LOS Analysis of Multilane

Highways
 Key Differences B/W Freeways and
Multilane Highways
Vehicles access; no full access control for
multilane highways
Multilane highways may or may not be
divided
Traffic signals may be present
Design standards, e.g. speeds are lower as
compared to freeways
More distraction along the multilane highway
Multilane Divided Highways
Multilane Undivided Highways
 Base Conditions for Multilane Highways
LOS Analysis
12 ft lane width
12 ft min total lateral clearance from road
side objects (right shoulder and median)
Only passenger cars in traffic stream
No direct access points
Divided highways
Level terrain
Familiar drivers
FFS of 60 mph or more
 FFS
• FFS = BFFS – fLW - fLC - fM - fA
• BFFS ;
– 7 mph + posted limit of 40 to 45 mph

– 5 mph + posted limit of 50 mph or higher

• fLW = Lane width adjustment factor (Same as

freeways)

• fLC = Lateral clearance adjustment factor

 fLC Lateral clearance adjustment factor
• TLC = LCR + LCL

• TLC = Total Lateral Clearance

• LCR = Right side lateral clearance to obstruction

• LCL= Left side lateral clearance to obstruction

• For undivided highways: LCL= 6 ft

• If lateral clearance on any side exceeds 6 ft, it is

taken as 6 ft.
FFS and Capacity on Multilane Highways
Adjustment for Lateral Clearance - TLC
Adjustment for Median Clearance - fM
Two Way Left Turn Lane (TWLTL)
Adjustment for Access Point Frequency - fA
Example
 Example
FFS = BFFS – fLW - fLC - fM - fA
 FFS
• FFS = BFFS – fLW - fLC - fM - fA
• BFFS ;
– 7 mph + posted limit of 40 to 45 mph

– 5 mph + posted limit of 50 mph or higher

• fLW = Lane width adjustment factor (Same as

freeways)

• fLC = Lateral clearance adjustment factor

 Example
FFS = BFFS – fLW - fLC - fM - fA
Example

fLW
 Example
FFS = BFFS – fLW - fLC - fM - fA
Example
Adjustment for Lateral Clearance - TLC
Adjustment for Median Clearance - fM
 Example
FFS = BFFS – fLW - fLC - fM - fA
Adjustment for Access Point Frequency - fA
2 access points per mile
 Example
FFS = BFFS – fLW - fLC - fM - fA
Example
Determination of ET and ER
52

1500.3

Figure 6.4
 Density
D = vp / S
• FFS = 52 mph
• Flow Rate = 1500.3 pc/hr/ln
• Average Passenger Car Speed (S) = 52 mph
• Density (D) =
= Flow Rate (pc/h/ln) / Average Passenger Car
Speed = 1500.3/52 = 28.85 pc/mi/ln
52

LOS-D

1500.3