Projects

Projects

		SANTA MONICA TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICE INVENTORY CLIENT: City of Santa Monica PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The purpose of this project was to conduct a comprehensive Traffic Control Device Inventory and evaluation and to supply the City with the inventory loaded into a turnkey combined GIS and asset management program. The traffic control elements inventoried included traffic signs, signals, pavement and curb markings, parking meters, parking spaces, and street lights. A special effort was needed to integrate the new street light evaluation into the existing street light database. An important part of this project was the use of Windows CE-based handheld computers for inventory and evaluation of all control devices. In addition, special programs were developed to allow the City’s GIS database on street lights to be downloaded into the handheld computers. The existing GIS database was then used, in the field, to add evaluations of the street light system. In addition to the above, Echelon developed specialized palmtop/handheld computer-based maintenance programs that allow maintenance staff to maintain the control device database.
		TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICE INVENTORY AND EVALUATION CLIENT: City of Tustin PROJECT DESCRIPTION: In this project the Echelon team inventoried and evaluated the City’s traffic signs, signals, pavement and curb markings, and all signs, street lights and signal poles. This data was then transferred into Asset Management Data Base programs. The team evaluated the full range of Asset Management programs available. The data bases can now be shared between/with the GIS, AutoCAD, and Asset Management team. The inventory and evaluation part of the project involved the use of Compaq IPAQ’s (PPC's)loaded with the City’s AutoCAD files translated into shp files. The city was provided the hardware and software that allows them to update the inventories over time.

		SANTA CLARITA SIGNS AND MARKING INVENTORY CLIENT: City of Santa Clarita PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The purpose of this project was to inventory and evaluate traffic signs and key traffic lane and curb markings in the City. It was also necessary to evaluate the full range of asset management programs that could potentially be used by the City. The inventory had to be input into a turnkey system with all hardware and software provided. The system was integrated with the City’s GIS and City staff were trained in the use of the programs. The inventory was obtained using crews equipped with GPS-based equipment. City staff were significantly involved in evaluating the available asset management programs and approaches. Echelon also conducted detailed assessments of existing traffic control practices and needs. As a result, special programs were developed to assist City staff in maintaining the inventory. Training was done on a continuing basis during the project to improve the ease of use of the supplied system.
		TRAFFIC ACCIDENT LOCATION AND MITIGATION PROGRAM CLIENT: City of Palmdale PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The goal of this project was to identify the high traffic accident locations within the entire city (for both intersections and midblocks), develop and evaluate mitigation programs, recommend detailed mitigation strategies for each problem location, and provide the staff with the tools and training such that they could repeat the analysis process on an ongoing basis. All major intersections and midblock locations were analyzed using three years of accident records. Accident rates were developed to identify the high accident locations that exhibited statistically significant performance differences. Alternative mitigations were identified and evaluated and a detailed, prioritized program of improvements presented. The program involved extensive use of GIS for rate and location analyses and GIS was integrated with a collision diagram program that assisted in detailed site analysis.
		SUMMERLIN TRANSPORTATION MASTER PLAN CLIENT: HOWARD HUGHES PROPERTIES PROJECT DESCRIPTION: This is an ongoing program to provide Howard Hughes Properties with transportation planning and traffic engineering advice regarding the Summerlin Development. This is an award winning 2,800 acre planned community. Echelon’s responsibility includes development of the travel demand forecasting process that allows Summerlin to test development strategies as well as individual facility changes. Tasks include: Working with the planners to produce an effective and efficient community plan and transportation system. Advising on the population/employment uses, distributions, and phasing. Determining off-site impacts, estimating mitigation costs and negotiating with approving agencies for mitigation agreements. Determining area-wide emissions and mitigation programs. Determining site specific noise impacts and mitigation programs. Producing the transportation master plan program report and numerous special purpose reports. Issuing individual area reports to address changing conditions and needs of the development.
		S. R. 710 FWY EXT. ALTERNATIVE AND TRAFFIC ANALYSIS CLIENT: CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The S.R. 710 freeway extension penetrates four communities and involves dislocation of more than 1,500 homes. Numerous intersections are also impacted. The goal of this project was to identify corridor and facility design alternatives that would minimize impacts. It was also necessary to identify mitigation measures for the impacted roadways and intersections. Impacts were measured in terms of level of service, delay, speed, travel time, neighborhood penetration, accidents, trip length frequency distribution, commercial vehicle accessibility, costs, and emergency vehicle accessibility. The project had significant time constraints, but it was still necessary to address the needs of the communities and residents impacted by the project. Echelon developed an analysis process that integrated transportation planning, traffic engineering, operation’s analysis, and GIS programs to address the considerable technical demands and communication needs of this project.
		STATE ROUTE 57/60 HOV ANALYSIS CLIENT: CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Caltrans implemented a High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane on S.R. 57 in Los Angeles and Orange Counties and S.R. 60 in Los Angeles County. Echelon's role in this project was to determine the traffic impacts associated with the construction and operation of the HOV lanes. This was done to satisfy the needs of the Environmental Impact Review (EIR) program. The analysis integrated travel demand forecasting models with advanced traffic operations impact analysis
		PASADENA LIGHT-RAIL TRANSIT IMPACT ANALYSIS CLIENT: LA COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSIT AUTHORITY PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The Blue Line (LRT) commuter rail service, as presently planned, will extend to Pasadena. Under this design, park-and-ride lots will be operational at key LRT stations. This project determined the impacts associated with park-and-ride lot operations in Pasadena and other locations along the line. Basic traffic impact analyses were conducted to determine impacts and mitigations. The project was conducted to address the requirements of the Environmental Impact Review (EIR) program. An interesting element of the project was to transfer the results into a GIS program for ease of communication at public presentations
		PEARBLOSSOM HIGHWAY CORRIDOR DESIGN CLIENT: CITY OF PALMDALE AND LOS ANGELES COUNTY PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Pearblossom Highway is presently an arterial that varies from two to four lanes within Palmdale and Los Angles County. The goal of the project was to determine the short and long term traffic needs in the corridor and to develop and evaluate arterial/ expressway/ freeway alternatives that would address traffic, planning, environmental, and other needs. Extensive traffic analysis and forecasting, alternative analysis, and detailed operation’s analyses were conducted. Solutions included intersection and interchange preliminary design, capital costs estimation, and functional /schematic layouts for the recommended alternative. Extensive general plan amendments were also provided to accommodate the proposals which included significant restrictions on existing and future access.
		COLORADO BOULEVARD CORRIDOR OPTIMIZATION CLIENT: CITY OF GLENDALE PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The goal of this project was to determine the most cost effective widening alternative for Colorado Boulevard. Consideration was given to increased traffic from the freeway, surrounding arterials, and new development. A wide range of alternative solutions including continuous left-turn lanes, raised medians, additional right-turn and through lanes, etc., were considered. The operational effectiveness of all alternatives was tested using TRAFNETSIM, a traffic simulation program. The analysis showed that a continuous left-turn lane for the entire length of the corridor and extensive corridor widening (for the entire length of the corridor) were not required. Considerable cost savings were realized,
		LAKE LAS VEGAS RESORT DEVELOPMENT CLIENT: TRANSCONTINENTAL PROPERTIES PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The Lake Las Vegas Resort is expected to include 12,000 hotel rooms, 4,500 dwelling units, an aquarium, and various retail facilities. To accommodate this development, notwithstanding its limited site access, it was necessary to develop an integrated and comprehensive program involving three different levels of shuttles and trams, remote parking systems, water taxis, an extensive TSM/ TDM program, and numerous on-site and off-site roadway improvements. This innovative master plan was approved by the Henderson, Nevada City Council.

