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Data Acquisition and Evaluation

This document outlines the process and requirements for conducting a cost-benefit analysis of traffic signal retiming initiatives for the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). It describes using computer modeling and travel time studies to analyze traffic operations before and after retiming. Benefits include travel time savings, reduced emissions, and fuel savings. These benefits are translated into a monetary value using specific formulas and factors to determine the overall annual cost savings for evaluation purposes.

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34 views

Data Acquisition and Evaluation

This document outlines the process and requirements for conducting a cost-benefit analysis of traffic signal retiming initiatives for the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). It describes using computer modeling and travel time studies to analyze traffic operations before and after retiming. Benefits include travel time savings, reduced emissions, and fuel savings. These benefits are translated into a monetary value using specific formulas and factors to determine the overall annual cost savings for evaluation purposes.

Uploaded by

koncypike
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Cost Benefit Analysis

NCDOT requires “before” and “after” analyses to measure traffic operational enhancements associated with traffic signal
system retiming initiatives. This analysis is normally performed using:

 Model projections from an approved computer‐based trafic modeling software such as Synchro Plus SimTraffic,
and
 Field measured travel time studies from approved GPS software that will generate a Travel Time & Delay Report
such as Tru‐Traffic.

The benefits associated with a traffic signal system retiming initiative are typically expressed as travel time savings through
reductions in overall system travel time, stops, and delay measurements. These improvements are best evaluated using the
Travel Time and Delay Report developed from the travel time study data in Tru‐Traffic. In addition to travel time savings,
the traffic signal system retiming initiative is expected to yield environmental benefits such as reduced emissions (NOx, HC,
and CO) and fuel usage. When required as part of an analysis, these environmental benefits are best measured in the
SimTraffic simulation software.

While travel time savings and adverse environmental reductions are good indicators of the success of the signal system
retiming initiative, it is often useful to translate these benefits into monetary savings expressed as part of a cost benefit
analysis. To ensure all traffic signal systems retiming initiatives performed for NCDOT are evaluated equally, the
methodology herein should be followed to determine the expected benefit cost savings when such an analysis is required
as part of a traffic signal system retiming initiative.

DATA ACQUISITION AND EVALUATION


When retiming a trafic signal system, the Engineer is required to collect a wide variety of field data to develop their new
timing plans as well as to prepare a “before” and “after” analysis of the system operation. Field data includes, but is not
limited to, intersection schematics such a lane configurations and distances between traffic signals; field observations such
as posted speed limits; volume data including 24‐hour tube counts and 12‐hour turning movement counts; existing traffic
signal system timing and coordination data as programmed in the field; and travel time and delay data. As part of the
existing trafic signal system timing and coordination data, cycle lengths, splits, ofsets, sequencing, and time‐of‐day/day‐of‐
week patterns must be extracted from each local controller during the initial field investigation.

Following field data collection, the Engineer will analyze “before” traffic operational measures and develop new traffic
signal system timing plans which will be used for the “after” analysis of the system operations. The new traffic signal system
timing plans are to be submitted to NCDOT for review and approval. Following review and approval by NCDOT, the Engineer
will implement the new traffic signal system timing plans in the field. During implementation, the Engineer will make cycle
length, split, and offset adjustments to fine‐tune the new traffic signal system timing plans based on field observations of
system operations. Following this fine‐tuning of the plans, the Engineer will revise all traffic modeling projections and travel
time study databases to reflect actual timing values now operating in the field. This step is critical to ensuring accurate
representation of the improvements attained in the cost benefit analyses.

At the completion of field implementation and fine‐tuning of the traffic signal system timing plans, the Engineer will
evaluate the cost benefit achieved by the retiming initiative when required. To perform the cost benefit, the Engineer will
calculate the annual cost benefit resulting from travel time savings and from environmental savings. The total annual cost
benefit for the traffic signal system retiming initiative will be the sum of these two savings. The following pages provide
detailed information on the required data collection parameters for a cost benefit analysis. They include cost benefit factors
and annual cost benefit formulas for the analysis along with those parameters specific to the travel time savings and the
environmental savings.

ANNUAL COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS FOR TRAVEL TIME SAVINGS


NCDOT Signal System Timing Philosophy Manual Cost Benefit Analysis
Assessment Page 1

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