Research Report

AP-R523-16

Traffic Impact Estimation Tool for

Small Intersection Projects
User Guide
Traffic Impact Estimation Tool for Small Intersection Projects: User Guide

Prepared by Publisher

Paul Bennett, Bob Lloyd, Dr Cliff Naude Austroads Ltd.

Level 9, 287 Elizabeth Street
Sydney NSW 2000 Australia
Project Manager Phone: +61 2 8265 3300
[email protected]
Dr Mark Harvey
www.austroads.com.au

Abstract About Austroads

This User Guide is a practical ‘how-to’ guide to using the Small Austroads is the peak organisation of Australasian road
Intersection Evaluation (SIE) Tool. transport and traffic agencies.
The SIE Tool is intended as a quick economic evaluation tool for Austroads’ purpose is to support our member organisations to
small intersection projects including: give-ways/stops, roundabouts deliver an improved Australasian road transport network. To
and traffic signals. Intersection treatments are evaluated in terms of succeed in this task, we undertake leading-edge road and
traffic impacts through road user cost (RUC) savings (travel time, transport research which underpins our input to policy
vehicle operating cost and emissions cost savings) as well as crash development and published guidance on the design,
cost savings. construction and management of the road network and its
associated infrastructure.
The SIE Tool is not intended to replace detailed analysis of
intersections using established approaches and methodologies Austroads provides a collective approach that delivers value
commonly used by road and transport agencies. Rather, it is for money, encourages shared knowledge and drives
designed to assist practitioners when they need to undertake a rapid consistency for road users.
evaluation of an intersection involving several potential treatment
types or evaluate a number of possible projects within a program of Austroads is governed by a Board consisting of senior
intersection projects. This type of evaluation could then be followed executive representatives from each of its eleven member
by detailed evaluation of intersection treatment types in the organisations:
conventional manner if required.  Roads and Maritime Services New South Wales

The development of the tool and its default values are detailed in the  Roads Corporation Victoria
Austroads report AP-R522-16 Development of the Traffic Impact  Department of Transport and Main Roads Queensland
Estimation Tool for Small Intersection Projects.  Main Roads Western Australia
 Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure
Keywords South Australia
Intersection, give-way/stop, roundabout, signalised, project  Department of State Growth Tasmania
evaluation, base case, project case, treatments, crash modification,  Department of Transport Northern Territory
cost-benefit analysis, road user costs, crash costs, construction
 Transport Canberra and City Services Directorate,
costs, maintenance costs
Australian Capital Territory
 Australian Government Department of Infrastructure and
ISBN 978-1-925451-29-0 Regional
Austroads Project No. TT1838  Australian Local Government Association
Austroads Publication No. AP-R523-16  New Zealand Transport Agency.

Publication date August 2016

Pages 14

© Austroads 2016

This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the
Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process
without the prior written permission of Austroads.

This report has been prepared for Austroads as part of its work to promote improved Australian and New Zealand transport outcomes by
providing expert technical input on road and road transport issues.
Individual road agencies will determine their response to this report following consideration of their legislative or administrative
arrangements, available funding, as well as local circumstances and priorities.
Austroads believes this publication to be correct at the time of printing and does not accept responsibility for any consequences arising from
the use of information herein. Readers should rely on their own skill and judgement to apply information to particular issues.
 Traffic Impact Estimation Tool for Small Intersection Projects: User Guide

Summary

This User Guide is aimed at facilitating the use of the Small Intersection Evaluation (SIE) Tool. The SIE Tool
is intended as a quick economic evaluation tool for small intersection projects, involving the following
intersection treatment types: give-ways/stops, roundabouts and traffic signals. Intersection treatments are
evaluated in terms of traffic impacts through road user cost (RUC) savings (travel time, vehicle operating
cost and emissions cost savings) as well as crash cost savings.

It is not intended to replace detailed analysis of intersections using established approaches and
methodologies commonly used by road and transport agencies. Rather, it is aimed at assisting practitioners
when they need to undertake a rapid evaluation of an intersection involving several potential treatment types
or evaluate a number of possible projects within a program of intersection projects.

