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Transportation Depth Problem

Solving
Traffic Flow
HCM

6 February 2024

Problem 1
On freeways, according to the Highway Capacity Manual, which of the
following statements is true?
a) On steep downgrades, trucks have lower passenger-car equivalents than they
do on slight downgrades.
b) On upgrades, higher percentages of trucks tend to have lower passenger-car
equivalents.
c) Trucks are usually a higher percentage of peak hour traffic than of off-peak
traffic.
d) When the percentage of trucks and the percentage of RVs are nearly equal,
the RVs can be combined with trucks and considered as one heavy vehicle
factor.

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Problem 2
Determining service flow rate of a roadway requires which of the following criteria
according to the Highway Capacity Manual?
I) Driver population factor
II) Heavy vehicle factor
III) Lane width factor
IV) Number of lanes
V) Parking Adjustment factor
VI) Peak hour factor
VII) Average control delay per vehicle
VIII)Volume over Capacity ratio
a) I, II, IV and VI
b) I, II, IV and VIII
c) I, II, III, IV and V
d) II, III, V, VI, and VII

Problem 3
On a highway facility, how does the observed hourly vehicle volume
differ from the design peak-period flow rate?
a) The highest 15 minute vehicle volume is divided by the highest 1
hour flow rate to obtain the peak –period flow rate.
b) The observed hourly vehicle volume includes a mix of heavy
vehicles , while the design peak-period flow rate has been adjusted
for passenger-car equivalents of heavy vehicles, the peak hour factor,
the driver population, and the number of lanes.
c) The observed hourly vehicle volume is divided by the number of
observation hours to obtain the peak-period flow rate.
d) The observed vehicle volume is divided by the number of
observation hours and the number of lanes over which the
observation took place.

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Problem 4
The peak hour factor in the HCM is determined by:
a) The peak 15 minutes of flow divided by the peak one-hour flow
b) The peak hour flow divided by the maximum rate of flow that
occurs in the peak interval (usually 5-minutes)
c) The peak interval of flow (usually five minutes) divided by the peak
one-hour flow.
d) The peak hour flow divided by the peak 15-minute flow rate,
expressed as an hourly rate.

Problem 5
The relationship between traffic density k and mean vehicle speed u of a section
of roadway can be presented as follows
u = 50 – 0.33k
The maximum capacity flow qmax for this roadway in veh/mile is most nearly:
A) 1600
B) 1700
C) 1800
D) 1900

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Problem 6
Traffic data were obtained in real time photography on a highway. Using regression analysis to fit these
data into a straight line , y = a +bx, to the Greenshield’s model, the following equation has been obtained:
Y = 118.64 – 1.5159x
Where y is the speed (mi/hr) and x is the density (veh/mi)
The maximum flow (veh/hr) is most nearly

A) 1944
B) 2121
C) 2321
D) 2921

Problem 7
A six-lane divided highway is on rolling terrain with two access points per mile and has
10-ft wide lanes, with 5-ft shoulder on the right side and a 3-ft shoulder on the left side.
The peak-hour factor is 0.85 and the directional peak-hour volume is 3400 veh/hr. There
are 7% SUT and 3% TT heavy vehicles in the traffic mix. No speed studies are available
but the posted speed limit is 55 mph.
Determine the LOS.
a) B
b) C
c) D
d) E

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Problem 8
A new freeway is being designed through a rural area. The DDHV has been forecasted to be 2700 veh/hr during the
peak hour (one direction). The following conditions are expected to prevail:
PHF = 0.85
Lane width = 12 ft 6 ft right shoulder and 2 ft left shoulder Familiar users of the facility
15% trucks (30% SUT, 70%TT)
TRD = 0.50 ramps/mile Use ideal condition
A long segment of the facility is on level terrain, but one 2-mile segment is on a sustained 4.5% grade. If the
objective is to provide a LOS C operation during peak periods, with LOS D an absolute minimum, how many lanes
must be provided for LOS C and for LOS D in each direction.
The problem calls for the determination of the number of required lanes on three distinct segments of the facility:
I) a long level terrain segment, (2 answers: LOS C and LOS D)
A) 1 B) 2 C) 3 D) 4
II) a 2-mile 4.5% upgrade, (2 answers: LOS C and LOS D)
A) 1 B) 2 C) 3 D) 4
III) a 2-mile 4.5% downgrade, (2 answers: LOS C and LOS D)
A) 1 B) 2 C) 3 D) 4

