EVALUATION OF ACTUAL AND PERCEIVED LEVEL OF SERVICE OF URBAN MID-BLOCK SECTIONS AND INTERSECTIONS

Abstract

The continuously increasing population of our country also showcases a corresponding or in fact a multi-fold increase in vehicle population. Unfortunately, the transportation facilities are not well developed to cater this huge demand. Many a times the traffic flow through these existing facilities exceed the design capacity. This results in reduction in the design speed of the facility, increased delays and bottlenecks, increase in travel time, reduced comfort and convenience. These ill characteristics causes poor operating conditions and consequent decrease in the user satisfaction of these facilities. Therefore, it is of prime importance to measure the effectiveness of these facilities from time to time. Level of Service (LOS) is such a measure which can be used to analyse the efficiency of such facilities. This study determined the LOS of two midblock sections and two intersections by collecting factors like average travel speed and free flow speed for the former, and delay and V/C ratio for the latter. The user perceived LOS of these facilities are also processed from 400 responses. Comparisons were made between these values of LOS. The study concludes that that the LOS perceived is higher than actual LOS. Obstructions to traffic flow and visibility of the signal and proper display of signal timing are the most important factor affecting the service of a road and a junction respectively. The results of this analysis can be utilized to bring out timely development to these facilities and subsequently improve the efficiency and user satisfaction.