AMOUD UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

FUNDAMENTALS OF TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING

CHAPTER TWO: ASSIGNMENT PLUS WORK SHEET;

PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Reference: Traffic and Highway Engineering FOURTH EDITION

Nicholas J. Garber Lester A. Hoel University of Virginia

ABDIFATAH A. H. OMER
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2023
FUNDAMENTALS OF TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING AMOUD UNIVERSITY

ASSIGNMENT
1. A large manufacturer uses two factors to decide whether to use truck or rail for
movement of its products to market: cost and total travel time. The manufacturer
uses a utility formula that rates each mode. The formula is U = 5C + 10T, where C
is cost ($/ton) and T is time (hours). For a given shipment of goods, a trucking firm
can deliver in 16 hours and charges $25/ton, whereas a railroad charges $17/ton
and can deliver in 25 hours.
a) Which mode should the shipper select?
b) What other factors should the shipper take into account in making a decision?
(Discuss at least two.)
2. An individual is planning to take a 1000-mile trip between two large cities. Three
possibilities exist: air, rail, or auto. The person is willing to pay $30 for every hour
saved in making the trip. The trip by air costs $850 and travel time is 10 hours, by
rail the cost is $550 and travel time is 18 hours, and by auto the cost is $300 and
travel time is 22 hours.
a) Which mode is the best choice?
b) What factors other than cost might influence the decision regarding which
mode to use?
3. Consider a zone with the following characteristics:
Household Category No of HH Income ($/year) Trips/day
180 4,000 6
0 car
80 18,000 8
1 car
40 50,000 11
2 or more cars

It is expected that after five years; the income will increase 30% and 50% of
households without a car would acquire one. Estimate how many trips would the
zone generate in that case; check whether your method is truly the best available.

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FUNDAMENTALS OF TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING AMOUD UNIVERSITY

4. The following cross-classification graphs have been developed for Study Area.

90
Households in Income Category (%) 80

70
High
60

50

40
Med
30

20

10

0 Low
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
-10
Average Zone Income
Figure 1 Average Zonal Income versus Households in Income Category

80

70

60
3+ Auto
50
Households (%)

40
2 Auto
30

20 1 Auto

10

0 Auto
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
-10
Income

Figure 2 Households by Automobile Ownership and Income Category

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FUNDAMENTALS OF TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING AMOUD UNIVERSITY

25

3+
20 Auto

2 Auto
Number of Trips/HH

15
1 Auto

10
0 Auto

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Income

Figure 3 Trips per Household per Day by Auto Ownership and Income Category

60

50

NHB
40
Trips (%)

HBO
30

HBW
20

10

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Income

Figure 4 Trips by Purpose and Income Category

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FUNDAMENTALS OF TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING AMOUD UNIVERSITY

Consider a zone that is located in a suburban area of a city. The population and income
data for the zone are as follows. Traffic zone containing 500 houses with an average
household income of $35,000, Use high = 55,000; medium = 25,000; low = 15,000.)
Determine the number of trips per day generated in this zone for each trip purpose,
assuming that the characteristics depicted in Figures 1 through 4 apply in this
situation.

5. A small town has been divided into three traffic zones. An origin-destination
survey was conducted earlier this year and yielded the number of trips between
each zone as shown in the table below. Travel times between zones were also
determined. Provide a trip distribution calculation using the gravity model.
Assume Kij = 1.
The following table shows the number of productions and attractions in each zone.

6. A small study area has been divided into four zones and a limited survey has
resulted in the following trip matrix:
zone 1 2 3 4
1 _ 60 275 571
2 50 _ 410 443
3 123 61 _ 47
4 205 265 75 _

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FUNDAMENTALS OF TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING AMOUD UNIVERSITY

Estimates for future total trip ends for each zone if estimated future origins and
destinations are as given below:
zones Estimated future origins (Oi) Estimated future destinations (Di)
1 1200 670
2 1050 730
3 380 950
4 770 995

Use an appropriate growth-factor method to estimate future zonal movements.

7. Assume that the data shown in the Table below have been developed for travel
between two zones. Determine the percent of work trips by auto and transit. An
exponent value of 3.0 used for non-work travel. Median income is $44,000 per year.
Table; Travel Data between the Two Zones
level-of-service variables Auto Transit
Distance 15 mi 12 mi
Excess time 7 min 10 min
Cost per mile $0.25 $0.15
Parking cost $1.50 (or 0.75 /trip) —
Speed 35 mi/h 25mi/h

If the number of non-work trips between zones was computed to be 15,000 trips
per day, then what would be the number of trips by auto and by transit?
8. Assign the trips shown in the O-D trip table to the network travel time shown in
Figure using the all-or-nothing assignment technique. Make a list of the links in the
network Show the minimum path and Calculate total number of trip assigned in
each link of road
OD 1 2 3 4 5
1 — 100 100 200 150
2 400 — 200 100 500
3 200 100 — 100 150
4 250 150 300 — 400
5 200 100 50 350 —

