MICHIGAN STATEWIDE TRANSPORTATION MODELING SYSTEM. VOLUME II-C. MICHIGAN STATEWIDE TRAFFIC FORECASTING MODEL: OPERATION AND RECALIBRATION. STATEWIDE PROCEDURES SECTION

The Bureau of Transportation Planning, Michigan Department of State Highways and Transportation, is responsible for all planning and analysis relative to defining the future transportation needs of the state for all modes of transportation. This responsibility entails a broad range of both specific and general studies and analytical processes necessary to achieve plans for transportation projects. The major source of travel in the state has always been the automobile and only through reliable traffic forecasting can properly placed improvements be made to the transportation system to achieve solutions to current problems as well as to identify and plan for future problems. This report serves to explain a recent recalibation of the Statewide Traffic Forecasting Model using 1975 as the base year. It deals with an explanation of the network calibration process. Also included is a brief explanation of the calibration of the trip generation - distribution models and, finally, the steps required to complete final system calibration. This modeling process simultaneously forecasts future year traffic on all rural - state trunkline roads. This traffic forecasting process is integrated into a series of additional impact analytical processes which allows planners to generate various forms of traffic, social, environmental, and economic impact analysis required in the planning process. /Author/