Traffic volumes are a critical component of any traffic analysis. A typical traffic analysis includes an existing conditions analysis using existing traffic volumes. Processing existing counts into meaningful analysis inputs facilitates an understanding of several concepts such as peak hour/period selection, local conditions, balancing, outlier data/disruptive events, and validation. Processing existing counts also uncovers several critical traffic characteristics such as the design hour (K-factor), directional distribution (D-factor), and percent trucks (T-factor). Future year traffic volumes are developed based on historical trends, growth patterns, and travel demand modeling and are developed in conjunction with TxDOT’s TPP Division, the MPO, or others that perform this type of planning work. This chapter provides an outline of the traffic volume and forecasting processes. This chapter also provides procedures to analyze existing traffic volumes and develop future traffic projections. See

Appendix D, Section 1 – Traffic Volume and Forecasting Checklist

for a checklist that can be used during the forecasting process. For additional guidance on traffic volume and forecasting, refer to the TxDOT TPP Traffic Forecasting Analysis SOP. Coordinate with the TxDOT project manager to gain access to the latest documents. An internal link to the documents is also found in

Appendix B, Section 4 – External References (Reference 1).