Count Book Report 2014.pdf

TABLE of CONTENTS

Forward

Continuous Count Program

24 Hour Traffic Data Collection Program

Description of Headings, Symbols, and Abbreviations

Map of State Permanent Count Sites

Graph of 2014 Weekly Group Mean Factors as a Percent Of The AADT

List of 2014 Weekly Group Mean Factors

List of 2014 Weekly Group Mean Factors as a Percent of the AADT

Traffic Volume Counts by County, Town, and Route

FOREWORD

The Department of Transportation, Traffic Engineering Division, Traffic Monitoring Section is responsible for the collection of all types of traffic data and maintenance of a statewide traffic volume database. The analysis and reporting of traffic volumes and vehicle classification data are accomplished through two types of counting programs. They are as follows:

CONTINUOUS COUNT PROGRAM

Traffic volumes are monitored on a continuous year round basis at seventy-one permanent recorder sites located on major highways throughout the State. These hourly counts are collected to produce an average weekday figure, a weekly average day, a monthly average day, and a monthly average weekday. This information is compiled to develop an Annual Average Daily Traffic

(AADT) figure for each location. The AADT is computed from the average of daily totals for the entire year.

The Department has twenty locations along routed highways that collect data based on thirteen categories as defined by the

Federal Highway Administration. An AADT is computed based on the total volume as well as summary data for individual vehicle types.

24 HOUR TRAFFIC DATA COLLECTION PROGRAM

Between April 1st and November 15th of each year, 24 hour traffic counts (i.e., coverage counts) are gathered to monitor traffic flow and changes in traffic patterns. These counts are generally taken at intersections with major routes and/or other significant roads, at Town

Lines (TL), at bridges, or in coordination with ongoing projects or special traffic studies for the Department.

Additionally, 24-hour vehicle classification counts are performed in conjunction with the coverage counts to provide a comprehensive view of traffic along the routed highways.

The State is divided into three count zones:

ZONE I : Southwestern Maine to western Penobscot Bay region. This zone includes all of York, Cumberland, and Knox counties; Lincoln except for the towns of Jefferson, Somerville and Whitefield; Sagadahoc except for the towns of

Bowdoin, Bowdoinham and Richmond; and Oxford county from Stow, Fryeburg, Denmark, Brownfield, Hiram and Porter;

ZONE II : Western/Central Maine and eastern Penobscot Bay region. This zone includes all of Androscoggin, Franklin, Kennebec and Waldo counties; the remainder of Oxford, Lincoln and Sagadahoc counties; Somerset county from

Bingham south plus between Flagstaff Lake area and Kennebec River; southern Penobscot county, and western

Hancock county.

ZONE III : Northern and eastern Maine. This zone includes all of Aroostook, Piscataquis, Washington counties, northern and southeastern Hancock county, and the reminder of Penobscot and Somerset counties.

As of 2013 these zones are counted on a three year cycle, collecting data in one zone per year to cover the entire state within a three year period. The Coverage Count Program also consists of the “Special Counts” taken each year to satisfy Departmental needs, local requests, and Federal requirements. These include the Interstate System counts and data collected from the various traffic studies conducted throughout the year. The 2014 Program included 4086 counts accomplished.

Once the AADT’s have been computed for all of the permanent recorder locations, weekly factors for each station are calculated by dividing the AADT by each average weekly figure. Those stations which exhibit similar traffic patterns are assembled and placed into one of three groups:

URBAN : Roadways which carry commuter traffic and exhibit little seasonal change in traffic volumes.

ARTERIAL : Roadways which carry commuter traffic but exhibit moderate seasonal changes in traffic volumes.

RECREATIONAL : Roadways which are heavily influenced by seasonal traffic.

Within each of the three groups, a factor for each week is calculated by averaging the weekly factors from each station within the group.

The 2014 Weekly Group Mean Factors were developed by averaging the Weekly Group Mean Factors for 2011, 2012 and 2013.

The following pages show the graph of the 2014 Weekly Group Mean Factors as a Percent of the AADT, and a list of these factors.

The 24-hour raw data may now be grouped and assigned a factor to produce an AADT. Growth factors for expanding traffic in uncounted zones are developed utilizing data from the permanent recorders and comparing it to the data from the previous year.

The updated AADT’s are entered into the Maine Department of Transportation’s database to be used by various personnel.

DESCRIPTION of HEADINGS, SYMBOLS, AND ABBREVIATIONS

The following is a description of the column headings, symbols, and abbreviations used for the Coverage Count Section.

TOWN The town in which a count was taken

ROUTE The road or highway on which the count was taken.

Non-Interstate Highways and Roads

---- X indicates a Routed Highway

0196X = SR 196 0001X = US Route 1

---- A or --- B indicates an Alternate Routed Highway

0001A = US Route 1A 0009B = SR 9B

---- C indicates a Business Route

0001C = Business US Route 1, 1A, or 1B

0025C = Business SR 25

Just a number with no letter OR no numbers or letters indicates a non-routed highway

= Pine Hill Road 00001 = Hubbard Road

01414 = IR 1414 00991 = IR 991 (Biddeford Road)

Interstate System

---- X indicates Northbound or Eastbound 0095X = I-95 Northbound 0395X = I-395 Eastbound

---- S indicates Southbound 0095S = I-95 Southbound

---- W indicates Westbound 0395W = I-395 Westbound

LOCATION A description of where the count was taken.

APP = Approach ART = Arterial ATR=Automatic Traffic Recorder AVE = Avenue BK = Brook

BLVD = Boulevard BR = Bridge CIR = Circle CL = County Line CNR = Corner

CONN = Connector CTR = Center CUL = Compact Urban Line CWY = Causeway CV = Cove

DR = Drive EB = Eastbound ENT = Entrance FL=Fall FLS=Falls FT = Fort

HBR = Harbor HTS = Heights HWY = Highway INT’L = International IR = Inventory Road

LG = Long LK = Lake LN = Lane LWR = Lower MEM = Memorial

MT = Mount MTN = Mountain NB = Northbound NH = New Hampshire OW = One Way

PD = Pond PK = Park PKWY = Parkway PL = Place PT = Point PW = Private Way

PZ = Plaza RD = Road RDG = Ridge RMP = Ramp RR = Railroad

RV = River SB = Southbound SL = State Line SQ = Square SR = State Route

ST = Street STA = Station STR = Stream TERR = Terrace TL = Town Line

TPK = Turnpike TR = Trail UPR = Upper US = United States Route WB = Westbound

N/O, NE/O, E/O, etc. = North of, Northeast of, East of, etc.

TYPE Category for each count taken.

A Permanent Recorder Count

B BACTS Count

C Coverage Count

I Interstate Count

K KACTS Count

L ATRC Count (Formerly LACTS)

M Municipal, Town, Regional Count

P PACTS Count

R Trail Count

S Special Count

T Turning Movement Count

W Weigh-In-Motion Count

Z Speed Count

GROUP The factor group assigned to the location.

I Urban Group II Arterial Group

III Recreational Group ATR Permanent Traffic Recorder Group

AADT Annual Average Daily Traffic