U-PASS Reports

2000 Annual Campus Traffic Count

University of Washington Transportation Office

Contents

• Background
• Introduction
• Survey Methodology
• Executive Summary
• Campus Area Traffic Count Results
• Campus Traffic Count Historical Data
• Conclusion
• Appendices

The 1983 agreement between the University of Washington and the City of Seattle established specific traffic and transportation goals and objectives to control traffic congestion on city streets adjacent to campus. The purpose of the Annual Campus Traffic Count is to measure the achievement of the traffic objectives set forth in the 1983 agreement. The University of Washington conducts the traffic count every October.

The City and the University established maximum allowable vehicle trip levels based on the conditions of the 1992 General Physical Development Plan (GPDP). The figures are based on the average numbers of the campus trips surveyed in 1988, 1989, and 1990 plus an error factor of five percent. The maximum average number of vehicle trips allowed during weekdays are:

• 8,267 trips to campus during the morning peak period (7:00 AM to 9:00 AM)
• 9,782 trips from campus during the afternoon peak period (3:00 PM to 6:00 PM)
• 63,200 total trips (to and from campus) during the total 24-hour day

This report documents the 2000 Annual Campus Traffic Count. Included are the data collection and the analysis of the 2000 counts. In addition, a comparison of the results from 1983 to 2000 is provided. The University of Washington Transportation Office conducted the count Monday, October 16 through Friday, October 20. Weather conditions during this week were normal for the time of year, with overcast skies and scattered showers.

Survey Methodology

Two distinct stages comprise the traffic count study: the data collection phase (where a traffic count is conducted) and the data analysis phase. Both stages are described below.

Data Collection

The University of Washington campus was divided into five sections for the traffic survey. Each section has specific entry/exit locations, where vehicles entering and leaving the section are counted, as listed in Table 1 and shown on the map in Figure 1. Trafficount, Inc., a private consultant, equipped each of these locations with portable traffic counting equipment for the study. The equipment counted all vehicles entering and leaving each campus area (known as "inbound traffic" and "outbound traffic") during the study period. Because west campus is bisected by city streets and has no central location to count, the traffic is partially estimated (as described on page 12). Trafficount, Inc. provided the raw data to the University of Washington Transportation Office once the study period concluded. The Transportation Office then conducted analysis of the data.

The definition of a vehicle trip is a single directional trip that has one origin and one destination. A typical vehicular trip to campus originates from off-campus, enters campus, and then terminates in a campus parking lot. The vehicle then makes a second trip when it leaves the parking lot and leaves campus for an off-campus destination.

However, it is important to note that all vehicles entering and leaving campus were counted, regardless the purpose of the trip or the type of vehicle used. Therefore, University-owned vehicles, contractors' vehicles, transit vehicles, and private vehicles were all counted, as were vehicles driving through campus but not stopping on campus

Cars which were parked in the campus parking lots were counted by University of Washington transportation office staff between 11:00pm to 1:00am on Wednesday, October 18, 2000. The counts are summarized in Appendix E.

Data Analysis

All data for each counting location on campus was delineated by direction (inbound or outbound), the day of the week and the hour of the day for which the vehicular trip was counted.

In this report, when vehicles trips "to" campus are discussed, reference is made to vehicles that are counted or estimated to be entering a campus area from a non-campus area. Likewise, vehicles trips "from" campus refers to vehicles that are counted or estimated to be leaving a campus area to a non-campus area. These "to" and "from" vehicle trips are adjusted in this report (see appendix C) in order to provide an equal or "balance" for an average 24-hour average weekday daily traffic figure (AWDT). The number of total campus vehicle trips is the sum of the trips to and from campus. Note this analysis does not attempt to factor intra-campus trips (for example, those by University vehicles) nor does it identify bus trips, trips by service vehicles, and so forth. Furthermore, this analysis does not include method to approximate how many vehicles trips do not terminate in a campus area, and only pass through campus without stopping. These trips may also drive through one campus area to another, and thus may be counted multiple times.

The hourly directional volumes for each campus section were added together for the five-day period from October 16 - 20, 2000. This sum was then divided by five to obtain the daily average hourly directional volumes and accumulated levels for each area. These area averages were added to obtain the campus (as surveyed) average hourly directional volumes, campus AWDT and hourly accumulation levels.

