The views expressed in this document do not represent the opinions of FHWA and do not constitute an endorsement, recommendation or specification by FHWA. The document is based solely on the discussions that took place during the peer review sessions and supporting technical documentation provided by NYMTC.
The FHWA wishes to acknowledge and thank the peer review panel members for volunteering their time to participate in the peer review of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC) travel demand model and for sharing their valuable experience.
The Peer Review Panel Members were:
Brief biographies for each of the peer review panel members are presented in Appendix C.
This report is organized into the following sections:
In addition to the main body of the report, there are four appendices. Appendix A is a list of peer review participants, Appendix B is the peer review meeting agenda, Appendix C contains brief biographies for each of the peer review panel members, and Appendix D is a summary of the current NYMTC travel model and data sources.
This report summarizes the results of a peer review of the NYMTC travel model with a focus on recommendations for new model development. The peer review was supported by the Travel Model Improvement Program (TMIP), which is sponsored by FHWA. The peer review of a travel model can serve multiple purposes, including identification of model deficiencies, recommendations for model enhancements, and guidance on model applications. Given the increasing complexities of travel demand forecasting practice and the growing demands by decision-makers for information about policy alternatives, it is essential that travel forecasting practitioners have the opportunity to share experiences and insights. The TMIP-supported peer review provides a forum for this knowledge exchange.
During the 1990s, NYMTC embarked on one of the most ambitious model development efforts undertaken in the industry, given the size of the region, complexity of travel patterns, and shift to a new modeling paradigm (activity-based models - ABMs). The Best Practices Model (NYBPM) was unveiled in 2001 and through the next decade, improvements were made to various aspects of the model to address usability needs and the ongoing evolution in modeling methods and requirements. After a decade of extensive use of the NYBPM, NYMTC has embarked on a proactive and comprehensive data collection and model improvement program.
As a first step in the development of NYBPM 2.0, NYMTC began an exploration program to inform a model development plan, and this review is a critical part of that exploration program. NYMTC applied for the peer review to assess the processes that have been implemented in the agency's model stream and make recommendations for the next major model improvement. It is important to NYMTC and its members that the agency moves forward with the model in an appropriate direction and makes the best use of the limited funds available for improving and operating the model for future planning and air quality efforts. =
More specifically, the objectives of the exploration effort include:
NYMTC's overall goal for model improvement and motivation for seeking a TMIP peer review is to continuously maintain and apply a model that is representative of the state of the practice in travel demand forecasting and equips the agency, its policy board, and local jurisdictions with the support that is needed for informed decision making in this complex region. To that end, the peer reviewers spent two days responding to specific questions from NYMTC and its planning partners.