This type of evaluation could then be followed by detailed evaluation of intersection treatment types in the
conventional manner if required.

The User Guide is intended as a direct ‘how-to’ guide to using the SIE Tool. Details behind the structure of
the SIE Tool and the default values (the ‘why’ aspect) are explained in the Austroads research report
completed for the project. Finally, it must be noted that the coefficients used to estimate delay and vehicle
operating costs in the SIE Tool are updated periodically via a separate, off-line process as new unit values
(e.g. travel time and fuel costs) become available.

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 Traffic Impact Estimation Tool for Small Intersection Projects: User Guide

Contents
Summary ......................................................................................................................................................... i
1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 1
1.1 Objective of the Small Intersection Evaluation (SIE) Tool ............................................................... 1
1.2 Focus of the User Guide .................................................................................................................. 1
2. Small Intersection Evaluation Tool Step-by-step User Guide ........................................................... 2
2.1 Opening the SIE Tool ....................................................................................................................... 2
2.2 Entering the Traffic Data .................................................................................................................. 3
2.3 Entering Data for the Base Case and Project Case ......................................................................... 5
2.3.1 Base Case ........................................................................................................................... 5
2.3.2 Project Case ........................................................................................................................ 6
2.3.3 Project Maintenance ............................................................................................................ 7
2.4 Intersection Treatments.................................................................................................................... 7
2.4.1 Crash Rates and Crash Costs ............................................................................................. 7
2.4.2 Treatment Types ................................................................................................................. 7
2.4.3 Crash Modification Factor (CMF) per Treatment Type ....................................................... 8
2.5 Run Calculations and View Outputs ............................................................................................... 10
2.6 The Spreadsheets within the Workbook ........................................................................................ 11
3. Differences Between the Results of SIE Tool and Intersection Analysis Software ...................... 13
4. Updating of the SIE Tool ..................................................................................................................... 14

Tables

Table 2.1: Count of lanes at the stop line (base case) ................................................................................. 6
Table 2.2: Count of lanes at the stop line (project case) .............................................................................. 6

Figures

Figure 2.1: Instructions page ......................................................................................................................... 2

Figure 2.2: Traffic inputs page ....................................................................................................................... 3
Figure 2.3: Base case and project case page ............................................................................................... 5
Figure 2.4: Intersection treatments page....................................................................................................... 8
Figure 2.5: Message box indicating the combined CMF that opens when treatments are submitted .......... 9
Figure 2.6: ResultsSummary page .............................................................................................................. 10

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 Traffic Impact Estimation Tool for Small Intersection Projects: User Guide

1. Introduction

1.1 Objective of the Small Intersection Evaluation (SIE) Tool

The SIE Tool is intended as a quick economic evaluation tool for small intersection projects, involving the
following intersection treatment types: give-ways/stops, roundabouts and traffic signals. Intersection
treatments are evaluated in terms of traffic impacts through road user cost (RUC) savings (travel time,
vehicle operating cost and emissions cost savings) as well as crash costs savings.

It is not intended to replace detailed analysis of intersections using established approaches and
methodologies commonly used by road and transport agencies. Rather, it is aimed at assisting practitioners
when they need to undertake a rapid evaluation of an intersection involving several potential treatment types
or evaluate a number of possible projects within a program of intersection projects.

This type of evaluation could then be followed by detailed evaluation of intersection treatment types in the
conventional manner if required.

1.2 Focus of the User Guide

The User Guide is intended as a direct ‘how-to’ guide to using the SIE Tool. Details behind the structure of
the tool and the default values (the ‘why’ aspect) are explained in the Austroads research report completed
for the project.

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 Traffic Impact Estimation Tool for Small Intersection Projects: User Guide

2. Small Intersection Evaluation Tool

Step-by-step User Guide

2.1 Opening the SIE Tool

The SIE Tool has been built in Excel using the developer forms and VBA macros. As with any Excel
workbook, double click the SIE Tool Excel file to open the tool. The ‘Instructions’ page will be displayed1 as
shown in Figure 2.1, which gives brief instructions on how to set up and run a project evaluation.

