scholarly journals Passenger Car Equivalent Value for Commercial Vehicles: A New Approach

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Efstathios Bouhouras ◽  
Socrates Basbas
Keyword(s):  
Field Survey ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Commercial Vehicles ◽  
Passenger Cars ◽  
Highway Capacity ◽  
Passenger Car ◽  
Highway Capacity Manual ◽  
Equivalent Number ◽  
Passenger Car Equivalent ◽  
Extended Field

Within the framework of the present paper an attempt has been made to develop a methodology for the calculation of a Passenger Car Equivalent (PCE) factor in order to express the number of commercial vehicles in the equivalent number of passenger cars. The methodology is based on the Highway Capacity Manual, the examination of the international literature and an extended field survey. The research area is the Municipality of Thessaloniki, Greece and specifically 27 at-grade, signalized intersections which were examined. The field survey was performed during two time-periods in order a comparison to be possible.

scholarly journals Delay-based Passenger Car Equivalent at Signalized Intersections in Iran

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Habibollah Nassiri ◽  
Sara Tabatabaie ◽  
Sina Sahebi
Keyword(s):  
Signalized Intersections ◽  
Simulation Software ◽  
Heavy Vehicles ◽  
Passenger Cars ◽  
Highway Capacity ◽  
Passenger Car ◽  
Highway Capacity Manual ◽  
Operational Characteristics ◽  
Passenger Car Equivalent ◽  
Traffic Operation

Due to their different sizes and operational characteristics, vehicles other than passenger cars have a different influence on traffic operations especially at intersections. The passenger car equivalent (PCE) is the parameter that shows how many passenger cars must be substituted for a specific heavy vehicle to represent its influence on traffic operation. PCE is commonly estimated using headway-based methods that consider the excess headway utilized by heavy vehicles. In this research, the PCE was estimated based on the delay parameter at three signalized intersections in Tehran, Iran. The data collected were traffic volume, travel time for each movement, signalization, and geometric design information. These data were analysed and three different models, one for each intersection, were constructed and calibrated using TRAF-NETSIM simulation software for unsaturated traffic conditions. PCE was estimated under different scenarios and the number of approach movements at each intersection. The results showed that for approaches with only one movement, PCE varies from 1.1 to 1.65. Similarly, for approaches with two and three movements, the PCE varies from 1.07 to 1.99 and from 0.76 to 3.6, respectively. In addition, a general model was developed for predicting PCE for intersections with all of the movements considered. The results obtained from this model showed that the average PCE of 1.5 is similar to the value recommended by the HCM (Highway Capacity Manual) 1985. However, the predicted PCE value of 1.9 for saturated threshold is closer to the PCE value of 2 which was recommended by the HCM 2000 and HCM 2010.

Estimating Passenger Car Equivalent using the HCM-6 PCE Methodology on Four-Lane Level Freeway Segments in Western U.S.

2019 ◽  
Vol 2673 (11) ◽  
pp. 529-545 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianan Zhou ◽  
Laurence Rilett ◽  
Elizabeth Jones
Keyword(s):  
Flow Speed ◽  
Free Flow ◽  
Passenger Cars ◽  
Highway Capacity ◽  
Passenger Car ◽  
Highway Capacity Manual ◽  
Free Flow Speed ◽  
Passenger Car Equivalent ◽  
Equal Capacity ◽  
Using Data

The passenger car equivalent (PCE) of a truck is used to account for the presence of trucks in the Highway Capacity Manual (HCM). The HCM-6 employed an equivalency capacity methodology to estimate PCE. It is hypothesized in this paper that the HCM-6 PCE values are not appropriate for the western U.S., which consistently experiences truck percentages higher than 25%. Furthermore, the HCM PCE procedure assumes that truck and passenger cars travel at the same desired free-flow speed on level terrain. However, many heavy trucks in the western U.S. are governed through the use of speed limiters so that their speeds are considerably less than the speed limit. Thirdly, the HCM-6 PCEs are based on the freeways having three lanes per direction, which might not be appropriate for the freeways with two lanes per direction that predominate in the rural sections of the western U.S. Lastly, the trucks used in the HCM-6 simulation might not be representative of the empirical trucks observed on rural freeways in western states. This paper examines these effects on PCEs using data from I-80 in western Nebraska. The PCEs were estimated using the HCM-6 equal-capacity method and VISSIM 9.0 simulation data under (1) the HCM-6 conditions and (2) the Nebraska empirical conditions. It was found that the PCEs recommended in HCM-6 underestimate the effects of trucks on four-lane level freeway segments that experience high truck percentages having large differences in free-flow speed distributions, and which have different truck lengths.

