COMPAT User Guide

Revised May 2024

 Table of Contents
1 Introduction................................................................................................................................................................3
1.1 What is COMPAT?.....................................................................................................................................................3
1.2 Data Behind COMPAT .............................................................................................................................................3

2 Usage of COMPAT .....................................................................................................................................................5

2.1 Overview of Landing Page and MPO Site Features .....................................................................................5
2.2 Overview of New MPO Site Functions ..............................................................................................................7
1 Introduction
1.1 What is COMPAT?
The Congestion Management Process Assessment Tool (COMPAT) was designed for the
purpose of assisting Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) with the congestion
management process (CMP), while also providing a resource for other efforts such as
performance-based planning and programming, corridor analyses, and general roadway
performance reporting/monitoring. MPOs and their regional stakeholders can use
COMPAT for many purposes which may include:
1. Storing and monitoring roadway performance on their CMP network.
2. Provide regional summaries of performance profiles and maps based on a variety of
roadway categories, and performance measures.
3. Select corridors across their urbanized area and obtain annual congestion
performance profiles and export for later use within COMPAT.
4. Visualize roadway performance for select corridors such as via plotting speed
profiles across an annual average of Wednesdays and Saturdays for a given data
year.

1.2 Data Behind COMPAT

COMPAT utilizes the Texas 100 statewide dataset, which is produced each year as part of
the Texas 100 Most Congested Road Segments. This statewide dataset is derived using
INRIX speed data and traffic volumes from the Texas Department of Transportation’s
(TxDOT) roadway inventory file (RIF). In terms of roadway coverage, this means the
majority of the non-local, on-system roads are included in COMPAT. More detail on the
calculations can be found on the Texas 100 Most Congested Road Segments site at
https://mobility.tamu.edu/texas-most-congested-roadways/ .

The table below shows the performance measures and metrics available as options within
COMPAT.
 Volume-based

Speed-based
Reliability-based

Other (Asset/Air)
Measure/Metric Description
Person Hours of Delay Person hours of delay is the difference in travel time from uncongested traffic and congested traffic. This is for all
persons in vehicles traveling for a year.

Congested Costs Congested costs is the annual costs to travelers due to such factors as loss productivity and extra vehicle wear.

AADT The total volume of traffic on a highway segment for one year, divided by the number of days in the year.

Vehicle Miles of Travel The mileage traveled by all vehicles on a highway segment over an average day in a year.

Peak Vehicle Miles of Travel The mileage traveled by all vehicles on a highway segment in the peak period over an average day in a year.

Truck AADT The total volume of truck traffic on a highway segment for one year, divided by the number of days in the year.

Truck Vehicle Miles of Travel The mileage traveled by all trucks on a highway segment over an average day in a year.

Truck Person‐Hours of Delay Truck person‐hours of delay is the difference in travel time from uncongested traffic and congested traffic. This is
for all truck person‐hours traveling for a year.

Reference Speed The average speed of vehicles in uncongested conditions.

Congested Speed The average speed of vehicles in congested conditions.

Truck Reference Speed The average speed of trucks in uncongested conditions.

Truck Congested Speed The average speed of trucks in congested conditions.

Travel Time Index Travel Time Index is the ratio of the peak‐period travel time as compared to the free‐flow travel time. This
measure is computed for the AM peak period (6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.) and PM peak period (4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.)
on weekdays.
Truck Travel Time Index Travel Time Index is the ratio of the peak‐period travel time for trucks as compared to the free‐flow travel time for
trucks. This measure is computed for the AM peak period (6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.) and PM peak period (4:00 p.m.
to 7:00 p.m.) on weekdays.
Planning Time Index 80 80th percentile Planning Time Index (PTI) is the ratio of the 80th percentile travel time as compared to the free‐
flow travel time.

Planning Time Index 95 95th percentile Planning Time Index (PTI) is the ratio of the 95th percentile travel time as compared to the free‐
flow travel time.

Truck Planning Time Index 80 80th percentile Truck Planning Time Index (PTI) is the ratio of the 80th percentile truck travel time as compared
to the truck free‐flow travel time.

Truck Planning Time Index 95 95th percentile Truck Planning Time Index (PTI) is the ratio of the 95th percentile truck travel time as compared
to the truck free‐flow travel time.

Congested CO2 Lbs Congested pounds of CO2 is the extra CO2 emmitted from vehicles in congested conidtions.

Normal CO2 Lbs Congested pounds of CO2 is the CO2 emmitted from vehicles in uncongested conditions.

Miles of Highway The total miles of highway for the roadways being analyzed.

Lane Miles of Highway The total lanes*miles of highway for the roadways being analyzed.

Estimated A data quality indicator. No signifies the INRIX speed data coverage for this segment was adequate. Yes indicates
that speed was inadequate, and speed and congestion estimates were developed based on historical speed data
from time periods beyond the data year.
2 Usage of COMPAT
2.1 Overview of Landing Page and MPO Site Features

2.1.1 COMPAT Landing Page Overview

From the landing page, users are first presented with a map of Texas including
metropolitan area boundaries of each MPO which may be selected to visit the MPO COMPAT
site. The User guide may be obtained thru the help link. The methodology link describes
how the data was conflated over GIS. The year drop down box (1) indicates the data year
for RIF volume data sets obtained from TxDOT. Once you set the year, the next step is to
select which MPO you are interested in viewing, either thru the map, or in the list of MPOs
below.

