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Dowling Associates, Inc. <br />Transportation Engineering Planning Research Education <br />Collection of Existing Count Data <br />The validation of the travel model and the evaluation of 2009 baseline conditions will require compilation of <br />existing traffic counts to compare to model results and input into Synchro. Dowling Associates will obtain all <br />recent link and intersection counts from the City of Pleasanton. In the past, the City has provided all of the <br />traffic intersection and cut through count data required for the analysis of existing baseline conditions. We <br />know that there are loops available at many locations but also realize that the City may have limited staff <br />resources to conduct a full fledged count program in support of the model revalidation and baseline analyses. <br />As an option, we have teamed with Quality Counts and the City may elect to use them to complement the <br />City's ongoing count program, count hot spot locations, or provide a check on suspect counts. For budgeting <br />purposes, we have provided an optional fee per intersection count as well as an overall cost if a full count <br />program were requested. <br />The valuable part of having Quality Counts provide their services is their unique approach to collecting data. <br />Quality Counts has implemented video based technology to capture turn movement counts and similar types <br />of surveys. The ability to temporarily install a video camera that minimizes obstructions enables an <br />intersection view that cannot be obtained by field staff. In addition, the placement of multiple cameras can be <br />used at congested locations to review traffic demand volumes that may not clear within a given signal cycle. <br />The video based collection allows for the freedom to rewind, replay, and check over data collection ensuring <br />clients the utmost detail and accuracy. <br />Intersection turn movement counts authorized for use in the model update and 2009 baseline analysis will be <br />entered into an Excel database. Dowling Associates has already related the study intersection nodes in the <br />travel demand model to the north/south /east/west legs of the Synchro intersections. This link will allow us to <br />efficiently upload the new AM and PM traffic counts into the travel demand and Synchro models. <br />Review of Existing Traffic Model <br />Dowling Associates is very familiar with the City's current version of the travel demand model. We <br />developed the first travel demand model for the City in 2002 in •ransCAD and then later converted it to the <br />Citilabs suite of programs. It has many elements that are unique to a City travel demand model such as: <br />A "Master" network which stores the network related attributes for the existing base, approved. and <br />buildout conditions, including number of lanes, facility type, and ramp metering assumptions. <br />Trip generation based on 60 land use categories with ITE Trip Generation rates. <br />Detailed calibration to replicate commute trip patterns and cut through traffic based on surveys. <br />School trip distribution based on specific school district boundaries. <br />A relationship with MTC regional travel demand model for estimates of non -auto trip percentages. <br />Peak hour spreading which considers congestion between each origin and destination. <br />Customized scripts for tracking potential impacts of land use development projects or roadway <br />alternatives. <br />A direct link to the City's Synchro /SimTraffic network for operations analysis and traffic simulation. <br />For this task, Dowling will consult with City staff and other users of travel model output, including other <br />consultants, to determine which features of the current model system should be reconsidered or updated. <br />City of Pleasanton 3 <br />2009 Traffic Model Update May 13, 2009 <br />