of demand (peak hour traffic) is determining width.
1. Financing should consider this
2. Design should consider this. Maybe cars and trucks should have separate routes.
(car-only highways would be cheaper, separation would be safer).
3. We don’t ask one building to serve all needs, why should one road?
Thought Question
How does an idea become a road? Explain how an idea becomes a road. Illustrate your
explanation with a consistent set of examples for all of the major steps of analysis that are required (i.e. the output of one example should be the input to the next example).
Transportation Economics/Decision making
177
Transportation Economics/Decision
making
Decision Making
Decision Making is the process by which one alternative is selected over another.
Decision making generally occurs in the planning phases of a transportation project, but last minute decision making has been shown to occur, sometimes successfully. Several
procedures for making decisions have been outlined in effort to minimize inefficencies or redundancies.
Rational Planning
(see Rational planning model article in wikipedia [1] )
How does one (rationally) decide what to do?
1. Identify Needs
2. Set Objectives
3. Develop Options
4. Evaluate Options
5. Select Best Option
6. Implement Best Option
7. Evaluate Outcome
We need a tool to "Identify Needs" and "Evaluate Options". This may be the transportation
Transportation Economics/Decision making
178
Step A.Define the System
1. objectives - measures the effectiveness or performance
2. environment - things which affect the system but are not affected by it
3. resources - factor inputs to do the work
4. components - set of activities or tasks of the system
5. management - sets goals, allocates resources and exercises control over components
6. model of how variables in 1-5 relate to each other
Step B Generate and assess alternatives available to
management
1. . algorithms-systematic search over available alternatives
1. analytical
2. exact numerical
3. heuristic numerical
2. generate alternatives selectively, evaluate subjectively
1. fatal flaw analysis
2. simple rating schemes
3. Delphi exercises
3. generate alternatives judgmentally, evaluate scientifically using system model
4. need for "stopping rule"
Step C Choose alternatives
The analyst is generally not the decision maker. The actual influence of the results of the analysis in actual decisions will depend on:
1. determinacy of evaluation
2. confidence in the results on the part of the decision maker
3. consistency of rating among alternatives
Step D Implementation
Just Do It.
Step E Evaluation
1. definition: output from a later step in systems analysis used as input to a later step.
1. Examples.
analysis leads to revisions in systems definition implementation experience leads to a
revision of output system definition or values that underlay that definition.
Transportation Economics/Decision making
179
Thought Question
Is the Rational Planning process Rational?
Some Issues with Rational Planning
Nevertheless, some issues remain with the rational planning model:
• Limited Computational or Solution Generating Capacity
• Incomplete Information
• Cost of Analysis
• Conflicting Goals/Evaluation Criteria
• Reliance on Experts (What about the People?)
Alternative Planning Decision Making Paradigms. ¿Are
They Irrational?
No one really believes the rational planning process is a good description of most decision making, as it is highly idealized. Alternatives paradigms to the rational planning process include:
• Satisficing
• Incrementalist
• Organizational Process
• Political Bargaining
• Decomposition/Hierarchical Strategy/Tactics/Operations
References
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rational_planning_model
Transportation Economics/Decision making
180
Article Sources and Contributors
Fundamentals of Transportation Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1523822 Contributors: AdamD, Adrignola, Dallas1278, Darklama, DavidLevinson, Mike.lifeguard, 1 anonymous edits
Fundamentals of Transportation/About Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1419499 Contributors: AdamD, DavidLevinson, Jomegat,
2 anonymous edits
Fundamentals of Transportation/Introduction Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1243078 Contributors: AdamD, DavidLevinson
Transportation Economics/Introduction Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1329327 Contributors: DavidLevinson
Fundamentals of Transportation/Geography and Networks Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1255572 Contributors: AdamD,
DavidLevinson, 1 anonymous edits
Fundamentals of Transportation/Trip Generation Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1271845 Contributors: AdamD,
DavidLevinson, Reddi, 1 anonymous edits
Fundamentals of Transportation/Trip Generation/Problem Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1238333 Contributors: AdamD,
DavidLevinson
Fundamentals of Transportation/Trip Generation/Solution Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1242935 Contributors: AdamD,
DavidLevinson
Fundamentals of Transportation/Destination Choice Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1243600 Contributors: AdamD,
DavidLevinson, 1 anonymous edits
Fundamentals of Transportation/Destination Choice/Background Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1505583 Contributors:
Adrignola, DavidLevinson
Fundamentals of Transportation/Mode Choice Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1329322 Contributors: AdamD, DavidLevinson
Fundamentals of Transportation/Mode Choice/Problem Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1238343 Contributors: AdamD,
DavidLevinson
Fundamentals of Transportation/Mode Choice/Solution Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1238346 Contributors: AdamD,
DavidLevinson
Fundamentals of Transportation/Route Choice Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1505578 Contributors: AdamD, Adrignola,
DavidLevinson
Fundamentals of Transportation/Route Choice/Problem Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1238354 Contributors: AdamD,
DavidLevinson
Fundamentals of Transportation/Route Choice/Solution Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1238361 Contributors: AdamD,
DavidLevinson
Fundamentals of Transportation/Evaluation Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1294547 Contributors: AdamD, DavidLevinson
Fundamentals of Transportation/Planning Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1243100 Contributors: AdamD, DavidLevinson
Fundamentals of Transportation/Operations Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1242946 Contributors: AdamD, DavidLevinson
Fundamentals of Transportation/Queueing Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1266267 Contributors: AdamD, DavidLevinson
Fundamentals of Transportation/Queueing/Problem1 Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1238371 Contributors: AdamD,
DavidLevinson
Fundamentals of Transportation/Queueing/Solution1 Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1242949 Contributors: AdamD,
DavidLevinson
Fundamentals of Transportation/Queueing/Problem2 Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1238375 Contributors: AdamD,
DavidLevinson
Fundamentals of Transportation/Queueing/Solution2 Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1242950 Contributors: AdamD,
DavidLevinson
Fundamentals of Transportation/Queueing/Problem3 Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1238385 Contributors: AdamD,
DavidLevinson
Fundamentals of Transportation/Queueing/Solution3 Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1242952 Contributors: AdamD,
DavidLevinson
Fundamentals of Transportation/Traffic Flow Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1307128 Contributors: AdamD, DavidLevinson, 1
anonymous edits
Fundamentals of Transportation/Traffic Flow/Problem Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1241928 Contributors: AdamD,
DavidLevinson
Fundamentals of Transportation/Traffic Flow/Solution Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1242955 Contributors: AdamD,
DavidLevinson
Fundamentals of Transportation/Queueing and Traffic Flow Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1242956 Contributors: AdamD,
DavidLevinson
Fundamentals of Transportation/Shockwaves Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1385890 Contributors: AdamD, DavidLevinson
Fundamentals of Transportation/Shockwaves/Problem Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1238396 Contributors: AdamD,
DavidLevinson
Fundamentals of Transportation/Shockwaves/Solution Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1238399 Contributors: AdamD,
DavidLevinson
Fundamentals of Transportation/Traffic Signals Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1242983 Contributors: AdamD, DavidLevinson
Fundamentals of Transportation/Traffic Signals/Problem Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1241902 Contributors: AdamD
Transportation Economics/Decision making
181
Fundamentals of Transportation/Traffic Signals/Solution Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1241903 Contributors: AdamD
Fundamentals of Transportation/Design Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1236498 Contributors: AdamD, DavidLevinson, 1
anonymous edits
Fundamentals of Transportation/Sight Distance Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1241905 Contributors: AdamD, DavidLevinson,
2 anonymous edits
Fundamentals of Transportation/Sight Distance/Problem Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1238406 Contributors: AdamD,
DavidLevinson
Fundamentals of Transportation/Sight Distance/Solution Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1238407 Contributors: AdamD,
DavidLevinson
Fundamentals of Transportation/Grade Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1436014 Contributors: AdamD, DavidLevinson, Van der
Hoorn
Fundamentals of Transportation/Grade/Problem Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1238412 Contributors: AdamD
Fundamentals of Transportation/Grade/Solution Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1241907 Contributors: AdamD, Ramac
Fundamentals of Transportation/Earthwork Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1242994 Contributors: AdamD
Fundamentals of Transportation/Earthwork/Problem Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1241911 Contributors: AdamD, Ramac
Fundamentals of Transportation/Earthwork/Solution Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1241912 Contributors: AdamD
Fundamentals of Transportation/Horizontal Curves Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1243010 Contributors: AdamD,
DavidLevinson
Fundamentals of Transportation/Horizontal Curves/Problem Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1238525 Contributors: AdamD
Fundamentals of Transportation/Horizontal Curves/Solution Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1242971 Contributors: AdamD,
Ramac
Fundamentals of Transportation/Vertical Curves Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1385897 Contributors: AdamD,
DavidLevinson, 2 anonymous edits
Fundamentals of Transportation/Vertical Curves/Problem Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1238532 Contributors: AdamD
Fundamentals of Transportation/Vertical Curves/Solution Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1241917 Contributors: AdamD,
Ramac
Transportation Economics/Pricing Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1329317 Contributors: DavidLevinson, 1 anonymous edits
Fundamentals of Transportation/Conclusions Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1235516 Contributors: AdamD, DavidLevinson
Transportation Economics/Decision making Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?oldid=1505581 Contributors: Adrignola, DavidLevinson, 2
anonymous edits
Transportation Economics/Decision making
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Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors
Image:TransportationInputsOutputs.png Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?title=File:TransportationInputsOutputs.png License: unknown Contributors: User:DavidLevinson
Image:DemandForTravel.png Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?title=File:DemandForTravel.png License: unknown Contributors: User:DavidLevinson
Image:NegativeFeedback.png Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?title=File:NegativeFeedback.png License: unknown Contributors: User:DavidLevinson
Image:TransportationSupplyAndDemand.png Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?title=File:TransportationSupplyAndDemand.png License: unknown Contributors: User:DavidLevinson
Image:PositiveFeedbackVirtuous.png Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?title=File:PositiveFeedbackVirtuous.png License: unknown Contributors: User:DavidLevinson
Image:PositiveFeedbackVicious.png Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?title=File:PositiveFeedbackVicious.png License: unknown Contributors: User:DavidLevinson
Image:Routemaster.JPG Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?title=File:Routemaster.JPG License: unknown Contributors: Dapete, KF, Kneiphof, Kotasik, LoopZilla
Image:FOT-Planning-Hierarchy.png
