Module III

 The maximum hourly rate at which

persons or vehicles can reasonably be
expected to be traverse a point or
uniform section of a lane or roadway
during a given time period under
prevailing roadway, traffic and
controlling conditions
 Time period – normally 1 hour, vph
 PCU
 Under prevailing roadway, traffic and
control conditions
 Design of highway facility is possible only
when capacity is related to the projected
requirements of traffic – type of highway, no.
of lanes, width of lanes, intersections,
weaving sections etc.
 Checking the adequacy/ deficiency of
existing facility
 Improvements and changes in geometric
features, intersection features, control
devices, management measures
 BasicCapacity – The maximum number
of passenger cars that can pass a point on
a lane or roadway during one hour under
the most nearly ideal roadway and traffic
conditions which can possibly be
attained
 Possible Capacity - The maximum
number of passenger cars that can pass a
point on a lane or roadway during one
hour under the prevailing roadway and
traffic conditions
 Practical Capacity – The maximum
number of passenger cars that can pass a
point on a lane or roadway during one
hour, without the traffic density being so
great as to cause unreasonable delay,
hazard or restriction to the driver’s
freedom to manoeuvre under prevailing
roadway and traffic conditions
 Design Capacity
 HCM – 1985 and 2000 – Capacity – same
as Possible Capacity
 Basic Capacity – Capacity under Ideal
Conditions
 Practical Capacity – “service volumes”
related to a group of desirable operating
conditions collectively termed as “Level
of Service”
 1000V
C
S
 C= Capacity in vehicles per hour per lane
 V = Speed in kmph
 S = Average spacing in meters of moving
vehicles
 2
tV 1000  1000V  1
S  L   .
3600  3600  2 gf
2
V
 L  0.278Vt 
254 f
 S = spacing in m
 L = Length of vehicle in m
 V = Speed in kmph
 t = Reaction time in sec
 f = friction factor
 g = Acceleration due to gravity
 Green Shield

S  21  1.1V
 RRL, UK

S  17.5  0.8v  0.004v 2

Approach based on all vehicles
travel at same speed and spaced at
equal intervals
Calculations by different authorities
varied largely
 Common unit
 If the introduction of one vehicle per hour
in a traffic stream reduces the average
speed of the remaining vehicles by the
same amount as the addition of say, x
cars per hour, then one vehicle of that
type is considered as equivalent to x
PCUs
 PCU depends on
• Size and speed of the vehicle
• Type and kind of road environment
 Not dependent on
• Road width
• Flow
 Generally derived from observations
Vehicle Type PCU
Motor cycle/ Scooter 0.50
Car/ Pick up van/ Autorikshaw 1.00
Agricultural Tractor / LCV 1.50
Trucks / Bus 3.00
Truck Trailer / Agricultural Tractor Trailer 4.50
Cycle 0.50
Cycle rikshaw 2.00
Hand Cart 3.00
Horse Driven Vehicle 4.00
Bullock Cart 8.00
 Ideal conditions for uninterrupted flow
• Free from side interferences of vehicles and
pedestrians
• Only passenger cars in the stream
• Traffic lanes, 3.6m wide, with adequate
shoulders and no lateral obstructions within
1.8m of the edge of the pavement
• For rural highways, horizontal and vertical
alignment satisfactory for average highway
speeds of 100kmph for multi lane highways
Highway Type Capacity ( Passenger vehicles per
hour)

Freeways 2400 per lane with free speeds of

120 kmph
2300 per lane with free speeds of
110 kmph
Multi lane Highways 2200 per lane with free speeds of
100 kmph

Two lane Two – way 2800 total, both

directions