		SUNSET BOULEVARD IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM CLIENT: CITY OF WEST HOLLYWOOD PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The goal of this program was to optimize the operation of the “Strip” in order to reduce travel delays and accidents and to improve the level of service throughout the corridor. The project involved extensive surveys of users of the corridor and traffic flows. The analysis involved virtually all elements of corridor operation, extensive modeling and simulation using signal optimization, traffic simulation, pedestrian simulation, path analysis, license plate analysis, parking optimization, entrance/exitway consolidation, and other programs. Recommendations were made regarding nearly all aspects of operations.

		U.S. 95 MAJOR INVESTMENT STUDY CLIENT: THE NEVADA DOT & CLARK CTY RTC PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Echelon’s role in this major investment study was to determine the magnitude of traffic flows within the U.S. 95 corridor and sub-areas, flows into and out of the U.S. 95 catchment area, and to assess the sensitivity of the traffic volumes to changes in developments. The project goal also included the assessment of multimodal usage within the U.S. 95 corridor. The project involved modifying the Regional Transportation Commission’s (RTC’s) Tranplan-based transportation model to address project goals.
		CITY OF LONG BEACH MODEL UPDATE AND RECALIBRATION CLIENT: CITY OF LONG BEACH PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The goal of this project was to improve on the previous model calibration conducted by other consultants. This recalibration was necessary because the model results were being used on an ongoing basis by traffic engineers for detailed impact analyses and impact fee/mitigation cost analysis.
		NORTH LA COUNTY SUBREGIONAL MOBILITY IMPLEMENT. PLAN CLIENT: SO. CALIFORNIA ASSOC. OF GOVERNMENTS PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Echelon’s responsibility on this project was to conduct the multimodal analysis for the region. This included determining the effectiveness of present multimodal systems, identifying deficiencies and needs in the multimodal systems, and recommending a staged program of improvements. The analysis focused on the Metrolink services, urban and interurban bus services, car and vanpool lane systems, and park-and-ride operations.
		PALMDALE MODEL CALIBRATION CLIENT: CITY OF PALMDALE PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The goal of this project was simply to improve on the previous model calibration conducted by another consultant. This was necessary because the model results were to be used in the development of the City’s impact fee program. As such, the model results had to be defensible in a court of law. In addition, the model had to be transferred from a Tranplan-based program format to an emme/2 program format. Notwithstanding the budget limitations, significant improvements were made in model calibration.

		SSA WAREHOUSE CLIENT: PORT OF LOS ANGELES HARBOR DEPART. PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Echelon conducted an integrated traffic, air, and noise analysis for the Los Angeles Harbor Department. This study was part of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for a warehouse relocation program. The integrated analysis was a major factor in completing the project in less than three weeks.

		EVALUATION OF ADVANCED FARE PAYMENT SYSTEMS CLIENT: FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The goal of this program was to determine the technical, operational, and economic feasibility of advanced fare payment systems for public transit. More than two thirds of the transit agencies in the American Public Transit Association (APTA) were surveyed and all pertinent technologies were reviewed. Reviews included laboratory tests and in-revenue service testing in three transit agencies, over a seven month period. The project showed conclusively that smart contact and radio-frequency proximity (RF) fare cards were not only commercially, operationally, and technically feasible, but that they also offered, in many instances, a superior solution to many of the standard fare transaction approaches.

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