Transportation Research and Modeling Services program goals
Maps, data and research › Transportation research and modeling › Program goals
Learn about the program's goals and objectives, focusing on ensuring the most current and relevant models, a better understanding of regional travel and and continued service to clients.
In 2009, Metro developed a strategic plan for the Metro Research Center, which includes the Transportation Research and Modeling Services program. The strategic plan identifies the following goals and objectives for the program.
Current travel models
Transportation Research and Modeling Services should ensure that the travel models are current, ready to use and in compliance with federal guidelines. This is accomplished by:
- keeping the auto and transit networks current
- keeping land use, cost and other input data current
- implementing software and hardware improvements, as warranted
- collecting and maintaining data for use in model validation (vehicle counts, transit patronage counts, speeds, etc.).
Better understanding of regional travel
To better understand the nature of regional travel through data collection and analysis, Transportation Research and Modeling Services should use the following of:
- conducting travel behavior surveys on a regular cycle
- conducting special topic stated preference and revealed preference surveys when warranted
- collecting data regarding truck movements, as warranted.
Relevance to decision makers
Transportation Research and Modeling Services should enhance transportation models to ensure their relevance to decision makers. Current and future projects to achieve this goal include:
- implementing the tour based model
- implementing dynamic traffic assignment methods
- developing capability for micro simulation assignments
- implementing improvements to the transit assignment and park and ride model
- implementing improvements to the truck model
- implementing improvements to the airport passenger model
- implementing improvements to the non-motorized travel model
- implementing improvements to the transport model embedded within Metroscope (the Portland regional economic and land use forecasting model)
- remaining engaged with the local and national professional community in order to stay current on latest methods.
Service to clients
Transportation Research and Modeling Services should continue to provide modeling services to clients. These clients include Metro and its regional governmental partners (counties and cities), Oregon Department of Transportation, TriMet, Port of Portland, and private sector clients. Technical assistance is provided to clients through the sharing of data, model training, and some modeling services to regional jurisdictions through technical assistance funds.
Expertise with mandated tools
Transportation Research and Modeling Services must develop and maintain expertise with federally mandated environmental and user benefits analysis tools such as:
- Motor Vehicle Emission Simulator, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency model used to measure green house gas emissions Visit the Motor Vehicle Emissions Simulator site
- MOBILE 6, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency model used to assess air quality and mobile-source air toxins Visit the MOBILE 6 site
- Summit, the Federal Transit Authority model used for project analysis in New Starts and Small Starts. Visit the Federal Transit Authority site
Need assistance?
Metro Research Center
503-797-1915
transportationmodeling@oregonmetro.gov