Determining Passenger Car Equivalent for Motorcycle at Mid-Block of Sesetan Road

2015 ◽  
Vol 776 ◽  
pp. 95-100
Author(s):  
I. Gusti Raka Purbanto
Keyword(s):  
Motor Vehicles ◽  
Heavy Vehicles ◽  
Highway Capacity ◽  
Passenger Car ◽  
Highway Capacity Manual ◽  
The Road ◽  
Traffic Conditions ◽  
Mode Share ◽  
Passenger Car Equivalent ◽  
On The Road

Motorcycle dominates traffic in Bali, particularly in urban roads, which occupy more than 85% of mode share. The three types of vehicles, i.e. motorcycles, heavy and light vehicles share the roadways together. Under mixed traffic conditions, motorcycle may be travelling in between and alongside two consecutive motor vehicles. Considering such a situation, passenger car equivalent values should be examined thoroughly. This study aims to determine passenger car equivalent (PCEs) of motorcycle at mid-block of Sesetan Road. Three approaches are used to examine the PCEs values. This study found that the PCE of motorcycles are in a range between 0.2 and 0.4. This values are about the same to the existing PCE of the Indonesian Highway Capacity Manual (1997). This study also pointed out that motorcyclists and car drivers may behave differently to the existence of motorcycles. Car drivers are more aware than motorcyclists on the existence of motorcycle on the road. Further, more samples are required to obtain comprehensive results. In addition, the presence of heavy vehicles need to be considered for future study.

Sensitivity Analysis of Speed Limit, Truck Lane Restrictions, and Data Aggregation Level on the HCM-6 Passenger Car Equivalent Estimation Methodology for Western U.S. Conditions

2019 ◽  
Vol 2673 (11) ◽  
pp. 493-504
Author(s):  
Jianan Zhou ◽  
Laurence Rilett ◽  
Elizabeth Jones
Keyword(s):  
Data Aggregation ◽  
Companion Paper ◽  
Flow Speed ◽  
Speed Limit ◽  
Passenger Cars ◽  
Highway Capacity ◽  
Passenger Car ◽  
Highway Capacity Manual ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
The Impact

In the 2016 Highway Capacity Manual (HCM-6), the impact of trucks on freeway operations is measured by passenger car equivalents (PCEs). PCEs are estimated by the equal capacity methodology. The HCM-6 PCE values are based on the assumptions that passenger cars and trucks travel at the same free-flow speed, that they travel on freeways with three lanes per direction, and that they travel in traffic with no more than 25% trucks. On Interstate 80 in western Nebraska, it is observed that the interaction of high truck percentages and large speed differences between passenger cars and trucks may result in moving bottlenecks. It was hypothesized that the current HCM-6 PCEs may be not appropriate for these conditions. A companion paper showed this was true and that the major cause was speed differentials between trucks and passenger cars. In essence, when slow-moving trucks pass each other they create moving bottlenecks, which results in increased PCE values. This paper is an extension to a companion paper and examines a number of issues related to estimation of PCEs. The paper examines the effect of speed limit, truck passing restrictions, and data aggregation interval on PCEs. The results show that: (i) if a higher speed limit is implemented, trucks will affect the passenger cars more severely; (ii) if truck passing is restricted by lane restrictions, the negative impacts of trucks on passenger car operation may be mitigated; and (iii) using a longer data aggregation interval results in lower PCE values, all else being equal.

scholarly journals MICROSIMULATION-BASED PASSENGER CAR EQUIVALENTS FOR HEAVY VEHICLES DRIVING TURBO-ROUNDABOUTS

Transport ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 295-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Orazio Giuffrè ◽  
Anna Granà ◽  
Sergio Marino ◽  
Fabio Galatioto
Keyword(s):  
Geometric Design ◽  
Heavy Vehicles ◽  
Passenger Cars ◽  
Highway Capacity ◽  
Passenger Car ◽  
Operational Conditions ◽  
Highway Capacity Manual ◽  
Traffic Conditions ◽  
Scenarios Simulation

Due to its geometric design, turbo-roundabouts impose greatest constraints to the vehicular trajectories; by consequence, one can expect a more unfavourable impact of heavy vehicles on the traffic conditions than on other types of roundabouts. The present paper addresses the question of how to estimate Passenger Car Equivalents (PCEs) for heavy vehicles driving turbo-roundabouts. The microsimulation approach used revealed as a useful tool for evaluating the variation of quality of traffic in presence of mixed fleets (different percentages of heavy vehicles). Based on the output of multiple runs of several scenarios simulation, capacity functions for each entry lane of the turbo-roundabout were developed and variability of the PCEs for heavy vehicles were calculated by comparing results for a fleet of passenger cars only with those of the mixed fleet scenarios. Results show a dependence of PCEs for heavy vehicles on operational conditions, which characterise the turbo-roundabout. Assuming the values of PCEs for roundabouts provided by the 2010 Highway Capacity Manual (HCM), depending on entering manoeuvring underestimation and overestimation of the effect of heavy vehicles on the quality of traffic conditions have been found.

