Travel Demand Modeling

In transportation planning, models are commonly used to imitate the travel patterns of people and/or goods so that they can be studied. Commonly called travel demand models, these tools are based upon the practical relationships between socioeconomic characteristics, land uses, and travel patterns. By approximating future travel patterns, models make it possible to assess the implications of growth, to compare alternative transportation solutions, and to provide a testing ground for changes in transportation policy.

PBS&J’s planning professionals fully understand the capabilities and limitations associated with travel demand models, such as FSUTMS, TRANPLAN, TP+, CUBE/VOYAGER, MINUTP, UTPS, and TransCAD. Our typical project assignments have included model calibration and validation, updates, and development of GIS mapping and analytical tools. PBS&J’s staff is also available to provide training and to function as an on-line “help-desk” for a variety of modeling softwares.

Our successful record of developing and applying complex travel demand models covers a broad range of projects and clients, and encompasses projects for both large metropolitan regions and small urban areas. In fact, PBS&J’s transportation personnel have performed travel demand modeling for each of the following applications.

• Air quality conformity analysis
• Campus master plans
• Comprehensive plans
• Concurrency applications (for Florida projects)
• Congestion management systems
• Development of regional impacts (DRI)
• Final design studies
• Interchange modification/justification reports
• Interstate/freeway master plans
• Long-range transportation plans (LRTPs)
• Peer reviews of models developed /validated by others
• Project development and environmental (PD&E) studies
• Site impact analysis
• Toll feasibility studies
• Transportation demand management and transportation system management (TDM/TSM)