Ever since I started working as a transportation engineer, I have kept printed copies of the FDOT Quality/Level of Service (Q/LOS) lookup tables within arm’s reach. And I’ve seen professionals across the country refer to these tables regularly.
What Are FDOT’s Generalized Service Volume Tables?
Although FDOT’s tables do not constitute a standard and should only be used for general planning applications, they are a widely used reference that helps engineers and planners quickly determine whether a roadway is at or near congested conditions.
The tables are designed to give a planner or engineer “service volumes” based on basic information about a roadway. Service volumes is really just the maximum number of vehicles per day or per hour that can be served at a given Level of Service (LOS). My experience is that these service volumes are often lower than what roads can truly handle, but that is a subject for another post.
Lookup Tool
The calculator below is the quickest way of getting service volumes for the roadway you have in mind. Based on your answers to a couple of questions, it will present the “raw” service volumes straight from FDOT’s tables and the adjusted service volumes based on your roadway’s characteristics.
Acknowledgments
Although I hope this tool makes it easier to obtain the Q/LOS data, all the credit goes to FDOT Systems Management, its consultants at Kittelson, and St. John’s County for developing and disseminating them.
Conclusion
The FDOT Q/LOS tables are a simple and effective tool to get planning-level answers. Of course, there is a lot more to a road than simply how it serves motorists, including LOS for pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users—which FDOT also captures through supplemental tables.
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