Network Performance Scenario Modeling: An Analysis of the Sunrise System in the Portland, Oregon Region

Student Researcher: Lynn Peterson

Faculty Advisor: Robert L. Bertini

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this project was to use scenario modeling to analyze how a parkway and supporting street networks support each other in urban or urbanizing areas and to use area-wide performance measures to compare outcomes. Five scenarios were used to test the local street connectivity. First, there is a No-Build for comparison purposes. There is a Highway with the existing network and one with an enhanced local street network. Finally, there is a Parkway with the existing and an enhanced local street network. The measures used to compare these scenarios included the internal vehicle miles traveled within the new City of Damascus, the attractiveness of the area measured by travel demand to, from as well as internal trips for City of Damascus, average speed across a cut-line as well as a major facility delay analysis. The results indicate that when using the corridor-only measures a parkway would measure high in delay to the user using a typical level of service analysis. However, this analysis also looked at how the network functioned and found that:

• Internal vehicles miles traveled were less for the parkway than other alternatives,
• The level of accessibility and attractiveness of jobs in Damascus were similar in all scenarios and provided increased attractiveness over the no-build,
• Delay experience overall in the 2-hour p.m. peak of trips attempting to access Damascus (returning home from the region) was better for all scenarios over the no-build but highest in the scenario that combined a highway and an enhanced local street network and
• Regional trips relied less on the assumed major facility to access Damascus in both the highway and parkway scenarios with an enhanced local street network.

The parkway functions similarly to the highway with the enhanced local street network but the assumed carrying capacity of the parkway in this analysis (900 vehicles per hour per lane) increased the overall delay experienced on the facility itself as well as affecting the overall network. Finding ways to increase the capacity of the facility without increasing the posted speed would involve more research into possible intersection/interchange designs that minimize delay.

PRODUCTS:

thesis Lynn Ann A. Peterson, "Network Performance Scenario Modeling: An Analysis of the Sunrise System in the Portland, Oregon Region." Master's Degree Project Report, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Portland State University, December 2008.