Traffic Counter Comparison on 2 Lane Roadways

Rubber Tube Temporary Counter Sites Vs Wire Loop Permanent Counter Sites

Rubber Tube Traffic Counter

Gamma Type Counter from TimeMark Cost approximately $1000/device Discounts for quantity purchases.
TimeMark Incorportated (800)-755-5882 FAX (503) 363-1716 www.timemarkinc.com

Rubber Tube Count Average Weekday Count

Two tubes allow counter to determine direction , speed, and classify of traffic.

Installed for 1-3 days (Tuesday-Thursday) to determine average weekday traffic. Average weekday traffic then adjusted to average yearly daily traffic by seasonal adjustment factors.

Wire Loop Traffic Counter

Unicorn Type from Diamond Traffic Products

Four wire loop option buried in asphalt

Diamond Traffic Products PO Box 1455 76433 Alder Street Oakridge Oregon 97463 (541) 782-3903 FAX (541) 782-2053 www.diamondtraffic.com E-mail: diamondtrf@aol.com

Typical Permanent Site

Cost $28,000 for 4 sites with software included. Constructed by tribal construction department with aid of electrician to set meter base and connect to local power grid.

Traffic Counter Loop Layout

Four Loops allow counter to determine lane volumes, speed and length of vehicle.

Type Counter Layouts Studied

Double Lane Rubber Tubes (two tubes 16 spacing crossing entire road. IE both lanes) Single Lane Rubber Tubes (two tubes 16 spacing each lane. IE anchored in center of road with PK type nails) Wire Loop Counter Sites (4 Detectors 2 each Lane 16 spacing between loops in lanes )

Typical Study Site

Three Rubber Tube Counters and One Wire Loop Counter Important to note what tube is plugged in to the A/B axle port.

Study Site on Route 53

Good ?? Data
Route 3 Rubber tubes cover both lanes of traffic.

Axle A 94% used Axle B 88% used 3455 ADT

Bad Data (High Error Percent)

Route 53 Rubber tubes cover both lanes of traffic.

Axle A 69% used Axle B 88% used 4828 ADT

Percent Accepted Signals 2-Lane Tube Type Counters

2 - Lane Tube Type Site
120

Rt 75
Percent Accepted Signals 100 80 60 40 20 0 0 1000 2000 3000

Rt 3

Rt 53

South North

4000

5000

6000

Average Daily Traffic

Route 75 Comparison
12/16/2004 Northbound Lane ADT 2-lane 1-lane Wire 1076 1080 1089 Southbound Lane ADT 2-lane 1-lane Wire 1062 1053 1076 Total Lanes ADT 2-lane 1-lane Wire 2138 2133 2165 50% 33.1 32.9 33.1 85% 38.5 38.2 38.8 Cars 1611 1569 1187 Trucks 427 471 915 Big 92 92 42 50% 32.3 32.0 85% 37.7 37.1 Cars 746 772 Trucks 261 235 Big 48 45 50% 33.9 33.7 85% 39.3 39.2 Cars 865 797 Trucks 166 236 Big 44 47

Route 3 Comparison
Note Speed of Wire Counter ??? Also short vehicle length ???
12/16/2004 Northbound Lane ADT 2-lane 1-lane Wire 1608 Southbound Lane ADT 2-lane 1-lane Wire 1825 Total Lanes ADT 2-lane 1-lane Wire 3433 21.4 24.4 998 2302 133 3455 50% 35.8 85% 40.1 Cars 1830 Trucks 1136 Big 467 1761 50% 36.0 85% 40.4 Cars 1073 Trucks 531 Big 153 1694 50% 35.6 85% 39.7 Cars 757 Trucks 605 Big 314

Wire Loop Traffic Counter Layout

Note: 16 foot loop spacing, not 10 foot Corrected 1/6/05

Typical Speed Distribution (Good Day)

12-16-04

Northbound Speed Distribution (Uphill)

Southbound Speed Distribution (Downhill)

Typical Speed Distribution (Bad Day)

12-28-04

Northbound Speed Distribution (Uphill) Note: Loss of contact of one loop @ 4:00 am due to poor electrical connection. Repaired on 1/6/05. One Loop (two wires) were not crimped to connector in cabinet by contractor. Southbound Speed Distribution (Downhill)

Route 53 Comparison
Note: Low Counts on 2-lane rubber tube setup also high 85% speed on Southbound 2-lane setup
12/16/2004 Northbound Lane ADT 2-lane 1-lane Wire 2549 2750 2768 Southbound Lane ADT 2-lane 1-lane Wire 2279 2835 2851 Total Lanes ADT 2-lane 1-lane Wire 4828 5585 5619 50% 34.1 30.8 30.7 85% 57.7 36.0 34.9 Cars 2922 3854 2822 Trucks 842 1398 2612 Big 322 331 159 50% 36.5 29.3 85% 78.0 34.1 Cars 1273 2134 Trucks 133 541 Big 158 159 50% 31.7 32.2 85% 37.3 37.8 Cars 1649 1720 Trucks 709 857 Big 164 172

Note: Many counts in the +55 mph class due to echo of signal in tube? and/or high traffic volume and high % error signals for one tube. This is the one site that used D type tubing for counter. This tubing may be the cause of the high speeds and high error %.

2 Lane Study Site on Route 53

Red car (southbound) high 85% speed, Pickup truck (northbound) data better. Traffic counter located in left ditch nearest to red car.

Errors Found in First Year of Operation of Permanent Wire Loop Counter Sites
Wire Loop Counter Loose connections between wire loops and counter. This produced low ADT counts on random days. Programmed wrong spacing between loops in lane. This produced bad speed and length data all the time. Rubber Tube Counter High axle signal error percentage in high volume site with tubes installed across both lanes of traffic. This produced bad speed records for one lane and low ADT counts all the time for one direction (southbound lane).

End of Presentation
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