01478313

Component

Serving two-way traffic in a single-way path is needed in some circumstances. When traffic demands are low, vehicles in two opposing directions may share a single-way path without much problem. With the demands increasing, however, the possibility of conflict is getting larger and eventually conflict becomes unavoidable. In case of no signalization, the following scenario is considered in this paper that opposing traffic arriving at both ends of a single-way path negotiates, based on the first-come-first-serve rule, to avoid unsolvable conflict within the path. In particular, a latecomer has to wait at her entry of the path until an early bird from the other entry and possibly some of its followers to first go across the path. Consequently, a queue may build up behind the latecomer. When traffic demands get even bigger, alternating queues are expected at either entry of the path. This paper examines the probability that typical conflict occurs in this scenario as well as average queueing delay resulting. Mathematical analysis is conducted also to reveal basic features of alternating queues. The obtained theoretical results are crucial for decision-making concerning the usage of a single-way path to serve two-way traffic in case of needs. Further theoretical work and simulation studies are outlined.

This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AHB45 Traffic Flow Theory and Characteristics.

01470560

13-4881

English

16p

2013

Transportation Research Board 92nd Annual Meeting

Digital/other

Figures; References

Opposing traffic; Queuing; Single lane traffic; Traffic conflicts; Traffic delays

Two way traffic

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

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2013 Paper #13-4881

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Feb 5 2013 12:56PM