A 6-lane freeway section (three 12 ft. lanes each way) has an on-ramp followed by an off-ramp, separated by a distance of 4000 ft. A continuous extra lane connects the on and off-ramps. The section is in level terrain, for which the passenger car equivalent for trucks ET is 1.5. The PHF is 0.9. The following data apply: Freeway volume upstream of on-ramp = 5000 veh/h, with 12% trucks; On-ramp volume = 400 veh/h; Off ramp volume = 300 veh/h; All on-ramp traffic enters the freeway (i.e., no on-ramp traffic exits at the off-ramp). FFS = 65 mph and 30 mph for the freeway and ramps, respectively No rvs on all roads; 2% trucks on off ramp, 6% trucks on on-ramp.

a) Confirm that the merge/diverge HCM methadology (and not the weaving methadology) should be used for operational eveluation of this freeway section.

b) Subject to the confirmation in a) determine if the on-rampis close enough to influence the LOS of the off-ramp diverge area.

c) Subject to the confirmation in a) estimate LOS in the diverge area.