Upon opening the tool, the Excel workbook that contains most of the data will be hidden. At any stage, the
workbook can be viewed by closing the form. Click the ‘Close Form’ button in the bottom left corner to close
the form and the workbook will then automatically open. Changes made by the user prior to closing the form
will be retained.

From within the workbook, the form can be opened again by clicking the ‘Open Form’ button in the ‘Open
Form’ spreadsheet.

Figure 2.1: Instructions page

1 Users should note that the input windows may not display completely or may be distorted. This could be due to their computer
screen resolution. Use another computer screen if this issue arises.

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 Traffic Impact Estimation Tool for Small Intersection Projects: User Guide

2.2 Entering the Traffic Data

The first step in running an evaluation of a small intersection project is to input the traffic data. Click the
‘Traffic inputs’ button on the left hand side of the form to open the ‘Traffic inputs’ page of the form, which is
shown in Figure 2.2.

Figure 2.2: Traffic inputs page

Enter the traffic data into this form as follows:

Traffic count year – This is the year in which the counts were taken. Traffic volumes calculated for each
year of the evaluation period will be obtained assuming linear annual growth in traffic from this count year.

Passenger car equivalents – The user can either accept the default values or define their own PCE values
for rigid trucks, articulated trucks and buses. The PCEs represent the number of cars that can pass through
the intersection in the same time as the particular heavy vehicle. The PCE values, along with the
percentages of heavy vehicles within the traffic composition, are used to convert AADT volumes to PCE
volumes.

Peak hour flow – This input is the percentage of the two-way daily flow that is assumed to flow during the
peak hour. Typically, the percentage is around 10% 2.

Discount rates – Low, desired and high discount rates should be entered as percentages (default values
are 4%, 7% or 10% for low, desired and high discount rates respectively) 3. The user can either accept the
default percentages or define their own. These discount rates will be used throughout the project to bring all
costs and benefits to equivalent dollar values for the base year.

2 Users should be aware that the SIE Tool estimates on the basis of all-day traffic volumes as opposed to peak hour traffic volumes.
3 The default discount rates are those recommended by Infrastructure Australia for use in economic evaluation of infrastructure projects.

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 Traffic Impact Estimation Tool for Small Intersection Projects: User Guide

Year project opens to traffic – This is the year the modified intersection is expected to be fully opened to
traffic. This will be the first year of the project life.

Project life – This will be the number of years for which the project will be in operation or the life of the
project. The project life begins (project becomes operational) when construction ends. The analysis period is
therefore the sum of the project life and the construction period (1–2 years). The maximum project life is 30
years.

Number of approaches – Select either 3, 4 or 5 approaches. Note that for 5 approaches, only roundabouts
can be evaluated.

Environment – Select either ‘urban’ or ‘rural’ based on where the small intersection is located.

Approach traffic – The following traffic data needs to be entered for each approach of the intersection:
 If the intersection has only 3 approaches, the text boxes for Approach 4 and Approach 5 will be disabled.
 If the intersection has 4 approaches, the text boxes for Approach 5 will be disabled.
 If the intersection has 5 approaches, all text boxes will be enabled.

AADT in count year – These should be the one-way AADTs taken during the Traffic count year for the
direction approaching the intersection.

Growth rates – Enter the percentage growth rates for light and heavy vehicles. The tool assumes constant
linear growth for the entire evaluation period with an annual increase of the percentage rate times the traffic
level for the traffic count year. Heavy vehicles are rigid trucks, articulated trucks and buses combined. All
other vehicles are considered light vehicles.

Traffic composition – Enter the proportions of light and heavy vehicles as decimal numbers between 0 and
1. The sum of the light and heavy proportions must add to 1.

Heavy vehicle proportions – Considering only the heavy vehicles on the approach, enter the proportions of
rigid trucks, articulated trucks and buses as decimal numbers between 0 and 1. Accept the default
proportions or enter proportions specific to the approach if known. The sum of all three proportions must add
to 1.

