01587091

Component

https://doi.org/10.3141/2555-09

A portable traffic signal (PTS) system is designed to move traffic through two-way rural highway work zones with one lane open to traffic. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the use of PTS systems in conjunction with pilot car operations and to compare three conditions as means to control traffic at one-lane, two-way work zones: (a) flagging only, (b) PTS with flagger, and (c) PTS only. The measures of effectiveness were determined with respect to (a) red light running (RLR) violation percentages, (b) vehicle delay estimates, (c) queue lengths, and (d) green interval time. Comparisons of the operational parameters of average wait time, average queue length, and average green interval length indicated that all three conditions provided a similar level of operational efficiency. Percentages of RLR vehicles under the flagger-only, PTS-with-flagger, and PTS-only conditions were 1.1%, 1.3%, and 3.1%, respectively. A test of proportions indicated a significant difference in the number of violations between the three conditions. In addition, no significant difference was found in the number of RLR vehicles that followed an already-departed queue in the presence or the absence of a flagger. Furthermore, a significant difference was found in the number of vehicles that left the queue and the number of RLR vehicles that disregarded the traffic control under both conditions. These findings indicated more compliance when a flagger was present than when one was not. Results of an exploratory delay analysis indicated a 5% reduction in the total observed delay in the presence of a flagger.

01594662

16-1613

English

pp 72–80

2016

Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board

9780309441193

Print

Figures (3) ; Maps; Photos; References (10) ; Tables (13)

Highway operations; Measures of effectiveness; Portable equipment; Rural highways; Traffic signals; Two lane highways; Work zone traffic control; Work zones

Pilot cars

Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors

PRP, TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Jan 12 2016 5:23PM

• Assessment of an Adaptive Driving Beam Headlighting System: Visibility and Glare
• Guidelines for Traffic Control Devices at Changes in Horizontal Alignment
• Impact of Advisory Signs on Vehicle Speeds in Highway Nighttime Paving Project Work Zones
• Legibility of the Clearview Typeface and FHWA Standard Alphabets on Negative- and Positive-Contrast Signs
• Model Development for Use of Portable Traffic Signals in Conjunction with Pilot Car Operations at Two-Lane, Two-Way Rural Highway Work Zones
• Road Lighting Effects on Bicycle and Pedestrian Accident Frequency: Case Study in Montreal, Quebec, Canada
• Safety Effects of Portable End-of-Queue Warning System Deployments at Texas Work Zones
• Safety Effects of Street Illuminance at Urban Signalized Intersections in Florida
• Traffic Control at Access Points Within Alternating One-Way Operations
• Updated Model for Advance Placement of Turn and Curve Warning Signs
• Variable Speed Limit Study Upstream of an Indiana Work Zone with Vehicle Matching
• What Role Do Precrash Driver Actions Play in Work Zone Crashes? Application of Hierarchical Models to Crash Data
• Work Zone Crash Cost Prediction with a Least Median Squares Linear Regression Model