INNOVATIVE APPLICATIONS OF LEVEL OF SERVICE STANDARDS

This paper, which appears in a compendium of conference papers, describes new, innovative uses of level-of-service (LOS) standards and methodologies for use in project planning, prioritization, development regulation, and system monitoring. Various types of roadway and transit LOS standards used nationwide are examined, including the states of Florida, California, and Washington. Many approaches involve creative ways to depict roadway LOS standards, such as averaging intersection LOS across a subarea, estimating ranges of congested vehicle miles of travel within a district, and predicting travel time contours within a geographic area. Current applications from Washington State show ways to combine roadway and transit LOS standards into meaningful measures of transportation system performance. For example, the Puget Sound Region is proposing to use travel time as the key indicator of LOS for various modes, including freight and goods. Also addressed will be the role of state-owned facilities in LOS standards and methods. Finally, the paper describes how different LOS standards and methods are appropriate for urban and rural communities. Differing needs are reflected in a set of LOS standards that can be applied across various geographic areas. These findings will aid other communities in defining appropriate LOS standards and methods.