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Develop Procedural Guideline for Displaying Travel Time in CHART DMS
 As a member of I-95 Corridor Coalition, Maryland DOT receives the real-time travel time information on selected routes on and around I-95. Both State Highway Administration (SHA) and Maryland Transportation Authority (MdTA) would like to display the information on the DMSs.
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DCI developed the procedural guidelines for launching the program. The guidelines answered questions related to the contents and formats of the message (depending on the DMS size), update frequency, bad data issues, and also determined destinations for specific DMSs.
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CCTV System Along I-95, I-695, I-895, & MD 301
 DCI prepared 100% construction document of the civil, structural, electrical and fiber optics related plans, related specifications and engineer’s estimate. The project involved installation of 25 CCTV Cameras along major routes I-95, I-695, I-895 and MD 301. DCI designed a state-of-the-art CCTV system for MdTA using MPEG 2 encoding/decoding over a fiber-based Gigabit Ethernet network. The system provides traffic surveillance coverage for MdTA's highways (I-95, I-895, I-695) and bridges (Hatem Bridge, Bay Bridge, Nice Bridge, Key Bridge).
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| The structural plans involved the design of the auger and spread foundations for 50, 60, 70 ft. high camera poles, bridge pier and girder mount camera pole steel support brackets, and Toll Plaza roof mount camera pole support system. The plan preparation involved a detailed searched of the existing plans and CADD files of the site topography, site survey and team coordination. |
DCTMC ATMS Software (CapTOP) Functional Requirements
 DCI has supported DDOT to develop the TMC central software (called CapTOP) functional requirements for a fully-integrated Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) for Washington DC. DDOT has been a pioneer in centrally-controlled ATMS in the nation, in the 80s before the vision of ITS was developed, and continually evolved the system from a central signal system.
DDOT had initiated CapTOP as a pilot program on a GIS base and intends to expand it to include all legacy systems or their functionalities. CapTOP will provide interface to/functionalities of all current ITS subsystems, such as, legacy signal system, CCTV, DMS, RWIS, permanent counts stations, other regional systems, etc. |
This project included four major tasks:
Interview stakeholders and review technical documents
Develop TMC Concept of Operations
Identify TMC operational requirements
Develop CapTOP functional requirements
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DDOT Streetlight GIS and Alley Light Head Conversion
 DCI developed a GIS database of about 65,000 streetlights in ArcGIS, maintaining full compliance with DDOT's existing GIS program. DCI gathered data from existing streetlight and PEPCO plats and created a user-friendly and versatile graphic query and analysis interface for the users.
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DCI performed citywide field inspection and prepared work orders, using DDOT’s SLIM System, to replace all alley lighting heads to High Pressure Sodium (HPS) lights with a standard wattage. The last task required DCI to conduct a citywide field inspection at identified locations and prepared work orders to replace damaged/rusted transformer bases using the SLIM System.
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Bethesda South Parking Study
 This study consisted of inventorying the parking spaces in the region, determining vehicle-parking turnover in the public spaces and calculating the parking occupancy in private and public spaces. The study had two phases, a three-week parking data collection period that started in mid-November in South Bethesda and data tabulation and analysis period.
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 DCI had to determine if the parking spaces were being used for the intended time frame, parking duration and occupancy values were calculated for the short-term spaces, long-term spaces, and handicap spaces in the public, off-street facilities.
In order to do this DCI calculated the parking duration and occupancy for a typical weekday (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday) and for one day during a Weekend. We collected parking data at public lots 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. every two hours, on the hour. During each 2-hour cycle, it took on average between 30 and 45 minutes for a person to complete his/her tour, to record all the parking data. Because of the 2-hour cycle (which is mainly constrained by the personnel requirements and the requirement to organize and review the data), the minimum parking duration recorded in this study was 2 hours. Parking data for private lots were also counted every two hours from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
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MD 100 Before and After Study
The segment of MD 100 from I-95 to MD 104 was opened to traffic on November 23, 1998, connecting the existing portion of MD 100 from MD 104 to US 29, resulting in a continuous section of MD 100 between I-95 and US 29. DCI assessed the impact of the opening on the roadways and interchanges surrounding MD 100 from I-95 to MD 104. We used HCS to analyze the road segments and provide AM/PM peak-hour volumes, the Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) and the Level of Service (LOS).
The Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) took two sets of portable traffic counts along key roadways in the study area. The majority of the first set was taken during the summer of 1998, before the opening of MD 100 between I-95 and US 29. The second set was taken after the roadway's opening, during the spring of 1999. DCI then took the count data to calculate the volume and adjust them according to seasonal factors to take into account time and date differences.
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Dulles Corridor Rapid Transit Project
The Dulles Corridor Rapid Transit Project was a study to evaluate several improvement alternatives for the Metrorrail Orange Line in Fairfax County and Loudoun County, Virginia. Three different alternatives were evaluated; Metorrail; Bus Rapid Transit (BRT); Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and Metrorrail Hybrid. All three alternatives were compared against a baseline do-nothing alternative. Daniel Consultants conducted the study as a subconsultant for DMJM.
DCI undertook an extensive data collection effort to develop a roadway inventory and to perform the subsequent analysis. The data collection effort included gathering relevant information from various agencies and collecting data in the field. DCI entered the collected field data into TEAPAC and Synchro to generate levels of service (LOS) and delay time for the intersections and interchanges surrounding the proposed station sites. DCI also determined traffic impacts at the proposed stations.
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Arterial Safety Patrol Study - U.S. 1 Between I-495 Capital Beltway and Rt. 198
 As part of CHART evaluation study of a typical corridor, DCI conducted a study on U.S. 1 corridor. DCI obtained traffic volume data from SHA website to update the traffic volume in existing CORSIM U.S. 1 model. We analyzed Maryland Statewide accident data for years 1998 and 1999 and selected 10 highest accident intersections between I-495 Capital Beltway and Rt. 198 along the U.S. 1 to simulate the operation under various accident pattern scenarios. The assumption of typical accident duration with 45 minutes duration in one lane without patrol and 25 minutes with patrol was used in simulation. This assumption was based on "CHART 2000 Evaluation and Comparison Interim Report" which was done by the University of Maryland.
DCI simulated "No Accident" condition for the U.S. 1 model as baseline and "45 minutes one lane blockage" as "Without Patrol Control" condition and "25 minutes one lane blockage" as "With Patrol Control" condition for each scenario. DCI compared the three different cases' MOE and used economic analysis technique to convert the "MOE" to "User Cost". The study provided the basis for evaluating the need of Safety Patrol on major Highways on arterial roads in Maryland.
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Maryland National Road Corridor Partnership Plan
The project involves the preparation of a Corridor Partnership Plan for the nomination for All-American Road designation through the National Scenic By Ways Program. The historic 170 miles is located on US Route 40/MD 144 between Baltimore City and the Pennsylvania line. Daniel Consultants, Inc. has been responsible for identifying highway safety related problems and recommending solutions. The safety analysis considered evaluation of steep grades, climbing lanes, passing lanes to recommend guard rails, retaining walls, shoulder width additions, etc. The goal of the project also includes increasing tourism opportunities in the communities. The specific elements included:
o Roadway Geometry
o Sight Distance
o Horizontal and Vertical Geometry
o Traffic Controls
o Traffic Safety Analysis
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o Traffic Volume Characteristics
o Accident Studies
o Speed Studies
o Signage, Way Finding, One Way Systems
o Pedestrian Studies
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The project included extensive public participation meetings to set goals and identify opportunities. In downtown areas pedestrian and parking demands are studied for weekend traffic. The outcome of the transportation element of the study results in the recommendation to elevate the standard to All-American Road Status.
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MWAA, North Area Roadway Improvements II
 Daniel Consultants, Inc. was subcontracted by RMA to provide a transportation network that meets the future projected Year 2015 traffic conditions. DCI evaluated the future projected peak hour traffic volumes that were provided at several different intersections and Ramps in the study area. DCI provided technical guidance and support so that the transportation network met a Level of Service (LOS) "C" or better. We used the Highway Capacity Manual Software to evaluate the necessary lane configurations at intersections (including turn lane design requirements to accommodate projected traffic queues), ramp weaving areas, ramp diverge areas, and ramp merge areas. DCI also recommended improved roadway phasing to meet the projected traffic demand.
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I-64 Interchange at U.S. Route 60
Daniel Consultants, Inc. was contracted by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to prepare high mast highway and sign lighting plans at the I-64/U.S. Route 60 interchange in Alleghany County, Virginia. We determined the wire sizing and calculated the lighting illumination and voltage drops. DCI prepared the contract documents and conducted the utility coordination.
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Traffic Impact Analysis of MTA Central Light Rail Line (CLRL) Double Tracking
 This study assessed the traffic and environmental impacts of implementing the double track program of the MTA's Central Light Rail Line (CLRL) on traffic at affected grade crossings. A total of 19 grade crossings were analyzed on the CLRL from Cromwell Station to Hamburg Street and on the BWI spur. The impacts were assessed for the "Existing," "No-Build," and "Build" scenarios.
DCI collected traffic data, made forecasts for future scenarios and analyzed the scenarios using simulation model CORSIM. Three replications were made for each run. The primary evaluation parameters for the traffic impact assessment include the observed traffic volumes of the affected roads, and the simulation results on average intersection delays, queue lengths, and intersection level of service. For the environmental impact assessment, the estimated emissions rates of HC, CO, and NOx were considered.
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Evaluation of US 301 Corridor Improvement Alternatives
 This study evaluated the traffic impacts of the "no-build" alternative and three improvement alternatives of the US Route 301 segment in Charles County, Maryland. DCI evaluated the alternative scenarios using simulation tools CORSIM and SYNCHRO. Alternatives included freeway with service road and interchange option as well as arterials with no control of access options.
For the freeway option, the model was developed using CORSIM's own input modules. For the arterial alternatives, SYNCHRO was used to develop the network and optimize signals, and later exported to CORSIM for further modifications.
DCI collected the appropriate measures of effectiveness (MOEs) information from the CORSIM output and translated these MOEs into meaningful levels of service (LOSs).
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Traffic Impact Study Reviews
Daniel Consultants, Inc. has provided and continues to provide numerous technical review services for the SHA's Engineering Access Permits Division (EAPD). When reviewing, we focus on the reports' quality, methodology, accuracy, appropriate use of traffic engineering analysis techniques/principles, and compliance with local ordinances. We have been instrumental in preparing traffic impact study review guidelines for Counties in Maryland. local ordinances to support the evaluation of many large and complex projects. We have also successfully completed over 500 project reviews in all 23 Counties of Maryland for the EAPD.
We have a process that typically includes seven steps.
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