Step 4. Define Arterial Routes

Users can select arterial routes in the network for which average travel speeds and levels of service can be computed according to Highway Capacity Manual methodologies. Note: This step is only necessary if the user wishes to perform arterial LOS computations.

1. Switch to the Edit Routes mode by clicking the button. See Figure 16 for a sample Edit Routes screen. TRAFFIX™ allows users to analyze multiple routes in a single run. The level of service for a route can be calculated in either direction, or in both directions.

2. Once you are in the Edit Routes mode you must click the Add Route button before you can draw the actual route. Enter an optional name for the route. Specify the route's direction and the desired analysis method. Also, specify if the route is to be selected for evaluation or not. Select the intersections and links to form the route, then identify the route start and route end (and route segments and/or sections - both optional).

3. Selection is done by pointing to the item and using Shift-LeftClick, or by using Shift-LeftClick-Drag to surround one or more items with the marquee box. The item will change color to indicate that it has been selected. Unselect items using Shift-LeftClick again, or by using Ctrl-LeftClick-Drag to again surround one or more items with the marquee box. After the first node is selected, the route can also be drawn by using the Shift-Arrows keystroke combinations to travel along the network from one end of the route to the other. As the route is traversed, nodes and links are highlighted to show that they have been included.

4. Specify the route start by placing the cursor over the start intersection and using Ctrl-Shift-RightClick. This keystroke sequence is used to specify four route markers. The first click indicates the route start. The second click is the route end. The third click is a route segment, and the fourth click is a route section. You can confirm that you are specifying the correct item by watching the item selection line below the lower left corner of the network window. The intersection icon will also change color with each click. No color means the intersection has not been identified with any of the four items.

Note: The keystroke technique described above for specifying route markers works at all nodes, including cross-street nodes. At intersection nodes, the route markers can also be set by pointing to the intersection and using RightClick. This brings up the intersection pop-up menu, which includes the Route Marker option. Choose the desired route marker from this menu.

Start the route at the node that is just upstream of the first intersection to be included in the route. The delay at the starting node is excluded from the total travel time computation and the first link will not actually be part of the route; it is only used for establishing the turning movements for entering/leaving the route. (Similarly, end the route one node downstream of the last intersection to be included in the route.)

1. Use the buttons on this screen to enter and edit route data. The Edit Route Plan Data button brings up a dialog box for entry/editing of AADT, PHF, directional distribution factor, turns from exclusive lanes, medians, and level of service. These are used in the HCM Planning Method.

The Duplicate Route button creates a copy of the current route, which is useful if two slightly different routes are to be specified. The duplicate route can be edited to form the second route.

The Delete Route button will delete the currently displayed route.

When multiple routes have been defined, use the F3 key to switch to the previous route and use the F4 key to switch to the next route.

To enter/edit segment data, point to a segment and RightClick. This will bring up a dialog box for entry/editing of segment data, including link lengths; arterial class, speeds, and delays. See Figure 17 for a sample link data dialog box display.

Figure 16 Edit Routes Screen

Figure 17 Link Data Dialog Box