Forecasts of Central Corridor LRT Boardings

I assigned a group project in CE3201, Introduction to Transportation Engineering to predict boardings at the proposed Central Corridor LRT stations. Each group had one station, and was free to develop a methodology (after having learned about travel demand models). The predictions (in the final column) can be compared with official forecasts. I promised dinner to whichever group was closest to the actual boardings after the line opens (but they must claim it). The forecasts were widely varying in methodology and quality (the same can be said for some official forecasts in general, though the consistency of official forecasts here is much greater of course).

Station Peak hours Off-Peak hours Total Daily Student Downtown Minneapolis Ballpark Station 250 150 400 Warehouse District/Hennepin Avenue 2,430 1,270 3,700 Nicollet Mall 4,820 2,170 6,990 Government Plaza 740 310 1,050 Downtown East / Metrodome 2,710 1,410 4,120 West Bank Station 910 290 1,200 439 East Bank Station 4,180 2,500 6,680 2,204 Stadium Village Station 710 260 970 1800 29th Avenue Station 670 280 950 477 Westgate Station 750 390 1,140 4038 Raymond Avenue Station 840 410 1,250 845 Fairview Avenue Station 1,300 600 1,900 38 Snelling Avenue Station 1,500 1,430 2,930 664 Hamline Ave 827 Lexington Parkway Station 540 390 930 945 Dale Street Station 420 290 710 Rice Street Station 780 420 1,200 Capitol East Station 250 140 390 10th Street Station 1,080 780 1,860 4th and Cedar Streets Station 820 380 1,200 Union Depot Station 1,210 910 2,120 Total Daily Boardings 26,910 14,780 41,690 Official Weekday Boardings From FEIS. Chapter 6 (Transportation), page 6-9: http://www.metrocouncil.org/transportation/ccorridor/FEIS/FEISChapter6.pdf