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Final Report Abstract
The Central Dakota Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), which includes the cities of Minot, Surrey, and Burlington, has been developing a Travel Demand Model (TDM) to incorporate new data, reflect current travel patterns, and integrate advancements in transportation modeling techniques. The updated model is based on 2024 data, ensuring that it accurately represents the region's transportation system.
The model follows the four-step TDM process, which includes trip generation, trip distribution, mode choice (modal split), and trip assignment. Each step is calibrated to reflect real-world travel behavior, allowing for accurate forecasts of traffic demand. The model update process involves adjusting key input parameters and validating the model's outputs against observed traffic data to ensure alignment with actual conditions.
Model calibration is an iterative process where parameters are refined in multiple stages until the model meets acceptable accuracy standards. This approach ensures that the model is not only a reliable representation of current conditions but also a powerful tool for forecasting future transportation needs and supporting informed decision-making.