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Title:

Predicting Lane Utilization and Merge Behavior at Signalized Intersections with Auxiliary Lanes: A Buffalo, New York, Study

Accession Number:

01334294

Record Type:

Component

Abstract:

Auxiliary through lanes (ATL) are often used to increase the capacity at signalized intersections. The effectiveness of these lanes is a direct function of the level of their utilization by motorists, which unfortunately tends to be significantly lower than continuous through lanes. Currently, there is no official model that can be used to predict ATL utilization; although a handful of recent studies have attempted to develop such models. This paper describes a study in the Buffalo, New York, area designed to: (1) determine whether recently-proposed models for predicting ATL utilization are applicable to Buffalo; (2) develop new models for predicting ATL utilization in the area; and (3) develop models for predicting drivers' merge behavior at intersections with ATL. To achieve these objectives, geometric, traffic count and merge data were collected from select sites in the Buffalo, NY metropolitan area. The data were then used to assess ATL utilization model transferability, and to develop Buffalo-specific models for predicting ATL utilization and average merge distance. The study's results show that models for predicting ATL utilization tend to be site-specific. Moreover, it is shown that, for Buffalo, ATL utilization appears to be a function of total through volume, the lane drop type, the posted speed, and the expected trip generation caused by the adjacent land uses. The average merge distance, on the other hand, tends to be a function of the ATL total length, the first lane drop warning sign, the downstream speed, and the total through traffic volume.

Monograph Accession #:

01329018

Report/Paper Numbers:

11-2065

Language:

English

Corporate Authors:

Transportation Research Board

500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001 United States

Authors:

Ring, Jay B
Sadek, Adel W

Pagination:

19p

Publication Date:

2011

Conference:

Transportation Research Board 90th Annual Meeting

Location: Washington DC, United States
Date: 2011-1-23 to 2011-1-27
Sponsors: Transportation Research Board

Media Type:

DVD

Features:

Figures (3) ; References (15) ; Tables (2)

Uncontrolled Terms:

Through lanes

Geographic Terms:

Buffalo (New York)

Subject Areas:

Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning

Source Data:

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2011 Paper #11-2065

Files:

TRIS, TRB

Created Date:

Feb 17 2011 6:02PM