In order to establish baseline values for the study, it was necessary to estimate the number of cars that were typically parked on campus each night during the study period. Thus, surveyors counted cars at midnight during the study, as described above. These baseline values are used in this report whenever "accumulation" in a campus area or parking lot is referenced. The number of cars counted in parking areas at midnight is the number to which trips "to" campus are added and trips "from" campus are subtracted for each hour to model the accrual of vehicles on campus.

Figure 1: Campus Count Area Map

Executive Summary

Three indicators pertaining to traffic levels on campus are monitored for one week in October each year. The three indicators include trips to campus during the morning peak period (7am to 9am), trips from campus during the afternoon peak period (3pm to 6pm), and total trips (both directions) for the total 24-daily period. The historical summary of morning peak period, afternoon peak period, and 24-hour traffic counts is presented below. In each case, the traffic levels have been maintained below the maximum number of trips allowed. The maximum number of trips allowed in morning peak period is 8,267, the maximum number of afternoon peak period trips is 9,782, and the maximum number of trips allowed in 24-hour period is 63,200.

The number vehicle trips to campus counted during the morning peak in 2000 was 6,872. The number of vehicle trips from campus during the evening peak was 9,084, and the total 24-hour count showed an averaged of 61,879 trips. Therefore, the University sustained traffic levels below the maximum threshold during the 2000 count.

Table 2. Historical Summary of Daily Trips to and from Campus

MAIN CAMPUS: GATES 1, 2, 3 and 5

Traffic to and from the main campus sector was counted at Gates 1, 2, 3, and 5. The average number of daily trips to and from the main campus was 15,626. This represents an additional 613 vehicle trips or a 4 percent increase from the 1999 count of this area.

During the midnight parking lot survey, 736 cars were counted on main campus. Therefore, the "estimated number of vehicles present" begins at 736 at the midnight hour.

Figure 2: Traffic Counts and Vehicle Accumulation on Main Campus

Peak accumulation occurred on main campus between noon and 1pm when about 3,216 vehicles were present. The main campus traffic counts show a second localized peak in the evening, most likely a result of activity associated with evening classes.

SOUTH CAMPUS: GATES 4, 6 AND 7

South campus trips were counted at Gates 4, 6, and 7. The average number of daily trips to and from campus was 6,436. There were 305 additional vehicle trips or a 4.5 percent increase from the 1999 count. The peak accumulation on south campus occurred between 10am and 11am, when approximately 1,786 vehicles were present in the south campus sector of campus. The second highest peak occurred between 1pm and 2pm when about 1,767 vehicles were present. The south campus was estimated to have 395 cars every midnight.

Figure 3: Traffic Counts and Vehicle Accumulation on South Campus

Stadium Lots: E-10, E-11, and E-12 (Gates 8 and 18)

Stadium Lots consist of the E-10, E-11, and E-12 lots. Vehicle trips to and from the stadium lots were counted at Gates 8 and 18 and E-10 entrances/exits. The average number of daily trips to and from the stadium lots was 2,504. There were 141 additional vehicles, a 5 percent increase from the 1999 count. The peak accumulation occurred between 11am and noon when 1,444 were present. The stadium lots were estimated to have 129 cars every midnight. The capacity of E12 was increased prior to the 2000 survey in anticipation of the future loss of parking spaces for the construction of the outdoor practice facility.

Figure 4: Traffic Counts and Vehicle Accumulation in Stadium Parking Lots

Montlake Lots: E-1 and E-5

The Montlake lots consist of the E-1 and E-5 parking lots. Vehicle trips to and from the E-1 lot were counted at all four entrances and exits. The E-1 Entrance on Walla Walla Road has four lanes. Lane Three switched to outbound at 2:30pm, and Lane Four switched to outbound at 10am.

The average numbers of daily trips to and from campus was 4,606. This represents an additional 247 vehicle trips, or a 5.6 percent increase from the 1999 count. The peak accumulation occurred between 11 am and noon and when 2,952 vehicles were parked in these lots. The Montlake lots were estimated to have 77 cars every midnight.

The shape of hourly trips to campus is similar to other areas of campus; however, afternoon trips from campus were spread out over a longer time period. This may be due to the fact that students are the primary users of the parking lots along Montlake.

