Capacity and level of service on Reales Tamarindos avenue: analysis and proposals for improvement

Abstract

This study evaluates the road capacity and level of service of Reales Tamarindos Avenue in Portoviejo, Manabí Province, Ecuador, with the objective of identifying the factors affecting its operational efficiency and proposing improvement measures. The methodology was based on vehicle counts and capacity analysis according to the Highway Capacity Manual, using data on volume, speed, and delay times at different times of day and on three representative sections. The results show that the road operates with levels of service between D and E during peak hours, with an average effective capacity of 1,470 vehicles/hour/lane, approximately 25% lower than the theoretical capacity. The operational deterioration is mainly associated with lateral interferences, parallel parking, public transport stops without bays, and uncontrolled pedestrian crossings, generating delays of up to 90 seconds per vehicle. It is concluded that the poor performance is not due to geometric deficiencies, but rather to limitations in traffic management. Low-cost measures are proposed, such as traffic light synchronization, access control, and public transport reorganization, with the potential to improve the level of service and reduce delay times.