Turning proportions – For each approach, enter the turning proportions as decimal numbers between 0
and 1. The sum of all turning proportions must therefore add up to 1. The turning options are as follows:
 For 3 approach intersections – exit 1 and exit 2
 For 4 approach intersections – left turn, through and right turn
 For 5 approach intersections – exit 1, exit 2, exit 3 and exit 4.

The appropriate set of text boxes for the turning proportions will correspond with the number of approaches
selected.

Once all data have been entered into the Traffic page, click the yellow ‘Submit traffic input data’ button. This
will take the user to the ‘Base case and project case’ page.

Note: The yellow submit buttons must be clicked on each data input page before the ‘Run calculations and
view outputs’ button is enabled and calculations can be run. Once the input data in a page has been
submitted, the page button on the left side of the form will change its text colour from green to grey.

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 Traffic Impact Estimation Tool for Small Intersection Projects: User Guide

2.3 Entering Data for the Base Case and Project Case
Figure 2.3 shows the ‘Base case and project case’ page that opens up after the user has clicked the yellow
submit button on the Traffic page. Note that the ‘Traffic inputs’ button on the left side of the form now has
grey text, indicating that the traffic input data has been submitted.

Figure 2.3: Base case and project case page

2.3.1 Base Case

The base case is the intersection before any modifications are made. Enter the following information about
the base case:
 Intersection type – Select whether the intersection before modification is a give-way/stop, roundabout or
signalised intersection. If it is a roundabout, enter the number of lanes within the rotary (1, 2 or 3). If it is
signalised, enter the number of signal phases (2 to 6).
 Approach speed limits and lanes – Enter the following information about each approach of the
intersection.
 Speed limit – Enter the speed limit for the approach lanes. Valid speed limits are 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 and
80 km/h.
 Lanes at the stop line – Enter the number of left turn, through and right turn lanes at the stop line of the
approach. Lanes with more than one turning movement should be counted only once as in Table 2.1.

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 Traffic Impact Estimation Tool for Small Intersection Projects: User Guide

Table 2.1: Count of lanes at the stop line (base case)

Single lane movements Count lane as

Left – through – right Through
Left – through Through
Through – right Through
Left – right Left

 Length of right turn lane (if signals) – Enter the length of the right turn lane in metres. Right turn lanes
that are 70 metres or more are considered ‘full-length’ right turn lanes. If the right turn lane is a full-length
lane then enter 70. If the right turn lane is less than 70 metres then a factor is calculated internally as:
right-turn lane length/70
 Exit lanes (if rotary) – If the intersection before modification is a roundabout, specify the number of exit
lanes (1, 2 or 3) from this intersecting road. In most cases, the number of exit lanes will be the same as
the number of approach lanes but there may be the odd exception.

2.3.2 Project Case

The project case is the intersection after all modifications have been completed. Enter the following
information about the project case:
 Construction years – Select either 1 or 2 years. Small intersection projects should not take longer
than 2 years.
 Construction costs – Enter the first year cost of construction. If construction will be over two years, the
user must also enter the cost of construction during the second year 4.
 Intersection type – Select whether the intersection after all modifications have been made will be a give-
way/stop, roundabout or signalised intersection. If it is a roundabout, enter the number of lanes within the
rotary (1, 2 or 3). If it is signalised, enter the number of signal phases (2 to 6).
 Approach speed limits and lanes – Enter the following information about each approach of the
intersection.
 Speed limit – Enter the speed limit for the approach lanes. Valid speed limits are 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 and
80 km/h.
 Lanes at the stop line – Enter the number of left turn, through and right turn lanes at the stop line of the
approach. Lanes with more than one turning movement should be counted only once as in Table 2.2.

Table 2.2: Count of lanes at the stop line (project case)

Single lane movements Count lane as

Left – through – right Through
Left – through Through
Through – right Through
Left – right Left

4
The reference year for the analysis is taken to be the year prior to commencement of construction of the project. Construction costs
are assumed to be incurred at the end of the year and therefore construction costs incurred in the first year are discounted by one
year and in the second, by two years. Benefits in the first year of operation are discounted by two years for a project with a one-year
construction period and by three years for a project with a two-year construction period.

