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Identifying Optimum Lane Configuration Using CMA

Jeffrey Buckholz, PhD, P.E., PTOE


Course Outline

This course begins by explaining the background of critical movement analysis and by discussing various technical concepts that are key to critical movement analysis.  A series of examples are then provide to demonstrate the methodology.

This course will:

  1. Provide a discussion of simplified Critical Movement Analysis (CMA)
  2. Discuss conflicting versus non-conflicting intersection movements
  3. Show how to calculate effective per-lane volumes that are balanced
  4. Describe the process for calculating the sum of critical lane volumes
  5. Explain how to adjust for various types of right turns in the CMA process
  6. Explain adjustments for shared-lane and single lane left turn impedance  
  7. Provide examples demonstrating the CMA methodology
  8. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of CMA

This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.

Learning Objective

At the conclusion of this course, the student will:

Intended Audience

This course is intended for traffic engineers and transportation planners.

Benefit for Attendee

Attendee of this course will be able to identify optimum intersection lane configuration and associated traffic signal phasing.

Course Introduction

An excellent way to identify the optimum lane configuration and associated signal phasing at a signalized intersection is through the use of simplified Critical Movement Analysis (CMA).  CMA is a planning-level analysis methodology that first appeared in the Transportation Research Board’s Circular 212 back in 1980.  The technique was brought into the transportation engineering mainstream with publication of the 1985 Highway Capacity Manual.  Since then, various refinements to the procedure have been made.  In this course we discuss Simplified CMA – a minor variant developed by the course author. 

Course Content

The course content is contained in the following PDF file:

Identifying Optimum Lane Configuration Using CMA

Please click on the above underlined hypertext to view, download or print the document for your study. Because of the large file size, we recommend that you first save the file to your computer by right clicking the mouse and choosing "Save Target As ...", and then open the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you still experience any difficulty in downloading or opening this file, you may need to close some applications or reboot your computer to free up some memory.

Course Summary

This Traffic analysis course describes the process used for selecting optimum intersection lane configuration and signal phasing using Critical Movement Analysis (CMA). 

Related Links

For additional technical information related to this subject, please visit the following  web page:

Traffic Signal Timing Manual (FHWA) – Section 3.36; Critical Movement Analysis

Quiz

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

Take a Quiz

DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.