Multiclass Traffic Assignment Problem with Flow-Dependent Passenger Car Equivalent Value of Trucks

2017 ◽  
Vol 2667 (1) ◽  
pp. 131-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gustavo Riente de Andrade ◽  
Zhibin Chen ◽  
Lily Elefteriadou ◽  
Yafeng Yin
Keyword(s):  
Assignment Problem ◽  
Traffic Assignment ◽  
Flow Distribution ◽  
Power Functions ◽  
Highway Capacity ◽  
Passenger Car ◽  
Highway Capacity Manual ◽  
Traffic Assignment Problem ◽  
Passenger Car Equivalent ◽  
Discrete Values

This paper develops and analyzes a multiclass traffic assignment model considering the flow-dependent passenger car equivalent (PCE) value of trucks based on the latest Highway Capacity Manual (HCM, 6th edition) and explores the properties of the proposed model to provide guidance on related planning applications. HCM discrete values of truck PCEs are fitted by power functions for combinations of link grades and lengths, which have been found to produce high coefficients of determination ( R2) in all cases. With the established fitting functions, the multiclass traffic assignment problem is formulated as a variational inequality problem and solved by an efficient method. The equilibrium link flow distribution is proved to exist but may not be unique. Numerical examples and discussions are presented to demonstrate the variance of the link flow distributions and the effect of such nonuniqueness on traffic planning applications. Several approaches are then provided to obtain the best range of solutions according to a congestion pricing design problem.

scholarly journals Passenger Car Equivalents on Downgrades of Two-Lane Roads

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 152-173
Author(s):  
Marko Subotić ◽  
Željko Stević ◽  
Edis Softić ◽  
Veljko Radičević
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Flow ◽  
Cross Sections ◽  
Negative Influence ◽  
Flow Conditions ◽  
Highway Capacity ◽  
Passenger Car ◽  
Highway Capacity Manual ◽  
Average Value ◽  
Vehicle Structure ◽  
Passenger Car Equivalent

In this paper, empirical research about Passenger Car Equivalents (PCEs) on the longitudinal downgrade of two-lane roads in Bosnia and Herzegovina has been conducted in order to determine the influence of vehicle structure under free traffic flow conditions. The research has been carried out considering the classes of vehicles at cross-sections on the downgrade of two-lane roads. As a result, the negative influence of vehicle structure under free traffic flow conditions using passenger car equivalents (PCEs) has been determined. The results show that on the downgrade of two-lane roads, the value of passenger car equivalent decreases from the level terrain to the boundary minimum value for the determined downgrade g = −3.00%, after which its value starts to increase slightly. Based on the obtained values, the models calibrated with a second-degree polynomial have been developed to determine the average value of passenger car equivalent as a function of its boundary value. The paper also compares the results obtained by the developed models with the models from the Highway Capacity Manual under free traffic flow conditions. In addition, models for the percentage values of PCE15%, PCE50% and PCE85% have been established.

scholarly journals CALIBRATING THE PASSENGER CAR EQUIVALENT ON ITALIAN TWO LINE HIGHWAYS: A CASE STUDY

Transport ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 449-456 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mario De Luca ◽  
Gianluca Dell’Acqua
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Flow ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Highway Capacity ◽  
Passenger Car ◽  
Highway Capacity Manual ◽  
Passenger Car Equivalent ◽  
Basic Parameters ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Qualitative Measure ◽  
The U.S

