Sub-problem 1c: Special Considerations for the Analysis
Step 2. Results
A detailed look at the three sections of the facility has revealed very few abnormal conditions that would require special treatment. Those conditions that were identified as unusual include:
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Excessive queuing on the northbound approach to Okeechobee during the PM peak, as shown in the photo. This intersection is the northern termination of the north section of two-lane highway. Any result from the HCM that suggested that the northern section operated satisfactorily as a two-lane highway would be misleading because of the congestion on this approach.
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A short (approximately ½ mile) piece of four-lane divided roadway on Krome Avenue immediately south of Okeechobee, as shown in the photo. This portion is now a part of the north section, which will be analyzed as a two-lane roadway. Some modifications should be made to the procedure to accommodate this condition.
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Geometric improvements at three locations to eliminate congestion during the peak period. The first is at Okeechobee Road, as indicated above. The other two intersections are at Kendall and at Biscayne.
There are no conditions present that would suggest the use of traffic models that are more complex than the HCM. The only such models that could be applied to this case study are those that estimate delays at a roundabout. We will examine the alternative of using a roundabout at Okeechobee Road in connection with Problem 4. The treatment of roundabouts as unsignalized intersections is limited (in the HCM 2000) to the estimation of capacity for single lane roundabouts. The investigation of a roundabout at that location will stay within the scope of the HCM.
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| Exhibit 3-11. Four-lane section at Okeechobee Road | Exhibit 3-12. Northbound congestion at Okeechobee Road |