A Preliminary Assessment of the 2010 HCM Weaving Methodology

The analysis of freeway weaving section has been a continuing challenge for the developers of the Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) methodologies. With the release of the 2010 HCM, a completely updated methodology is now available to practitioners. This new methodology represents a substantial departure from previous methodologies. In particular, the tabulation of weaving maneuvers is a critical driver, and the maximum length of a weaving section is now a dynamic value. With the release of the new methodology, transportation agencies and practitioners will be interested in specific assessments of its accuracy and logic. To address that need, this research will present a cross-cutting assessment of the methodology. The assessment was focused on two key attributes:
• Sensitivity of parameters for determining weaving section length, and the differentiation between weaving and basic freeway segments.
• A comparison of results from the 2000 and 2010 HCMs.The end result is guidance to agencies and practitioners implementing the 2010 HCM weaving procedures.