01368710

Component

Beginning in 2012 EPA will require the use of the MOVES mobile emissions model for conducting a quantitative hot-spot analysis within PM# nonattainment and maintenance areas. A reconstruction or capacity expansion of a congested intersection (LOS D or worse) is an example of a project requiring a MOVES “Project-Level” analysis. A Project-Level analysis requires interfacing a traffic model with MOVES, and MOVES with an air dispersion model such as AERMOD. The linking of different model types and the imminence of their use for compliance purposes creates the need to define analytical Best Practices. A key element of Best Practices for a Project-Level analysis is the definition of links through the modeling chain. Due to the flexibility of defining links in traffic microsimulation models and in MOVES, this analysis suggests that air dispersion considerations should be the determining factors in defining links. The test bed for this analysis is an isolated intersection that was the subject of a CMAQ18 funded signal optimization project conducted for the New Hampshire Department of Transportation in 2010. A pure signal optimization project without other significant capacity expansions such as lane additions would not likely require a quantitative hot-spot analysis. However, the methods for estimating emissions for a signal optimization project and preparing them for an air dispersion analysis are identical to the methods of a Project-Level analysis. This research into Best Practices for conducting a MOVES Project-Level analysis has generated the following findings: 1. The flexibility of defining links in microsimulation modeling and in MOVES suggests that air dispersion modeling considerations should determine link definition. 2. Greater resolution in link geometry (i.e. shorter links) closer to the intersection center will capture the greater emissions generated at this location. 3. If microsimulation models are used to provide traffic activity input into MOVES, the vehicle trajectory outputs of the traffic model can be pre-processed into Operating Mode Distributions for running MOVES. 4. Signal optimization can lead to greater emissions within the intersection center, but this increase is offset by emission reductions along the approach links to the intersection. Using MOVES, signal optimization is shown to reduce PM2.5 emissions by approximately 6% at the test bed intersection. This is consistent with previous findings, which have shown a range of emissions improvements from signal optimization of 1.5-22.0%.

This paper was sponsored by TRB committee ADC20 Transportation and Air Quality

01362476

12-0306

English

15p

2012

Transportation Research Board 91st Annual Meeting

Digital/other

Figures; References; Tables

Air quality management; Best practices; Microsimulation; Mobile sources; Particulates; Quantitative analysis; Signalized intersections; Traffic signal timing

Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program; Motor Vehicle Emission Simulator (MOVES)

New Hampshire

Energy; Environment; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; I15: Environment; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2012 Paper #12-0306

TRIS, TRB

Feb 8 2012 4:54PM