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2.1.2 MPO COMPAT Site Overview
Upon arrival at the MPO COMPAT site, users are presented with:

1. A performance summary table on the left containing roadway categories and

performance measures,
2. A map on the right with zoom-top left feature, and map type-top right functions
(light, streets, satellite, roads, and county select options) on the top left and top right
corner of the map. The mouse scroll wheel provides a zoom in and out function for
the map as well.
3. In addition, by hovering over a selected roadway, the specific link will be highlighted,
and detailed road information will be displayed in a white legend box in the right side
of the map. This legend features new information and selection options that include:
a. Road type and name (information)
b. Performance measures selection drop down (option)
c. Roadway color specifications and performance bin number selection (-/+
option)
d. Preset properties box that includes information on:
i. % of Single Unit and Combo Unit Trucks in ADT
ii. Delay
iii. Travel Time Index
iv. Planning Time Index 80
v. Planning Time Index 9Estimated (Data Quality Indicator- If ‘Yes’ then
it is based on historic averages)
2.2 Overview of New MPO Site Functions
Several additional functions have been built into the MPO COMPAT site page which will be
illustrated here.

2.2.1 Connectivity between Performance Summary Table and Map Functions

The user may (1) categorize roadways which connect to the map and performance
summary table. The performance summary table now connects with the map and legend:
When the user (2) click-selects a measure along the top row to sort the figures, or when the
user (3) unchecks boxes along the roadway category/label column the performance drop-
down selection in the legend (4) will change to match the selection, along with the map, by
highlighting the performance measure on the map, and the road categories checked.

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2.2.2 Map Layer Box Changes (RECENT ADDITION)
Several recent updates in 2022 have been made to the Map Layer Box located in the upper
right-hand corner (1) of the map. These include the integration of current projects listed
in the TxDOT Unified Transportation Program (UTP). By selecting on these boxes (2),
projects beginning soon, or underway in 4,5-10, or 10+ years can be shown over the
current congestion performance map.

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2.2.3 Performance Measures Selection
The performance summary table and legend may contain up to five measures which can be
added or removed in the performance measures “calculator” drop down (1). Within this
drop-down, measures are grouped according to various categories with a definition for each
provided in the lower right-hand corner (2) of the drop-down table.

2.2.4 Map and Performance Table Expansion Buttons

The middle strip of screen contains arrow buttons (1) that will expand either the
performance summary or the map section to cover the entire screen (2). To return to split
view, select the horizontal bars (3).

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2.2.5 My Roads Selection, Export, and Import Functions
Within the map there are options to click on the road section of choice
and develop a corridor within the extent of the dark blue strip that
appears over the roadway. This blue strip defines the extent to which the
corridor can be analyzed which is limited by RHiNO segmentation and
road classifications. Once a corridor has been selected (1) by using the
‘From Here’ to the ‘To Here’ buttons, it will be (2) added to the My Roads
selection within the roadway category drop down, as well as the
performance summary table. To add additional corridors to the table and
my roads section, return (3) to the selected road categorization (e.g.,
‘Highway System Designation’) view and select another roadway from
and to.

TTI has developed an export/import function, whereby the end user can
export (4) the my road sections into JSON files containing their extents. 2
Once these are saved to the device of choice, the end user may return
these files to the website by selecting the import function (5) as indicated
below. TTI will work with end users to finalize these into a permanently a
monitored roadway section under the drop down which will be updated
in subsequent years. Examples of this monitored section may be viewed
in the Killeen-Temple MPO 2017 and 2018 RHiNO/2016-2017 INRIX XD
data sets.
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2.2.6 Plotting Speed Profiles in My Road Selections
After a road selection has been made in the map, the regional performance summary table
displays a column entitled “Speed Profiles”. The ‘Plot’ button in this column enables the user
to view the performance of the roadway in terms of annual average daily speeds on an
hourly basis for weekday and weekend hours. Selecting the roadway section and then ‘Plot
Speed Profiles’ develops the chart further below as depicted in the figure below. It should be
noted that end users cannot compare multiple roadways sections simultaneously within
this chart as this function is not included.
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In the top right-hand corner of the speed profile chart are multiple options to adjust the
speed profile chart (1). These include:
• Download Plot as a png: take a snap shot image
• Zoom: draw a zoom in box
• Pan: move to the right or left
• Zoom in: zoom in
• Zoom out: zoom out
• Autoscale: zoom back to original setting and enable ‘Toggle Spike Lines’
• Reset Axis: zoom back to original setting and disable ‘Toggle Spike Lines’
• Toggle Spike Lines: enable additional graphic to highlight different speed / time
connections
• Show Closest Data Set on Hover: highlight speeds for one line and time on the chart
• Compare Data on Hover: highlight speeds for all lines and time on the chart

These functions enable users to adjust the chart to fit the need of their analysis or to call out
travel times for specific directions on the selected roadway. Additional adjustments to the
chart may be made by selecting or deselecting the legend lines on the far right which will
make lines appear or disappear on the chart (2).