Traffic Modeling - 1530

To maintain and update the traffic model used for the transportation planning programs.

In 1990, MCAG contracted with Dowling and Associates to create a travel demand model for use in the county of Merced. This model was created as a planning tool, to evaluate potential traffic impacts resulting from urban and rural development, and was used in the Congestion Management Program from 1991-1996.

Subsequent to the model's creation, it has come to be used in additional ways. Since 1993, it has been used in the air quality conformity analysis that must be performed on MCAG's plans and programs. The model is also used as one of the data sources in identifying and prioritizing regional transportation projects, during the development of Regional Transportation Plans. It is also used in corridor studies such as those done for State Routes 99 (1997), 152 (1997), and 165 (1999). Lastly, MCAG maintains much of the traffic count information for its jurisdictions and is the regional source for traffic projections in Merced County.

A comprehensive traffic model update was performed as part of the Partnership in Integrated Planning work program in 2003-04. The improved model was validated to a base year of 2000 and is able to forecast traffic for any year out to 2030. It was used in the development of the 2004 Regional Transportation Plan.

This element will be prepared by MDSS, Inc., under an agreement with MCAG.