Model Peer Review and Enhancement

Model Peer Review and Enhancement (MAG) TASK ORDER NO. A-11-461-K-03 INTRODUCTION The MAG regional travel demand model system serves as the primary tool for travel forecasting and policy analysis in the region. The model has been recently enhanced with a series of new model components, many of which have been re-engineered, re-estimated, and re-calibrated based on new household travel survey data, transit onboard survey data, truck travel data, university student survey data, establishment survey data, and a host of other new data sets. The new four-step travel demand model includes new GIS procedures for establishing area type in the region, new and expanded traffic analysis zone (TAZ) system, and new and improved trip generation, trip distribution, mode choice, and time of day model components. Special model components dedicated to quantifying travel demand associated with truck movements, airport activity, and university student populations have been developed and integrated into the new MAG regional travel demand model system. MAG has a practice of independent reviews of the milestone model developments. Previous peer review of the MAG model was completed in October of 2006 and major recommendations from that peer review were incorporated in the new MAG regional travel forecasting model. It is important to obtain review comments on the efficacy and capabilities of the model from an independent panel of experts once major changes have been introduced and map out ways for further improvements. The first task in this task order facilitates the execution of an independent peer review of the new and improved regional travel demand model system. There are many model components that have been developed by different entities. Assembling these disparate model components into an integrated model system is a challenging task. There is often a need to enhance the software systems, programs, codebase, user interfaces, output reporting capabilities, and data handling protocols of various model components so that they work together in a seamless fashion. In addition, the model components should be programmed such that they are flexible and scalable; this would make it easy to implement changes in the model system and extend the capabilities of the model components depending on the application needs. The second task in this task order will enhance model components, software systems and codebases, data handling procedures, and user interfaces so that the entire model operates in a more efficient and optimal fashion. Additional sensitivity tests of the model may also be undertaken as part of this task order.