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 (there is no
adjustment for left-side lateral clearance because this is
already taken into account in the fM term in FFS
equation)
• 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 Type - fM
Two Way Left Turn Lane (TWLTL)
Adjustment for Access Point Frequency - fA
Determination of Analysis Flow Rate
 The analysis flow rate for multilane highways is
determined in the same manner as for freeways
 There is one minor difference for multilane
highways (the guidelines for an extended
segment analysis).
 An extended segment (general terrain type)
analysis can be used for multilane highway
segments if grades of 3% or less do not extend
for more than 1 mi or any grades greater than
3% do not extend for more than 0.5 mi.
 Example
 A six-lane divided highway (three lanes in each
direction) is on rolling terrain with two access points
per mile and has 10-ft lanes, with a 5-ft shoulder on the
right side and a 3-ft shoulder on the left side.
 The peak-hour factor is 0.80, and the directional peak-
hour volume is 3000 vehicles per hour.
 There are 6% large trucks, 2% buses, and
2% recreational vehicles.
 A significant percentage of non-familiar roadway users
are in the traffic stream (the driver population
adjustment factor is estimated as 0.95).
 No speed studies are available, but the posted speed
limit is 55 mi/h.
 Determine the level of service.
 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
 A six-lane divided highway (three lanes in each
direction) is on rolling terrain with two access points
per mile and has 10-ft lanes, with a 5-ft shoulder on the
right side and a 3-ft shoulder on the left side.
 The peak-hour factor is 0.80, and the directional peak-
hour volume is 3000 vehicles per hour.
 There are 6% large trucks, 2% buses, and
2% recreational vehicles.
 A significant percentage of non-familiar roadway users
are in the traffic stream (the driver population
adjustment factor is estimated as 0.95).
 No speed studies are available, but the posted speed
limit is 55 mi/h.
 Determine the level of service.
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

Figure 6.4