Dear Robert,

As per our telephone conversation I thought I'd pass on some of the unique modeling applications we have conducted here at the County of Santa Barbara with the TMODEL2 package. The inherent flexibility of TMODEL2 has allowed me to use the model to evaluate changing land use scenarios and focus in on potential project "target" sites within the Goleta Valley, the largest unincorporated area in the State of California. The Goleta traffic model was developed for us by the consulting firm Bucher Willis & Ratliff for the Goleta Community Plan Update, and, because of the lengthy duration of this project coupled with changing land use data, model runs were eventually conducted in-house by our staff.

One unique case involved a major land use change that took place during the public hearing stage of the Goleta Community Plan Update, in which a large, vacant 275 acre site was considered for potential development. At this point a noticeable decline in traffic volume (at the 2002 horizon) with considerable "available capacity" on the arterials in the area of this site was observed. This coupled with a lack of trip attractors in this northwest portion of the Goleta Valley served to deteriorate an interchange (with US 101) for which our staff is currently designing the signal and striping plans. This was the most efficient path for trips returning from the bulk of the commercial/employment and retail/shopping uses directly south across US 101.

Our staff had recommended that with some "support" in terms of a shopping center in this critical portion of the Goleta planning area, traffic attracted from here would balance out thus improving the level of service at the new interchange. The results from the model fully supported our initial recommendation by showing a significant improvement in the level of service at the interchange and reallocating (HBO) traffic to the north away from the heavily congested area south of US 101.

Future volume data from the model allowed us to plan the striping and signal plans accordingly by providing reasonable turn movement data that gave us a "worst case" picture allowing us to optimize green time for the critical movements at the ten year horizon.

Unlike other models, TMODEL2 has allowed us to focus in on some of the larger projects in which a user defined study area (similar to a traffic study) can be established and resulting impacts can be assessed in conjunction with roadway improvements and extensions. As a result of this, transportation needs can be brought to our attention early in the planning process before traffic studies are warranted. This extra level of clarity is both cost effective and very useful.

We have been successful using TMODEL2 in the Santa Ynez Valley as well, through our model developed for us by PacTrans.

In sum, I give TMODEL2 "two thumbs up" in the ability to give the user technically sound "answers" in a timely and cost effective manner with little effort as compared to some of the complex models utilized in the transportation planning field today.

Sincerely,