Access to Destinations: Twin Cities Metro-wide Traffic Micro-simulation Feasibility Investigation

The economic importance of effective traffic management becomes more and more evident as traffic demands \nincrease. Faced with the negative effects of traffic congestion including higher transport costs, greater energy \nconsumption, and increased driver delays, transportation agencies around the world areas have responded by \nbuilding new roads and enhancing their traffic management systems. However, the high costs associated with these \nprojects, and the possibility that improvements in different parts of a complex traffic management system may give \nrise to unforeseen interactions, have prompted many metropolitan areas to invest in the creation of metro-wide \nsimulation systems that support the evaluation of alternative traffic management scenarios across an entire traffic \nnetwork. Such undertakings are far from simple; even small-scale microscopic simulations require large amounts of \nhigh-quality data. The objectives of this project were to evaluate the feasibility of developing a traffic simulation \nsystem for the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area, and to propose the most appropriate methodology for the \ndesign and implementation of such a system, taking into account local needs and capabilities.