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 Traffic Impact Estimation Tool for Small Intersection Projects: User Guide

 Length of right turn lane (if signals) – Enter the length of the right turn lane in metres. Right turn lanes
which are 70 metres or more are considered ‘full-length’ right turn lanes. If the right turn lane is a full lane
then enter 70. If the right turn lane is an added lane and its length is less than 70 metres then a factor is
calculated internally as:
right-turn lane length/70
 Exit lanes (if rotary) – If the intersection after modification is a roundabout, specify the number of exit
lanes (1, 2 or 3) from this intersecting road. In most cases, the number of exit lanes will be the same as
the number of approach lanes but there may be the odd exception.

2.3.3 Project Maintenance

Enter the estimated additional maintenance costs over the base year maintenance costs for each year of the
evaluation period. The user can enter a single annual maintenance cost over a range of years by entering in
the text boxes above, the ‘From year’ and ‘To year’ and the annual ‘Cost’ then clicking the ‘Enter costs’
button. The ‘From year’ and ‘To year’ refer to the year number within the evaluation period, from 1 to the
number of evaluation years, rather than the actual years themselves. For example, for a project evaluation
period from 2016 to 2025, enter 1 for the first year, 2016, and 10 for the tenth year, 2025.

Once all data have been entered into the ‘Base case and project case’ page, click the yellow ‘Submit
inputs for base and project cases’ button. This will take the user to the ‘Intersection treatments’ page. At
this point, the ‘Base case and project case’ button on the left side of the form should change its text colour
from green to grey5.

Note: The yellow submit buttons must be clicked on each data input page before the ‘Run calculations and
view outputs’ button is enabled and calculations can be run. Once the input data in a page has been
submitted, the page button on the left side of the form will change its text colour from green to grey.

2.4 Intersection Treatments

2.4.1 Crash Rates and Crash Costs

At the top of the ‘Intersection treatments’ page, the base case intersection type will be displayed, along
with the default crash cost and crash rate for this type of intersection6. Users can select the ‘User defined’
option if they wish to enter a different crash cost or a specific crash rate for the intersection.

2.4.2 Treatment Types

Below this are a range of treatments that can be applied to an intersection. They are categorised into six
different groups with a button for each group. Clicking each button displays the group of treatments within
each of these categories, as shown in Figure 2.4 the treatment groups are:
Install signage Install or modify traffic signals Install or modify roundabouts

Channelisation of traffic Install turning lane Staggered junctions

5 Options selected under the Base case and project case will also appear in the Intersection treatments page that follows.
6 Depending on intersection type and whether it is rural or urban.

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 Traffic Impact Estimation Tool for Small Intersection Projects: User Guide

Figure 2.4: Intersection treatments page

2.4.3 Crash Modification Factor (CMF) per Treatment Type

Each treatment type has a default crash modification factor (CMF), which is a decimal number between 0
and 1. These CMFs represent assumed reductions in crash risk as a result of improvements to the
intersection from the treatments applied and are calculated as the ratio of the predicted number of crashes
'with-treatment' to the predicted number of crashes ‘without-treatment’.

Click the relevant treatment buttons and select all treatments that will be applied to the project intersection.
Selected treatments have their CMF highlighted in yellow. For each treatment, users can accept the default
CMF or define their own CMF.

Mutually exclusive treatments are indicated in circular tick boxes known as radio buttons, while instances
where more than one treatment is possible are indicated by a square tick box, known as a checkbox. If the
user accidently clicks the radio button of a mutually exclusive treatment and they do not want to select any
mutually exclusive treatments, they can click the ‘Clear radio buttons’ button in the bottom right corner.
Note that this will only clear the selected radio buttons in the treatments category the user is currently
viewing. To uncheck a ticked checkbox of a treatment that is not mutually exclusive, simply click inside the
checkbox again to remove the tick.

Once all relevant treatments have been selected, click the ‘Submit all treatments’ button. This will apply all
selected CMFs to the crash rate and thus reduce the number of crashes and subsequent crash cost
predicted for each year of the evaluation period. The way in which crash cost savings are calculated using
the CMFs is explained in Box 1.

