Travel Speed and GPS Study
City of Palo Alto

Palo Alto makes extensive use of models for assessing traffic impacts of proposed projects and for supporting analysis behind major public projects and plans. The City selected TJKM to develop a new citywide transportation model capable of estimating peak hour traffic volumes including turns at major intersections within 5 percent of actual volumes. The City further required the model to estimate speeds on major streets and the freeway. Speeds are dependent upon volume and capacity and TJKM developed detailed parameters for estimating speeds using model estimates of volumes as compared with available capacity on freeway and arterial routes. The City had selected TJKM because of its demonstrated transportation modeling capabilities and innovative modeling approaches utilizing state-of-the-art techniques and software. TJKM based the new citywide model upon the Santa Clara County Congestion Management Agency model. TJKM developed the model in EMME/2/Enif using TP+/Viper and ArcView. TJKM also conducted a citywide travel speed study with ITS technology using global position systems (GPS) and geographic information systems (GIS). In recognition of TJKM’s successful efforts, the City of Palo Alto Transportation Division awarded TJKM staff their Annual Transportation Award for their innovative GPS Vehicle Speeds Monitoring Program.

For more information on the unique transportation modeling techniques and technologies used by TJKM for this project, contact Christopher Thnay at cthnay@tjkm.com.