TOLL PLAZA CAPACITY AND LEVEL OF SERVICE

Abstract

A methodology for evaluating the capacity of a toll plaza was developed, and level-of-service (LOS) criteria for toll area traffic were established. LOS for toll facilities should be quantified for several reasons. First, quantification of the LOS would enable designers to evaluate design alternatives using accepted standards. Second, it would provide a scientifically sound basis for comparing traffic operations of various facilities. Third, it would furnish a means to evaluate before-and-after conditions and thus determine the effectiveness of any improvement. Finally, it would give the general public and legislative representatives a readily understandable and yet scientifically established measure of overall performance. Traffic data at the four plazas of the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike in Virginia were collected using synchronized video cameras. The capacity of the toll booths was found to range from 600 to 750 passenger cars per hour, depending on the type of toll collection. Average density, which is highly correlated with volume-to-capacity ratios, can be used as a criterion for defining LOS for toll plaza areas.