Problem 9
The figure below shows a weave section on an 8-lane freeway. The following passenger car per hour (pcph)
data apply:
Flow rate A-C: 800
Flow rate B-C: 3,200
Flow rate A-D: 600
Flow rate B-D: 1400
If the mean speed of the traffic in the weave segment is 60 mph and the segment is very long, the density in
the middle of the segment (pc/mi/lane) is most nearly:

A) 20
B) 25
B C
C) 30
D) 35 D
A

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Problem 10
A two-lane highway has a 60/40 directional split with 50% no-passing zones. The adjusted two-
way flow rate is 1300 pc/hr. What is the PTSF in the prevailing direction (to the nearest)?
A) 57.0%
B) 61.0%
C) 71.0%
D) 81.0%

Problem 11
A segment of Class II highway is part of a scenic and recreational route and has the following known
characteristics:
• 1,050 veh/h (both directions);
• 70/30 directional split;
• 5% trucks, 7% RVs;
• PHF = 0.85;
• 10-ft lanes and 2-ft shoulders;
• Base FFS = 55.0 mi/h;
• Rolling terrain;
• 10 access points/mi; and
• 60% no-passing zones.
I) Find the Level of Service in the heavier direction?
A) B B) C
C) D D) E
II) Find the Level of Service in the opposite direction?
A) B B) C
C) D D) E

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Problem 12
A 1.0 mile freeway segment through mountainous terrain at an average 4.5% upgrade
has ADT of 42,500 veh/day. The traffic stream includes 8% SUTs, 5% TTs and 4%
RVs. Lanes are 11 ft wide and there are 4 ramps/mile in each direction. The FFS is
measured as 65 mph and the PHF = 0.9. Directional split is 60/40 and K = 0.12. Find the
total number of lanes this freeway section should have to provide a minimum LOS C
for the peak direction of the road:
A) 3
B) 4
C) 6
D) 8

Practice 5
A 2-lane Class I highway in rolling terrain has the following characteristics:
Lane width = 12 ft and shoulder width = 6 ft
40% no-passing zones
2-directional flow rate = 2,800 pc/hr
Directional split = 60/40
10% trucks and buses, 6% RVs
PHF = 0.85
For the design direction of the highway, the average travel speed has been measured as 44 mph and
the percent-time-spent-following has been calculated as 57%.
The level of Service for the design direction is:
a) B b) C
c) D d) F

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Solution – Practice 5
Two-lanes max capacity = 3200 pc/hr (both directions)
One lane max capacity = 1700 pc/hr (One direction)

Subject segment: flow rate = 2800 pc/hr (both directions) < 3200 pc/hr
Flow rate design direction = 0.6 x 2800 = 1680 does not exceed 1700 pc/hr

Check HCM Exhibit 15-3, Class I:

For ATS = 44 mph, LOS = D
For PTSF = 57%, LOS = C

Controlling LOS = D

Answer is c

Practice 3
Given a 4.25 mile undivided four-lane highway on level terrain. A 4620 ft
segment with 3.5% grade is included within the limit of the study. Given the
following:
• 46.0 mph field measured FFS
• 11-ft lane width
• 1,900 veh/hr Nbnd peak hour volume
• 11% trucks (7% SUT and 4%TT)
• 2 % RVs
• 0.92 PHF
1- Find the peak hour LOS and density for the level terrain portion of the
highway.
a) A b) B c) C d) D
2- Find the peak hour LOS, speed and density on the 3.5% grade.
a) A b) B c) C d) D

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Solution – Practice 3
For the level terrain portion : Find fHV using Equation 12-10
1 1
f HV    0.885
1  PT ( E T  1) 1  0.13(2  1)
Find Vp using Equation 12-9
V 1900
Vp    1167 pc / hr / ln
P H F  N  f HV 0.92  2  0 .885

Find LOS using Exhibit 12-38 and FFS = 45 mph: LOS = C

Vp 1167
Density    25.37 LOS = C as per Exhibit 12-15 (Answer c)
S 46
• For the 3.5% grade segment : Find fHV using Exhibit 12-28 since there are 70% SUT to 30% TT
1 1
f HV    0.821
1  PT ( E T  1) 1  0.13(2.68  1)

Find Vp using Equation 12-9

V 1 9 00
Vp    12 5 8 p c / h r / ln
P H F  N  f HV 0.92  2  0 .8 21

Vp 1258
Density    27.35 pc / mi / ln Find LOS using Exhibit 12:15: LOS = D
S 46
(Answer d)

Exhibit 12-38

Vp = 1167 < 1170

Level Section

1550 > Vp = 1258 >1170

3.5% Grade section

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