An Assessment On The Mobility Of A Road Section Connecting Notun Rasta-Gollamari Of Khulna City

Abstract

The aim of the study is to assess on the mobility of an urban road through examining the performance parameters with a view to perceiving the effect of Non- Motorized Transport (NMT) and Motorized Transports (MT) on urban transportation of Khulna city. Different performance parameter such as volume, capacity, spot speed, delay study, Congestion Index etc. are discussed. Speed study survey statistics is accrued through moving observer method and counting vehicles. After collecting data, these are analysed by following authorized standards, figures of various geometrical designs of roads were being drawn, conflicting points are identified and Passenger Car Unit and spot speed are calculated for different time periods and for different sections. This capacity adequacy index has been calculated for five different segments of the road on weekend and weekday to identify the flow analysis of the road. Finally a regression model is developed to represent the relation between mobility and other parameters such as percentage of NMT, Speed, and Volume where mobility is defined as an independent variable and other parameters as dependent variable.

Keywords: Capacity, Spot speed, Level of service, Delay study, Congestion, Mobility, Regression model.

Introduction

Mobility means the movement of goods and services. Here mobility refers to the capability of moving based on roadway and roadway users’ characteristics. Transport mobility reflects the overall transportation performance of the route (Rodica Dorina Cadar, 2017). Mobility depends on different factors. Travel time, travel speed, travel distance, users behaviour and travel costs are important factors of transport mobility. (Boitor, 2014). Mobility is higher when travel time and travel cost are low. For sustainable mobility change in road users behaviour is an important issue. Khulna is the third largest and known as the industrial city of Bangladesh. It has a gross population density of about 18,000 per sq. km. and a population growth of 3. 8% (BBS, 2015). The communication facility of Khulna has developed based on the Dhaka-Jessore-Khulna Highway, with the city expanding linearly along both sides of the road (Fazlur, 2004). Mobility has a greater impact on urban development. There are different industries in Khulna city. Higher mobility can make a greater change in the urban economy. This study is about the assessment on the mobility of the road section, different factors that impact on mobility and the factors relation with mobility.

Literature Review

Mobility refers to the ease of moving on a transport system. The effortless moving of transport is considered as the mobility of transportation. It also concerns with the number of trip a person made in a day because it shows the efficiency on a road also represents the transport demand. Mobility of a road reflects the overall image of the transport system and it stands as a quantifier of urban activities (M. Moeinaddini, 2015). In a study at Rourkela city in India presented the variation in speed of NMT, fundamental diagram of traffic flow and the effect of NMT on lateral occupancy of non-motorized vehicles and motorized vehicles and the mobility of an urban road. Data was collected by the video coverage and played in KM player for analysing the data. The observed parameter to identify the mobility of the road section was volume, speed, density, and flow and congestion. (Siddharth Purohit, 2014).

Traffic Volume

Number of vehicles passing apartiular point of roadway during unit time, traffic volume is expressed as vehicle/ day or vehicle/ hour. The measurement is carried out by counting the number of vehicles, n, passing a particular point in one lane in a defined period t. (Kadiyali, 1978). Then the flow Q expressed in vehicles/hour is given by,Q = n/t

Capacity

Highway Capacity Manual as the maximum hourly rate at which persons or vehicles can be reasonably expected to traverse a point or a uniform segment of a lane or roadway during a given time period under prevailing roadway, traffic and control conditions. Capacity, C= {(1000*V)/S}Here, V=Speed in km/h, S= Average spacing in meters of moving vehicles. (Kadiyali, 1978).

Level of services

Level of service (LOS) is a quality measure describing operational condition within a traffic stream. Six LOS are defined for each type of facility that has analysis procedure available. Letters designate each level, from A to F, with LOS A representing the best operating conditions and LOS F the worst condition (Kadiyali, 1978).