The Level Of Service (LOS) of a road infrastructure, a concept introduced for the first time in the Highway Capacity Manual (second edition), is defined as the ‘qualitative measure of traffic conditions and their perception by users’. The Highway Capacity Manual, developed in the U.S., is still the most highly internationally credited reference text in the study of vehicular traffic. The method proposed by the Highway Capacity Manual is based mainly on studies and research compiled in the U.S., so in order to apply this method to other realities (e.g. Italy), research needs to be carried out at a local level. In this study, a series of studies were carried out to verify the transferability of these procedures to two roads classified as ‘two-lane highways’. Two fixed RTMS (Remote Traffic Microwave Sensor) were used to record traffic data for two sections located at 3100 km on the SP30 and at 8900 km on the SP175 from 1 January to 31 December 2010. From the data, it was possible to determine not only the relationships between the basic parameters of the traffic flow, but also the (Passenger Car Equivalent) (PCE) values. The results showed that the PCEs analyzed vary significantly with vehicular flow, while they are scarcely affected by changes in speed. In particular, with respect to the vehicular flow, although they have the same range recorded in the Highway Capacity Manual (2010) (between 1 and 2), they tend to be higher than those given in the manual, and the difference tends to diminish beyond a flow rate of 400÷450 pcphpl; the PCE coefficients also tend towards 1 (i.e., the condition where a heavy vehicle is comparable to a car) with range values approaching 1000 pcphpl. In addition, for these values, the traffic-flow diagrams obtained, showed speeds (defined as the critical speed) close to 50÷55 km/h (with the exception of the study conducted on the SP175 in direction d2, which is considerably higher).

scholarly journals Measuring Passenger Car Equivalents (PCE) for Heavy Vehicle on Two Lane Highway Segments Operating Under Various Traffic Conditions

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Pan Lu ◽  
Zijian Zheng ◽  
Denver Tolliver ◽  
Danguang Pan
Keyword(s):  
Capacity Planning ◽  
Traffic Volume ◽  
Transportation Engineering ◽  
Heavy Vehicles ◽  
Highway Traffic ◽  
Highway Capacity ◽  
Passenger Car ◽  
Highway Capacity Manual ◽  
Model Combining ◽  
Passenger Car Equivalent

Passenger Car Equivalent (PCE) is essential for transportation engineering to assess heavy vehicles’ (HV) impact on highway operations and capacity planning. Highway Capacity Manual 2010 (HCM 2010) used PCE values and percent of heavy vehicles to account the impacts on both highway planning and operation, however, PCE values in the latest version of HCM derived based on the steady and balanced two-lane-two-way (TLTW) traffic flows. The objective of the study is to identify PCE values for TLTW highway at various traffic volume with an emphasis on congestion conditions. This study introduces an analytical model, combining a headway-based and a delay-based algorithms, for estimating PCEs of HV on a TLTW highway. This study contributes to the literature by providing relationships among PCE, the traffic volume level (TVL) of both lanes, and the TVL duration on a TLTW highway. Traffic volume was categorized into five levels: TVL A (<250 pc/h), TVL B (250–375 pc/h), TVL C (375–600 pc/h), TVL D (600–850 pc/h), and TVL E (>850 pc/h). The results indicate that on a TLTW highway, the TVLs of both lanes and their durations have significant impact on PCE values. In general, PCE values increase as TVL duration increases. Trucks have much higher impacts on operation under unbalanced conditions of TVL A with D, TVL B with C, and TVL D with B, when duration time is greater than one hour. When both lanes are saturated, trucks’ effect on capacity diminishes over time, and PCE values are approaching to 1.0.

scholarly journals The effect of the traffic composition on the urban traffic capacity. Passenger car equivalent coefficients

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dmitri Nemchinov ◽  
Dmitri Martiakhin ◽  
Pavel Pospelov ◽  
Tatiana Komarova ◽  
Alexandr Mikhailov
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Flow ◽  
Russian Federation ◽  
Urban Traffic ◽  
Heavy Vehicles ◽  
Passenger Cars ◽  
Passenger Car ◽  
Traffic Capacity ◽  
Equivalent Number ◽  
Passenger Car Equivalent ◽  
Traffic Composition

Predicting the traffic capacity and its elements requires bringing the traffic flow represented by various vehicles to uniformity expressed in the equivalent number of passenger cars, through the use of the passenger car equivalent coefficients (PCE). The currently used in Russian Federation passenger car equivalent coefficients are taken on the basis of studies of the capacity of the Russian Federation, carried out in the 70s - 80s of the last century on rural roads, where most of the vehicles were heavy vehicles. Currently, the traffic flow is mostly represented by passenger cars. The riding qualities of cars, especially trucks, have changed significantly. This situation is especially common to Moscow. In this regard, the question of clarifying the traffic flow composition and revising the passenger car equivalent coefficients becomes relevant. The article presents the methodology and results of studies carried out on the route sections between road crossings to determine the passenger car equivalent coefficients and the traffic composition in Moscow.

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