WSDOT’s Dynameq Projects
Modeling & Analysis Section
Transportation Data, GIS & Modeling Group
Multimodal Planning Division
September 20, 2016
WSDOT & DTA Modeling
• Lack of funding led WSDOT to undertake toll studies on
several facilities
• Difficulties of traditional macroscopic models to accurately
estimate travel time variations over time directed us
towards DTA models
2
Why DTA Model?
• Issues with Static Model
– Difficulty in accurately estimating travel time variations in an
oversaturated, densely travelled urban setting (e.g., downtown
Seattle)
• Very congested conditions on street network during peak periods
in urban areas
• Implications
– Overstates traffic diversion from a toll project
• Not able to accurately predict patronage on toll facility
– Unable to assess different toll strategies
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Goals for DTA Model
• Improve estimates of travel times on arterials and freeways
• Consider specific travel behaviors in network
– Queuing (esp. near ramps)
– Peak period Congestion
– Reasonable traffic diversion estimates
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Why Dynameq?
• Changes in travel patterns due to tolls (Diversions), new
roadways
• Better estimation of travel times used in assignment
because of:
– Lane-level queuing
– Traffic control/signals
• Better simulation capabilities and display
• With its newer version, easier to do large scale DTA model
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WSDOT’s Projects
• Many of the Dynameq projects are conducted by
Consultants for WSDOT, while some of them are conducted
in-house
• In-House Projects
– SR 202 project
– SR-167 extension project (Level 1 Toll Study)
• WSDOT Projects Conducted by Consultants
– Alaskan Way Viaduct Tunnel Project (Level 2 Toll Study & EIS)
– Alaskan Way Viaduct Tunnel Project (Level 3 Toll Study)
– Gateway Program Toll Study (Level 2 Toll Study & EIS)
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Toll Projects in the Puget Sound Region
N
Alaskan Way Viaduct
DTA Model Focus
Gateway Program DTA
Model Focus
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Alaskan Way Viaduct
Replacement Program
• Projects
Access
– SR 99 Tunnel (“Bertha”)
• Replaces Earthquake-Vulnerable Viaduct
• Parallel to Congested I-5 Freeway
– Waterfront Boulevard
– New Streets near Portals
• Tunnel Tolled
– Funded from several agencies and
funding sources, including legislative
direction for tolling
– Had been modeled to support Level 2
Tolling Analysis
– Now for Traffic & Revenue Study, (Level
3) using the same model with finer zone
system
Tunnel
Existing Viaduct
Access
N
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AWV: Model Development
Model Foundation
• DTA Network for
Seattle’s Center
City
• DTA Time Periods
– 6-9 AM & 1-6
PM
• Dynameq
Platform
Completed Network
• 2010 Network
– 230 Centroids
– 7,410 Links
– 2,790 Nodes
• 466 Signalized
Intersections
• 763 Stop- or Traffic
Circle-controlled
Intersections
– 543,100 Trips (1-6pm)
• 2030 Network
– Build Network Coding
– Trips: 600,300 (1-6pm)
• Based on Relative
Growth by O-D from
Demand Model
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AWV: Travel Times Comparison
17:00 Travel Times
15.0
mph
6.2 mph
13.1
mph
19.7
mph
13.7
mph
17:00 Travel Speed Plot
January 15, 2013
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Gateway Program Projects
2 Projects:
SR 167 & SR 509 Freeway
Extensions
• New freeways in suburban
environments
• Both projects connect to I-5
• Provide improved freight connections
to ports and industrial areas
• Extensions Tolled
– Legislature funded projects through
combination of gas tax and tolling
– Modeling to Support Level 2 Tolling
Analysis
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Gateway: Model Development
• Dynameq 3.1
• 2015 Network PM Peak Period
– 220 Centroids
– 8,452 Links
– 3,012 Nodes
• 518 Signalized Intersections
• 790 Stop-controlled
Intersections
– 850,000 Trips (1-7pm)
• 2045 Network
– Build Network Coding
– Trips: 1.1 Million (1-7pm)
• Based on Relative Growth
by O-D from Demand
Model
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Any Questions?
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