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 Traffic Impact Estimation Tool for Small Intersection Projects: User Guide

Box 1: Explanation of calculation of crash cost savings

For example, if for a particular year of the evaluation period:

Vehicles entering intersection over year = 1 250 000
Predicted crash rate = 4.08 crashes per 10 million vehicles entering the intersection (MVE)

Therefore, if no treatments are applied to the intersection (base case), the predicted number of crashes at
the intersection for the year will be = 4.08 x (1 250 000/10 000 000) = 0.51 crashes.

If treatments are applied then the predicted number of crashes will be revised.

Assume two treatments will be applied:

Treatment 1: CMF = 0.8
Treatment 2: CMF = 0.75
The combined CMF is 0.8 x 0.75 = 0.6

Therefore, the predicted number of crashes at the intersection for the project case will be:
0.51 x 0.6 = 0.306 crashes

The predicted crash cost for the year will also be reduced:
Assume the average cost of a crash for this intersection type = $193 087
Crash cost for year (base case) = $193 087 x 0.51 = $98 474
Crash cost for year (project case) = $193 087 x 0.306 = $59 085

When the ‘Submit all treatments’ button is clicked, a message box as shown in Figure 2.5 should open
showing the combined CMF that will be applied. This is entered into the Crash Costs spreadsheet and
applied to all predicted annual crash numbers and crash costs for the base case to derive the predicted
annual crash numbers and crash costs for the project case. The Crash Costs spreadsheet can be viewed in
the workbook when the interface form is closed.

Figure 2.5: Message box indicating the combined CMF that opens when treatments are submitted

After clicking the OK button in this message box, the message should close and the ‘Run calculations and
view outputs’ button should then be enabled, provided both the ‘Traffic’ and ‘Base and project case’
submit buttons have also been clicked.

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 Traffic Impact Estimation Tool for Small Intersection Projects: User Guide

2.5 Run Calculations and View Outputs

Click the ‘Run calculations and view outputs’ button and the tool will do just that, displaying the
‘ResultsSummary’ page after a few seconds, as shown in Figure 2.6.

Figure 2.6: ResultsSummary page

Results are provided in the ‘ResultsSummary’ for each of the economic decision rules:
 Net present value (NPV)
 Benefit–cost ratio (BCR)
 First year rate of return (FYRR).

The results are presented for road user cost and crash cost savings individually, and then in terms of the
sum of road user cost plus crash cost savings. Maintenance costs are treated as an operational expenditure
and subtracted from road user cost and crash cost savings.

The ‘ResultsSummary’ page references the ResultsSummary spreadsheet in the Excel workbook. Clicking
the ‘Export summary’ button on this page will open a Save As dialog box, allowing the user to save a copy
of the ResultsSummary spreadsheet.

Closing the form allows the user to view the ResultsSummary spreadsheet within the workbook, along with
all other spreadsheets in the workbook7.

7 Trials of the SIE Tool revealed that some users may encounter difficulties using Excel in other applications while the SIE Tool is still
open or in shutting down the SIE Tool. This is attributed to a computer capacity issue; users should always ensure they save
exported worksheets before moving to other applications.

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 Traffic Impact Estimation Tool for Small Intersection Projects: User Guide

2.6 The Spreadsheets within the Workbook

The spreadsheets within the workbook and the information they hold are as follows:

OpenForm – Only contains a button to open the form.

INPUTS – Contains information that has been entered by the user in the ‘Traffic’ page and the ‘Base Case
and Project Case’ page. This information relates to:
 intersection type – controls/number of approaches/environment
 traffic – volumes/compositions/growth rates/turning proportions/peak hour flow
 project – opening year/evaluation period/discount rates
 intersection approaches – speed limits/lanes at stop line/right-turn lanes/rotary lanes
 project costs – construction costs/maintenance costs.

Coef – Contains the hard-coded cost coefficient values A to F for each category of intersection control –
vehicle type – cost category. It then tables the composite coefficients for the base case and project case
based on their intersection control type and traffic compositions8.

