Relationships Between Average Travel Speed, Time-Delayed Rate, and Volume on Two-lane Highways with Simulation Data

PURPOSES : Two-lane highways have one lane in each direction, and lane changing and passing maneuvers take place in the opposing lane depending on the availability of passing sight distance. 2001 Korea Highway Capacity Manual (KHCM) is classified into two classes of two-lane highways (Type I, II), and average travel speed and time-delayed rate are used as measures of effectiveness (MOEs). However, since existing two-lane highways have both uninterrupted and interrupted traffic flow-system elements, a variety of free-flow speeds exhibits in two-lane highways. In addition, it is necessary to check if the linear-relationship between volumes and time-delayed rate is appropriate. Then, this study is to reestablish the relationship between average travel speed, time-delayed rate, and flow. METHODS : TWOPAS model was selected to conduct this study, and the free-flow speeds of passenger cars and the percentage of following vehicles observed in two-lane highways were applied to the model as the input. The revised relationships were developed from the computer simulation. RESULTS : In the revised average travel speed vs. flow relationship, the free-flow speed of 90km/h and 70km/h were added. It shows that the relationship between time delayed-rate and flow appeared to be appropriate with the log-function form and that there was no difference in time-delayed rate between the free flow speeds. In addition to revise the relationships, the speed prediction model and the time-delayed rate prediction model were also developed. CONCLUSIONS : The revised relationships between average travel speed, time-delayed rate, and flow would be useful in estimating the Level of Service(LOS) of a two-lane highway.