Citation

Hallenbeck ME. Transp. Res. Rec. 1985; 1050: 5-12.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1985, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Most states expend a significant amount of resources for collecting traffic volume, vehicle classification, and truck weight information. Most of this data collection reflects the continuation of past practices and does not result in either cost-effective data collection or the establishment of an integrated, statistically valid data base for use in design, maintenance, or planning applications. As a result of an FHWA study, it was determined that an integrated, cost-effective data collection program is feasible. The recommended program framework described in this paper provides traffic monitoring procedures for state DOTs that allow each state to establish a productive traffic monitoring process that meets state and federal needs, often reduces the total amount of data collected, and improves the quality of the data that are obtained. It must be emphasized that this framework does not specify the amount of traffic data a state must collect. Each state has different needs, budgets, equipment, and other resources. Each state must make individual decisions about the trade-offs between collecting more data (with the intent of obtaining higher quality data) and the need to limit the expenditure of funds for data collection.

Language: en

Keywords

TRAFFIC SURVEYS; HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION; DATABASE SYSTEMS; MANAGEMENT - Information Systems