The cost categories are: person-hours, person-cost, fuel use, fuel cost and other road user effects.

Signals – Tables the year-by-year variables and resultant person, fuel and RUE costs for signalised base
case intersections and signalised project case intersections.

Giveway – Tables the year-by-year variables and resultant person, fuel and RUE costs for sign controlled
base case intersections and sign controlled project case intersections.

Roundabout – Tables the year-by-year variables and resultant person, fuel and RUE costs for roundabout
base case intersections and roundabout project case intersections.

CrashCosts – Shows the default crash costs for urban and rural environments and the default crash rates
for each combination of environment and intersection control type. The combined crash modification factor
(CMF) resulting from the selected treatments is saved to this spreadsheet. The year-by-year crash costs
over the evaluation period are then tabled for the base case and again for the project case after the
combined CMF is applied.

Summary – Contains a large summary table that shows all the person, fuel and RUE costs for both the base
case and project case. It then shows the cost differences (base costs – project costs), followed by the low,
desired and high discounted costs.

8 Note that the coefficients are password-protected and therefore cannot be changed by the user. In terms of updating, ARRB will
revise the cost coefficients periodically and issue a new version of the tool to users.

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 Traffic Impact Estimation Tool for Small Intersection Projects: User Guide

ResultsSummary – Provides the all-important outputs for the final cost-benefit analysis9. These outputs
include:
 current low, desired and high discount rates
 total discounted construction costs (low, desired and high)
 total discounted maintenance costs (low, desired and high)
 total discounted RUC savings (low, desired and high)10
 total discounted crash cost savings (low, desired and high)
 road user costs: net present value (NPV), benefit cost ratio (BCR) and first year rate of return (FYRR)
 crash cost savings: net present value (NPV), benefit cost ratio (BCR) and first year rate of return (FYRR)
 combined road user costs plus crash cost savings: net present value (NPV), benefit cost ratio (BCR) and
first year rate of return (FYRR).

9 Users are reminded that all results can be exported and saved as a Microsoft Excel file and printed in the normal way in that
program.
10 If users wish to undertake sensitivity testing involving changes to road user costs, e.g. fuel costs, the most appropriate way of doing
this would be to: export the Summary and ResultsSummary worksheets; adjust the relevant cost category in the Summary
worksheet (e.g. increasing fuel costs by 10%); carry this through to the ResultsSummary worksheet; and undertake the calculations
and record the impact on results (NPV, BCR and FYRR) within the worksheets (i.e. outside the Tool). Other aspects of sensitivity
testing, e.g. changes to capital costs or alternative traffic growth scenarios, can still be undertaken within the tool by changing the
inputs and exporting the results.

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 Traffic Impact Estimation Tool for Small Intersection Projects: User Guide

3. Differences Between the Results of SIE Tool

and Intersection Analysis Software
The testing of the SIE Tool by jurisdictions highlighted differences between RUC cost savings (traffic
impacts) estimated by the SIE Tool and those arising from intersection analysis software such as SIDRA. It
must be noted that the traffic impacts generated by the SIE Tool are not directly comparable with results from
a SIDRA analysis. This is because the latter represents the summation over the day of at least five different
flow rates representing: peak period, off peak, night time, Saturday and Sunday flow rates, whereas the SIE
Tool uses an all-day average. Even when this is taken into account, results from the two may still not be
reconciled because of the difficulty of trying to represent a gradual change in RUCs per vehicle entering as
the volumes change with a step function. This is because the RUCs are not linear with the total volume
entering the intersection. This issue is discussed in the Austroads project report covering the development of
the SIE Tool.

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 Traffic Impact Estimation Tool for Small Intersection Projects: User Guide

4. Updating of the SIE Tool

It must be noted that the coefficients used to estimate delay and vehicle operating costs in the SIE Tool are
updated periodically via a separate, off-line process as new unit values (e.g. travel time and fuel costs)
become available.

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Traffic Impact Estimation Tool for Small Intersection Projects: User Guide

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