Travel Demand Model 9.2.0

Current Official Release

Published

January 15, 2025

Overview

The WFRC Travel Demand Model (TDM) version 9.2.0 is the current official release used for regional transportation planning and project evaluation. This four-step model forecasts travel demand across the Wasatch Front region through the year 2050.

ImportantModel Status

Release Date: January 15, 2025 Status: Official Release Recommended For: All planning studies and project evaluations

Model Capabilities

The TDM 9.2.0 provides detailed forecasts of:

  • Daily travel patterns by trip purpose and mode
  • Highway traffic volumes on all major roadways
  • Transit ridership by route and time period
  • VMT and emissions for air quality analysis
  • Accessibility measures to opportunities
  • Multi-modal performance metrics

Model Structure

The TDM follows a traditional four-step modeling framework:

  1. Trip Generation: Predicts the number of trips produced by and attracted to each Transportation Analysis Zone (TAZ)

  2. Trip Distribution: Determines where trips will go using gravity model principles with calibrated friction factors

  3. Mode Choice: Estimates the share of trips by each travel mode (auto, transit, walk, bike) based on level-of-service and traveler characteristics

  4. Traffic Assignment: Loads vehicle trips onto the highway network and transit trips onto the transit network using equilibrium assignment procedures

Model Geography

  • Model Area: Wasatch Front region including Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, and parts of Utah, Tooele, Box Elder, and Morgan counties
  • TAZs: 3,847 Transportation Analysis Zones
  • Highway Network: ~45,000 directional links covering freeways, arterials, and major collectors
  • Transit Network: All UTA fixed-route services plus commuter rail

Key Improvements in 9.2.0

Network Enhancements

Updated highway and transit networks to reflect projects completed through 2024, including major capacity improvements and new transit services.

Socioeconomic Data

Incorporated latest demographic data and employment estimates coordinated with REMM forecasts.

Accessibility Metrics

New accessibility to opportunity measures for jobs, education, healthcare, and recreation by travel mode and time threshold.

Validation

Enhanced validation using recent data sources including StreetLight Origin-Destination data, RITIS speed data, and UTA ridership statistics.

Technical Specifications

  • Software Platform: Cube Voyager 7.0
  • Base Year: 2019
  • Forecast Years: 2030, 2040, 2050
  • Time Periods: AM Peak (6-9 AM), Midday (9 AM-3 PM), PM Peak (3-7 PM), Night (7 PM-6 AM)
  • Trip Purposes: Home-Based Work, Home-Based School, Home-Based Shop, Home-Based Other, Non-Home-Based
  • Vehicle Classes: SOV, HOV2, HOV3+, Light Trucks, Medium Trucks, Heavy Trucks
  • Transit Modes: Local Bus, Express Bus, BRT, Light Rail, Commuter Rail

Model Application

The TDM 9.2.0 is used for:

  • Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) development and evaluation
  • Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) project prioritization
  • Corridor and subarea planning studies
  • Project-level traffic forecasting
  • Air quality conformity analysis
  • Title VI equity analysis
  • Alternatives analysis for major investments

Documentation

Model Runs and Support

For assistance with model runs or technical questions:

Version History

  • 9.2.0 (January 2025) - Current official release
  • 9.1.0 (June 2024) - Previous release
  • 9.0.0 (January 2024) - Major update with new mode choice model

View complete version history →

Looking Ahead

Development is underway on TDM 10.0.0, which will include:

  • Activity-based modeling framework
  • Enhanced bike and pedestrian demand modeling
  • Dynamic traffic assignment capabilities
  • Integration with REMM at finer geographic resolution

Learn more about TDM 10.0.0 →