Faculty:

Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Department :
Department of Geotechnical and Transportation Engineering
Title:
MULTILANE HIGHWAY CAPACITY ANALYSIS

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Capacity is the maximum hourly rate at which vehicles reasonably can be expected to traverse a point or a
uniform section of a lane or roadway during a given time period under prevailing roadway, traffic and control
conditions.

Level of Service (LOS) is a qualitative measure describing operational conditions within a traffic stream and
their perception by motorists and/or passengers.

Multilane highways generally have posted speed limits of 60 to 90 km/h. They usually have a total of four or
six lanes, counting both directions, often with medians. However, they also may be undivided.

Multilane highways typically are located in suburban communities, leading into central cities, or along high-
volume rural corridors connecting two cities or two significant activities that generate a substantial number of
daily trips.

The prediction of LOS for a multilane highway involves three steps:

(1) Determination of free-flow speed
(2) Adjustment of volume
(3) Determintation of level of service

This analysis will attempt to determine the LOS for Jalan Kluang KM20 (UTHM - Fujitsu Factory) in the
direction of Batu Pahat – Ayer Hitam.
 Faculty:
Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Department :
Department of Geotechnical and Transportation Engineering
Title:
MULTILANE HIGHWAY CAPACITY ANALYSIS

2.0 OBJECTIVE

The objective is to determine the level of service at KM20 Jalan Kluang.

3.0 APPARATUS / EQUIPMENT

1. Measuring Tape / Odometer

2. Forms HC1, HC2 and HC3
3. Analog Counter (optional)
4. Safety Vest
5. Safety Cones
6. Flags

4.0 PROCEDURE

1. Conduct a traffic count at the location (1 km in length) for an hour in segments of 15 minutes. Record
the data in form HC1.

2. Measure the lane width, shoulder width and median width using either a measuring tape or
measuring wheel. Record the data in form HC2.
[Ensure safety by using the safety vest, safety cones and flags to direct traffic and for self-
protection]

3. Conduct a walk-through survey of the 1 km section to determine the number of access points.
Observe the type of median. Record the data in form HC2.

4. Record the posted speed limit of the multilane highway in form HC2.

5. Calculate the Free Flow Speed (FFS).

6. Record the number of lanes (per direction) in form HC3.

7. From form HC1, determine the hourly volume (V) and percentage of heavy vehicles. Record the data
in form HC3.

8. Calculate the Flow Rate (vp).

9. Calculate the Density (D).

10. Determine the Level Of Service (LOS) and comment.

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 Faculty:
Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Department :
Department of Geotechnical and Transportation Engineering
Title:
MULTILANE HIGHWAY CAPACITY ANALYSIS

5.0 DATA ANALYSIS & RESULTS

Form HC1

Location: _____________________________________ Day: __________________

Date: __________________ Time: _____________ Weather: _______________

Time Traffic Count

Vehicle Class
1 2 3 4

Vehicle Class Traffic Volume (vehicles/hour)

Class 1 (Motorcycles)
Class 2 (Cars)
Class 3 (Vans & Medium Trucks)
Class 4 (Heavy Trucks & Buses)
Total

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 Faculty:
Faculty of Civil and Environment Engineering
Department :
Department of Geotechnical and Transportation Engineering
Title:
MULTILANE HIGHWAY CAPACITY ANALYSIS

Form HC2
FREE FLOW SPEED

Posted Speed Limit km/h

+ 12.3 km/h

Base Free Flow Speed (BFFS) = km/h

Median Type
( Divided / Undivided )
FM − km/h

Lane Width
= ______ meters
FLW − km/h

Shoulder Width = ________ meters

Median Width = ________ meters

Total Lateral Clearance

= Shoulder width + Median width
= ________ meters
FLC − km/h

Access Point Density

= ______ per km
FA − km/h

Free Flow Speed (FFS) = km/h

FFS = free flow speed

BFFS = base free flow speed = 85th percentile speed + 12.3 km/h *
fLW = adjustment for lane width (refer to Table 1)
fLC = adjustment for total lateral clearance (refer to Table 2)
fM = adjustment for median type (refer to Table 3)
fA = adjustment for access point density (refer to Table 4)

* Forecasted from previous studies which indicated that BFFS on multilane highways is approximately 11 km/h higher than the speed
limit for 65 and 70 km/h speed limits, and it is 8 km/h higher for 80 and 90 km/h speed limits.

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 Faculty:
Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Department :
Department of Geotechnical and Transportation Engineering
Title:
MULTILANE HIGHWAY CAPACITY ANALYSIS

Form HC3
FLOW RATE

Volume, V veh/hour

Peak Hour Factor, PHF ÷( 0.92

Number of Lanes, N ×

Terrain Level

Percentage of Heavy
Vehicles, PT

Passenger Car Equivalent

For Heavy Vehicles, ET

Heavy Vehicle Adjustment

Factor, fHV ×

Driver Population Factor,

fP × 1.00 )

Flow Rate (vp) = pc/h/ln

vp = 15-min passenger-car equivalent flow rate (pc/hr/ln)

V = hourly volume (veh/hr)
PHF = peak hour factor
N = number of lanes
fHV = heavy vehicle adjustment factor
fp = driver population factor

ET , ER = passenger car equivalents for trucks or buses (T) and recreational vehicles (RV) in the traffic
stream (refer to Table 5)
PT , PR = percentage of truck/buses and RVs in the traffic stream (stated in decimals)

* Neglect PR and ER .

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 Faculty:
Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Department :
Department of Geotechnical and Transportation Engineering
Title:
MULTILANE HIGHWAY CAPACITY ANALYSIS

Results:

1. Free flow speed (FFS) = __________ km/h

2. Flow rate (vP) = __________ passenger car/hour/lane

3. Density (D) = __________ passenger car/km/lane

vp = flow rate (pc/h/ln)

S = average passenger-car speed (km/h)

4. Level Of Service = LOS _____

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 Faculty:
Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Department :
Department of Geotechnical andTransportation Engineering
Title:
MULTILANE HIGHWAY CAPACITY ANALYSIS

6.0 DISCUSSION

7.0 CONCLUSION

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 Faculty:
Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Department :
Department of Geotechnical andTransportation Engineering
Title:
MULTILANE HIGHWAY CAPACITY ANALYSIS

8.0 APPENDIX

Table 1: Adjustment for Lane Width

Table 2: Adjustment for Lateral Clearance

Table 3: Adjustment for Median Type

Table 4: Adjustment for Access Point Density

Table 5: Passenger Car Equivalents on Extended General Highway Segments

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Faculty:
Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Department :
Department of Geotechnical andTransportation Engineering
Title:
MULTILANE HIGHWAY CAPACITY ANALYSIS

Figure 1: Speed-Flow curves with LOS criteria