Figure 5: Traffic Counts and Vehicle Accumulation in Montlake Parking Lots

The capacity of the Montlake lots was increased just prior to the survey in 2000 in anticipation of future loss of parking spaces in other parts of campus, due to development of the new Law School and Sound Transit staging area. A total of 194 parking spaces (or 6.4 percent of the total E-1 inventory) were added to the E-1 lot by re-striping the lot. This provides one explanation for the increased number of trips in this campus area from 1999 levels. That is, as the supply of parking spaces was increased, greater use of the spaces resulted. This also helps to explain why the Montlake Lots area of campus saw the greatest magnitude of increase in vehicle trips from 1999.

West Campus

A complete traffic count was conducted at the west campus garage. As in the past, counts were not conducted at the other west campus surface lots. Instead, the Transportation Office uses a method to estimate the amount of traffic the west campus surface lots generate. First, the number of vehicles parked daily is estimated, by subtracting the average number of vacancies from total capacity. Second, assuming turnover factor is 1.2, total one-way trip generation is estimated by multiplying the turnover factor and number of vehicles parked. Third, the trip patterns to the west campus garage is applied to total one-way trips. Turnover factor of 1.2 means that a vehicle makes trips to a parking lot 1.2 times a day. The factor used is consistent from year to year (See Appendix D). The trips attracted to or generated from the west campus surface lots and west campus garage are added together.

Figure 6: Traffic Counts and Vehicle Accumulation on West Campus

The average number of daily trips to and from the West Campus was 1,769. This indicates an increase of 7 percent since 1999, when there were 1,658 daily trips. The peak accumulation occurred between noon and 1pm when 1,202 vehicles were gathered on west campus. As shown in Figure 6, the accumulation level reached close to the peak at 10am and stayed near the peak level until 2pm.

Total Campus Results

The average number of vehicle trips entering and exiting campus daily was 61,879. This number is 2 percent below the maximum allowed 24-hour vehicle trips (63,200). The average number of trips to campus counted during the morning peak period was 6,872 which is 17 percent below the maximum allowed morning peak trips of 8,267. Finally, the average number of trips from campus during the afternoon peak was 9,084, or 7 percent below the maximum allowed afternoon peak vehicle trips of 9,782.

Figure 7: Total Traffic Counts and Vehicle Accumulation

Campus Traffic Count Historical Data

The campus traffic count data for the three monitored time periods established by the GPDP for the years 1983 through 2000 are shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10. One benefit of conducting the Annual Campus Traffic Count is that it allows University staff and others to observe trends over an extended period of time. The study also provides insightful information regarding trip behaviors on campus.

Figure 8: Morning Peak Period Traffic Counts, 1983 to 2000

Figure 8 shows very clearly how the U-PASS has reduced morning commute volumes as demonstrated by the number of trips to campus during the peak periods. The volume of vehicles trips in the morning peak period dropped dramatically between 1990 and 1991, when the U-PASS was introduced, and has remained well below pre-U-PASS levels and the limit since 1991.

The number of trips taken in the afternoon peak period also dropped between 1990 and 1991 as result of the U-PASS, as shown in Figure 9. Volumes remained below pre-U-PASS levels until this year, when they rose just above the figures recorded in 1984 and 1990. As stated previously, the trip levels in 2000 for this indicator are still 7 percent below the limit.

Figure 9: Afternoon Peak Period Traffic Counts, 1983 to 2000

As shown in the Figure 10, the number of total daily trips has been slowly approaching the maximum of 63,200 over the past several years. However, the number of trips counted is still below the maximum threshold.

Figure 10: 24-Hour Traffic Counts, 1983 to 2000

Conclusion

The University continues to meet the conditions of the 1992 GPDP, and to maintain vehicle trip levels below all established thresholds. The numbers of the trip to campus, trips from campus, and total trips over the 24-hour time period increased slightly from 1999 levels. However, the analysis indicates the 2000 numbers are still below the maximum trip levels agreed upon conditions developed by the University of Washington and the City of Seattle.

Appendices

Five appendices were prepared for this report:

• Campus Parking Counts
• Traffic Counts at Each Location
• Parking Garage Accumulation
• West Campus Trip Generation Estimation
• Traffic Counts by Section