Specifications include, but are not limited to: Work associated with traffic engineering operational studies includes traffic data collection, operational analysis, safety analysis, and study recommendation. Data Collection Data collection may include utilizing existing sources as well as collecting new data such as historical records, AADTs, turning movement counts, vehicle classification data, pedestrian and bicycle counts, traffic speeds, field delay, traffic gaps, field saturation flow, queuing, and driver behavior. Consultant will be expected to gather relevant existing condition information including existing MDT policies and practices, roadway characteristics, infrastructure, and traffic signal timings. Operational Analysis Consultant should examine existing and projected conditions. Capacity analysis should be conducted as needed using the most appropriate analysis tool(s) such as Highway Capacity Software, Synchro/SimTraffic, VISSIM, Assidra Intersection, and others as appropriate. Open highway analysis may include analyzing auxiliary lanes, passing lanes, and through lanes for capacity. Operational analysis for intersection control may include investigating stop control, traffic signal control with warrant studies, signal timing and/or phasing plans, roundabouts, and innovative intersections. Freeway/interchange studies may analyze lane configurations at ramps, traffic control, and innovative interchange designs. Pedestrian studies should consider appropriate treatments including pedestrian hybrid beacons, rectangular rapid flashing beacons, crosswalks, and pedestrian amenities as appropriate. Systems engineering projects should utilize FHWA’s Systems Engineering for ITS Project Development. Speed studies should consider appropriate speed limit configurations based on current research and guidance provided by the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). Operational analysis may require visualization and animation of the existing and proposed conditions using appropriate software as well as potentially rendering some conceptual designs.
