Freight Sub-Model Development

Background

The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) is seeking a qualified contractor to develop a regional, behavior-based Freight and Commercial Vehicle Model. This initiative aligns with the Freight Demand Modeling and Data Improvement Handbook and will be implemented within the OpenPaths CUBE and AGENT platforms. The model aims to utilize the 2025 TxDOT Establishment/Commercial Vehicle Survey as its primary local data source and will integrate with the existing disaggregate four-step travel demand modeling framework in the region.

Work Details

The contractor will develop a behavior-based freight model in CUBE/AGENT, focusing on establishment-based behavior, tour formation, stop-making, and vehicle class differentiation. Key objectives include: - Integrating freight truck and non-freight commercial vehicle demand into a unified modeling framework. - Explicitly modeling commercial vehicle tours, including stop frequency, purpose, and time-of-day behavior. - Calibrating and validating the model against various data sources such as traffic counts and GPS data. Tasks include: 1. Project Management: Develop a project management plan with milestones. 2. Data Review: Prepare datasets for model development. 3. Establishment-Based Generation: Estimate freight activity by industry and vehicle class. 4. Integration: Ensure consistent treatment of vehicle classes in the regional Travel Demand Model (TDM). 5. Calibration & Validation: Validate model performance against observed conditions. 6. Documentation & Training: Provide user manuals and training sessions for H-GAC staff.

Period of Performance

The contract period will be specified in the awarded contract, with potential for renewal based on mutual agreement.

Place of Performance

The work will be performed within the Houston-Galveston area, specifically covering Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, and Waller Counties.

Bidder Requirements

H-GAC has established a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goal of 25% for all projects. Contractors must ensure participation from small and minority businesses as outlined in federal procurement requirements.