Freeway Design Capacity Estimation through the Analysis of Time Headway Distribution

This study is to develop an estimation method of freeway design capacity through the analysis of time headway distribution in continuum flow. Traffic flow-speed diagram and time headway distribution plotted from individual vehicle data shows: a) a road capacity is not deterministic but stochastic, b) time headway distribution for each vehicle speed group follows pearson type V distribution. The freeway design capacity estimation model is developed by determining a minimum time headway for capacity with stochastic method. The estimated capacity values for each design speed are lower when design speed , and higher when design speed in comparison with HCM(2000)'s values. In addition, The distinguish difference is that this model leads flexible application in planning level by defining the capacity as stochastic distribution. In detail, this model could prevent a disutility to add a lane for only one excess demand in a road planning level.