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FUNDAMENTALS OF TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING AMOUD UNIVERSITY

9. Table 13.1 shows a trip distribution matrix with 4 zones. Using the travel costs
between each pair of them shown in Figure 13.2, assign the traffic to the network.
Load the vehicle trips from the trip distribution table shown below using the AON
technique. After assigning the traffic, illustrate the links and the traffic volume on
each on them.
OD 1 2 3 4
1 — 150 100 200
2 300 — 250 100
3 250 100 — 100
4 250 150 300 —

10. Assume that the volume on link 1 to 5 was 550, and the travel time was 3 minutes.
If the capacity of the link is 600, determine the link travel time that should be used
for the next traffic assignment iteration

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FUNDAMENTALS OF TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING AMOUD UNIVERSITY

WORK SHEET; PRACTICE QUESTIONS

1. What are the most central problems in your state concerning one of the
following: (a) air transportation, (b) railroads, (c) water transportation, (d)
highways, or (e) public transportation?
2. What is the main difference between public transportation and private
transportation?
3. Discus the following a) Mass transit b) Paratransit c) Ridesharing and d) Taxi
service?
4. What are the four principal modes for moving freight? Which of these modes
carries the largest share of ton-miles? Which carries the lowest?
5. What are the four principal modes for moving people? Which of these modes
accounts for the largest share of passenger-miles? Which mode accounts for the
lowest?
6. Describe the basic steps in the transportation planning process.
7. Urban transportation planning is concerned with two separate time horizons.
Briefly describe each and provide examples of the types of projects that can be
categorized in each horizon.
8. What is the purpose of performing inventories and surveys for each defined
geographic unit or traffic zone within a study area?
9. In the data-collection phase of the urban transportation forecasting process,
what type of information should the data reveal for a traffic analysis zone?
10. Explain the concept of multi-modal transportation and its significance in the
transportation system.
11. Discuss the benefits and social costs associated with transportation systems.
12. Discuss the major importance of transportation and its role in economic growth.
13. Describe the importance of transportation in economic growth, considering its
impact on trade, job creation, and productivity.
14. Discuss the significance of transportation planning and its role in sustainable
transportation systems.
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FUNDAMENTALS OF TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING AMOUD UNIVERSITY

15. Explain the various modes of land transport and their advantages and
limitations.
16. Explain the process of "Trip Distribution" in the Four-Step Transport Modelling
approach and its significance in transportation planning.
17. Describe the role of "Socio-economic Data" in transportation forecasting and the
impact it has on urban transportation planning.
18. Explain the relationship between socio-economic characteristics and travel
behavior within a geographic area. Provide examples to illustrate this
relationship.
19. Discuss the significance of classifying trips by purpose (e.g., Home-Based Trips
and Non-Home-Based Trips) in trip generation modeling.
20. In trip generation, how does the variation in household income, and vehicle
ownership influence the number of trips in different zones?
21. Discuss the challenges and limitations associated with the Growth Factor
Modeling technique in trip generation prediction. How do these challenges
impact the accuracy of forecasting future trips?
22. Explain the concept of the Origin-Destination matrix in trip distribution and its
significance in transportation planning.
23. Compare and contrast the uniform, singly constrained, and doubly constrained
growth factor models, highlighting their applications and limitations.
24. Elaborate on the various factors influencing mode choice. How do these factors
contribute to the mode selection for travel, and why is mode choice modeling
essential in transportation planning?
25. Compare and contrast the three main types of mode choice modeling
techniques - direct generation models, trip end models, and trip interchange
models. Highlight the advantages and limitations of each technique and
elucidate when each method is most appropriately used in transportation
planning.

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FUNDAMENTALS OF TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING AMOUD UNIVERSITY

Extended Question

1. Discuss the symbiotic relationship between transportation and economic

growth, elaborating on how an efficient transportation system is vital for
economic development. Highlight the various challenges and benefits
associated with transportation systems, focusing on the importance of
balancing social costs and benefits for sustainable transportation planning.
Provide examples and strategies that transportation engineers can employ to
ensure the highest quality transportation systems while considering
environmental and societal implications.
2. Select a current transportation problem in your community or state with which
you are familiar or interested. Briefly describe the situation and the problem
involved. Indicate the options available and the major impacts of each option
on the community.
3. Describe a step-by-step procedure of applying the Gravity Model in a real-
world scenario to determine the trip distribution between different zones
within an urban area. Include the necessary inputs, calculations, and
interpretations required to derive the Origin-Destination matrix. Provide an
illustrative example to demonstrate the practical application of the Gravity
Model in trip distribution using a hypothetical case study.

Assignment Due date Thursday, December 7, 2023,

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