01334543

Component

https://doi.org/10.3141/2259-13

http://scholar.google.com...ovic&publication_year=2011

Traffic signal systems are usually retimed on the basis of sampled traffic counts. Yet limited traffic data may not represent typical conditions for optimizing traffic signal systems. When extensive traffic counts are not available, several approaches must be considered: How should signal timings be optimized if multiple counts exist? Should signal timings be based on maximal (or near maximal) traffic counts or should traffic volumes that are more frequently observed in the field be used? This study provides answers to those questions by investigating the performance of signal timing plans developed for various traffic count scenarios, at conditions of varying traffic demand. One key contribution of this study is accurate modeling of varying traffic conditions that were captured from field traffic counts during 155 weekdays in 2009. VISSIM’s model of Park City, Utah, calibrated and validated in previous studies, was used to model field traffic conditions and to evaluate the quality of various signal timing plans. Results show that signal timing plans that are based on average traffic flows (mean, mode, and median) perform best (and are most robust) when exposed to day-to-day traffic flow variability. Results also show that although optimizing signal timings for higher traffic demand is suboptimal, this strategy is better than optimizing signals for lower traffic demand and should be used when sufficient traffic data are not available.

01364838

11-1533

English

pp 141-150

2011

Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board

9780309222952

Print

Figures (5) ; References (12)

Optimization; Traffic counts; Traffic flow; Traffic models; Traffic signal timing; Traffic volume; Travel demand

VISSIM (Computer model)

Traffic conditions

Park City (Utah)

Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; I73: Traffic Control

TRIS, TRB

Feb 17 2011 5:50PM

• Analysis of Peer Data on Intersections for Decisions About Coordination of Arterial Traffic Signal
• Automated Intersection Control: Performance of Future Innovation Versus Current Traffic Signal Control
• Comparison of Alternative Real-Time Performance Measures for Measuring Signal Phase Utilization and Identifying Oversaturation
• Computational Efficiency of Alternative Algorithms for Arterial Offset Optimization
• Design of Intergreen Times Based on Safety Reliability
• Detection of Stop Bar Traffic Flow State
• Detection Performance of Wireless Magnetometers at Signalized Intersection and Railroad Grade Crossing Under Various Weather Conditions
• Development and Evaluation of Optimal Arterial Control Strategies for Oversaturated Conditions
• Estimating Signalized Intersection Delays to Transit Vehicles: Using Archived Data from Automatic Vehicle Location and Passenger Counting Systems
• Heuristic Algorithm for Priority Traffic Signal Control
• Heuristic Approach for Estimating Arterial Signal Phases and Progression Quality from Vehicle Arrival Data
• Improving Safety and Mobility at High-Speed Intersections with Innovations in Sensor Technology
• Integrated Control of Freeway Interchange Model Based on Enhanced Cell Transmission Model
• Intelligent Traffic Signal System for Isolated Intersections: Dynamic Pedestrian Accommodation
• Modeling Variability of Urban Travel Times by Analyzing Delay Distribution for Multiple Signalized Intersections
• New Evidence of Improvements in Dilemma Zone Protection by Detection-Control System
• Predictive Priority for Light Rail Transit: University Light Rail Line in Salt Lake County, Utah
• Quantifying Dynamic Factors Contributing to Dilemma Zone at High-Speed Signalized Intersections
• Quantifying the Benefit of Retiming Traffic Signals Through Multiple Regression
• Reliability, Flexibility, and Environmental Impact of Alternative Objective Functions for Arterial Offset Optimization
• Traffic Signal Optimization with Application of Transit Signal Priority to an Isolated Intersection
• Turn Pocket Blockage and Spillback Models: Applications for Signal Timing and Capacity Analysis
• Visual Education Tools to Illustrate Coordinated System Operation