Getting Started

Printable Version

Scope
To begin the case study, as with an actual improvement assessment, decisions have to be made about a variety of issues. One is the scope of the analysis: what portions of the freeway network should be included, and should the surface arterial network be considered? You also need to determine who the stakeholders are, what issues they have, and how those issues translate into goals, objectives, and performance measures for the study. You must also know the audience or audiences for the report. These all affect other issues such as the analyses to be performed, their sequencing, the tools to use, and the data to collect.

How should the system be defined? What facilities should be included? Alternate Route 7 is the main focus of the questions that NYSDOT has posed. The congestion problems related to Alternate Route 7 may occur at the I-87 and I-787 interchanges, so both will obviously need to be included as well.

In constructing the case study, we included Alternate Route 7, I-87, I-787 and all of the interchanges immediately adjacent to both ends. Thus, we’re examining five interchanges in addition to the mainline sections of Alternate Route 7. The overall analysis will need to be comprehensive, in terms of the number of facilities that have to be studied, to avoid unidentified cascading impacts from changes you make.

The time periods to consider are a second important aspect of the scope. We need to consider the AM and PM peaks, since Alternate Route 7 is part of the urban freeway network. We will also need to include Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons in the summertime, since the facility carries a lot of vacation traffic.

Discussion:
Take a few minutes to consider these questions. When you are ready, click continue below to proceed.