From the table it is shown that whole route is in the B, C, and D category of LOS. Los B indicates reasonably free flow but speeds are beginning to restrict by traffic conditions and C category of LOS indicates that the route is stable flow zone, but most drivers are restricted in freedom to select their own speed. LOS D indicates unstable flow of traffic. Speeds slightly decrease as traffic volume slightly increases.

In workday the mobility increases in peak hours where occupancy of easy bike, Bus mini Bus is maximum. But the NMT occupancy rate decreases in peak hours; people prefers MT vehicle in rush hours more than NMT. Moreover there also the mobility is higher in peak hours. Difference in weekends and workdays is much because road side land use of the study road are administration and residential area, community service, and some commercial area. So there have different of mobility in weekday and weekend peak and off peak hour.

Regression Model

Regression Model with Mobility as Dependent Variable: Regression results for accident analysis Mobility = 4144. 606+10X1 +0. 929 X2 where, Mobility = movement of people or goods in hour, X1 = Percentage of NMT, X2 = Volume. The regression model for mobility, therefore, has become as follows: procedure.

From the above table, it is illustrated that the percentage of NMT (%NMT) and volume is more positively correlated with mobility than other factors because the value of %NMT and volume nearer to the value of mobility which is 1. Apart from those two, the value of three factors Road width, Speed and V/C are far from the Mobility value 1 and they are below 0. 5 negative as well. The regression model for accident, therefore, has become as follows:

Mobility = 4144. 606+10X1 +0. 929 X2

Where,

Mobility = Movement of people or goods in hour,

X1 = Percentage of NMT

X2 = Volume.

Hypothesis: Null Hypothesis: Mobility does not depend on percent of NMT and Volume of vehicle per hour. Alternative Hypothesis: Mobility depends on percent of NMT and Volume of vehicle per hour

Correlation coefficients: Since all the values of R, R square and adjusted R square are very high (0. 958839, 0. 919372 and 0. 896335 respectively) and very close to 1. 0, the dependent variable Mobility is explained well by the independent variable.

T-test: From t-distribution table at significance level 0. 05 (a =. 05),tα/2, n-(k+l), (0. 025, 7) tcritical = 2. 365tcalculated = 2. 45 (for %NMT), tcalculated = 6. 95 (for Volume)Since, Fcalculated > Fcritical, Hence, Null Hypothesis is rejectedF test: From F-distribution table at significance level 0. 05 (a. =0. 05)F, k, [n-(k+l)] = F (. 05), 2, 7 t= 4. 74Computed F-value, F=39. 90914 As, Fcalculated > Fcritical

The null hypothesis Ho is rejected at a significant level 0. 05· 5. Results and DiscussionAfter analysing the data, it has been found that roadway width is not enough and the shoulder was not present in Notun Rasta to Sonadanga. But the roadway width and other facility are present in Sonadanga to Gollamari section of the study area. The overall percentage of motorized vehicle is higher than the non-motorized vehicle. Easy bike mostly violates the traffic rules. On the other hand, non-motorize rickshaw and van mostly violate the traffic rules. Hourly variation of PCU is higher at the peak period. Because of speed breaker, some encroachment in the road site, parking on the road and departure and boarding of a passenger in roadside causes congestion and delay.

The level of service of the study area is C from moving observer and volume to capacity ratio. LOS C indicates that the route is stable flow zone, but most drivers are restricted in freedom to select their own speed. The congestion in Khulna Medical-Gollamari is higher than other sections at peak and off-peak hour. The mobility is different in a different section of the study area.

Conclusion and Recommendation

The study is aimed to assess the mobility of a road section connecting Notun Rasta to Gollamari of Khulna city. The performance parameters, volume study, travel time, travel speed, travel distance, level of service, analysis identifies the operational cases of this transportation system. From volume study the problems requiring traffic demand, traffic flows are identified. Different analysis methods are used in this study regarding volume study which can be used for further policy imposing or changing. Directional traffic stream and the fluctuation of traffic will be useful to impose policy regarding separated lane installation, banning or time staggering of slow moving vehicles.