TRAFFIX^TM Information

What is TRAFFIX ?
TRAFFIX is an interactive computer program for IBM PC compatible computers that enables planners and engineers to efficiently:

1. Conduct traffic impact and medium size city-wide traffic forecasting studies;
2. Rapidly forecast the traffic impacts of new developments;
3. Calculate level of service at critical signalized and unsignalized intersections and on arterials;
4. Interactively test different mitigation measures, and
5. Determine traffic impact fees for individual development projects.

The program allows level of service (LOS) to be calculated simultaneously for both baseline and future (with project) scenarios at signalized and unsignalized intersections and on urban and suburban arterials. In addition, user-defined analysis scenarios can be created and level of service scenario comparison reports can be generated. Comprehensive, yet concise and easy-to-read, output reports are generated that are suitable for inclusion in project reports.

System Requirements
TRAFFIX needs at least a 486 or Pentium (recommended) micro-processor and 64 Mb (128 Mb recommended) RAM to operate properly. Best performance is provided on machines with higher CPU speeds (90 MHz or higher).

Users must have a color VGA monitor. TRAFFIX is a 32-bit program; therefore, the operating system needs to be Windows^®95/98/ME or Windows^® NT 3.5/4.0 or Windows^® 2000/XP. TRAFFIX is not designed to run under Windows^® 3.1 or MS-DOS.

Basic Program Features
TRAFFIX performs four functions critical to the impact evaluation of traffic engineering and land development projects: traffic forecasting, level of service analysis for intersections and arterials, mitigation, and impact fee calculation.

• Traffic Forecasting
  The user draws a road network on the screen using cursor operated drawing tools. This road network consists of development zones, critical intersections, and gateways where new traffic enters and leaves the study area. The land uses, trip generation rates, and trip distribution percentages are then entered for each development zone. Then the paths that traffic will take moving from each development zone to each gateway are drawn on the network.

  TRAFFIX then generates the hourly traffic (AM or PM peak hours), assigns it to the street system, and calculates the level of service impacts all in one step. The user can request a trip generation report, a trip distribution report, an intersection turning movement report, a link volume report, and more.

• Level of Service Analysis
  TRAFFIX can calculate the level of service for signalized intersection using any one of several different methods: 2000 Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) Planning and Operations, 1997 Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) Planning and Operations, 1994 Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) Planning and Operations, 1985 Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) Planning and Operations, TRB Circular 212 Planning and Operations, two ICU methods, and more. TRAFFIX calculates signal timing (green times and cycle lengths) and maximum queue lengths to assist in evaluating signalized intersection operations.

  TRAFFIX can calculate the arterial level of service according to either the 1985, 1994, 1997, or 2000 HCM methods.

  TRAFFIX can also calculate the intersection level of service for yield, two-way stop, and all-way stop controlled intersections according to the 1985, 1994, 1997 and 2000 HCM methods.

• Mitigation
  A special "interactive screen" is provided in the program that allows users to quickly test various street improvements and signal timing changes for mitigating the impacts at an intersection. Users can quickly identify the critical movements, try mitigation measures, and observe their impacts.

• Impact Fees
  TRAFFIX can be used to perform impact fee analyses and establish "nexus" requirements since it actually traces the traffic generated by a new development through each critical intersection on the street network. The user enters the total cost of the improvements at each intersection. TRAFFIX then calculates the relative share of the intersection improvement costs attributable to each development project. The fees are based upon the estimated number of trips that the development sends through the intersection. The proportionate costs are then added up by TRAFFIX to obtain a total traffic impact fee for each proposed development. The result is a fee schedule for each new development project that is based upon its actual traffic impacts.
  

How to order?
To order a new license or an upgrade. Please print out the order form below. Please send back to us with the appropriate payment and the filled-out order form. Or you may order an new license through McTrans.

Order Form: