Looking beyond the traditional for practical solutions to changing transportation needs

As a nonprofit organization committed to the public good, Noblis is trusted by the government to provide unbiased, objective guidance, and innovative modeling solutions to identify congestion mitigation strategies and improve transportation operations and safety.   Noblis has played an important role in several transportation modeling efforts for the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).   Our ability to recognize when traditional approaches have significant modeling or data limitations, and to invent new, yet cost-effective approaches, is highly valued.

Sizing the problem before choosing an approach for transportation analyses - one size does not fit all

A project with state-of-the-art tools, a knowledgeable team, and committed leadership can still fail for one simple reason: the team built the wrong model. For a successful project, it is critical to understand the needs of key decision-makers and choose or develop the right model for the problem. Noblis has demonstrated this insight in several projects, including:

• Applying a multi-scale methodology to assess alternative transportation strategies and measuring user and system benefits for various realistic traffic scenarios – rather than analyzing system performance only for average conditions
• Developing a tool to effectively model Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) configurations combined with ITS, and evaluating impacts of BRT elements on transit system performance
• Developing an innovative analytical approach (HOWLATE) to model the motivations and trip choices of traveler information users (rather than using small-scale field trials, survey instruments, or traffic simulation tools with oversimplified assumptions about traveler behavior)

Experience

Multi-Scale Transportation Analysis (1996-ongoing)

• Analyze the impact of increase in future demand (year 2020) on the congested I-5 corridor and identify/assess alternatives for surrounding 120-square-mile region of freeway and arterial routes
• Assess system performance under non-average conditions: unique framework combining regional travel demand models with traffic simulation
• Incorporate a range of realistic traffic conditions: travel demand, weather, and accident patterns
• Develop alternatives to traditional construction options, as well as multiple ITS strategies

QuickZone Traffic Delay Estimation Tool (2001-ongoing)

• Enables quick, flexible estimates of work zone traffic delays
• Estimates impact of multiple concurrent work zones (including delays and economic impacts on travelers and local businesses) under sequential flagging operations, partial closures, long durations of full closures, and a series of periodic full closures with a signed detour
• Supports construction costs and delay costs trade-off analyses

Minneapolis Northwest BRT Corridor Study (2005-ongoing)

• Model BRT configurations and evaluate impacts of BRT elements on transit system performance
• Evaluate various right-of-way alignments: Mixed Traffic Operations, Dedicated Lane, HOV Lanes, Transitway and Shoulder Operations
• Assess impact of ROW configuration on travel time and system capacity
• Examine impact of ITS applications on performance: transit signal priority, electronic fare payment, etc.

Next Generation Wireless (2003-2007)

• Developed a test design to assess the application of emerging Commercial Mobile Radio Services (CMRS) cellular data services for a public transit agency
• Worked with the Maryland Transportation Administration to define operational requirements, conducted test, and developed test report

511/Travel Information Services Assessment (2003-ongoing)

• Developed a methodology to quantify the mobility benefits of travel information services (including 511) using archived traffic sensor, travel advisory, and weather data  
• Applied methodology to assess benefits of traveler information services in locales across the country. The most recent study provided quantitative support for Utah DOT to enhance Salt Lake City’s 511 from an advisory to a travel-time based service. Similar work started with the MTC in San Francisco.

Urban Congestion Reporting (2002-ongoing)

• Monitor and report monthly congestion in 20+ cities across the nation and characterize trends as well as contributing factors (weather, accidents, special events, etc.)
• Developed measures that describe the intensity, duration and day-to-day variation in congestion, as well as a series of graphical one-page summaries for traffic managers and decision makers

For more information contact:

Noblis
600 Maryland Ave, SW, Suite 755
Washington , DC 20024
Donald Roberts: (202) 863-2976