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Title:

TWO-CAPACITY PHENOMENON AT FREEWAY BOTTLENECKS: A BASIS FOR RAMP METERING?

Accession Number:

00621686

Record Type:

Component

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Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309051533

Abstract:

The issue of whether ramp metering can increase the capacity of freeway bottlenecks by prevention or delay of flow breakdown on the freeway main line is considered. A summary of the results of four case studies of metered bottlenecks in San Diego is presented. The hypothesis that flow decreases when it breaks down is confirmed, provided the hypothesis applies to individual lanes. Flow decreases ranging from 10% to less than 1% were observed in the left lane at the various study sites. When averaged across all lanes, flow decreased by about 3% at one site; there was no significant change at the other sites. It is concluded that this phenomenon is unlikely to provide a basis for metering at more than a few locations, because decreases in flow across all lanes are very small, sometimes nonexistent. Even where there are decreases in total flow, there is risk that metering will be counterproductive if it is too restrictive or begins too early.

Supplemental Notes:

This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1320, Freeway Operations, Highway Capacity, and Traffic Flow 1991. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved

Monograph Accession #:

01407170

Authors:

Banks, James H

Pagination:

p. 83-90

Publication Date:

1991

Serial:

Transportation Research Record

Issue Number: 1320
Publisher: Transportation Research Board
ISSN: 0361-1981

ISBN:

0309051533

Features:

Figures (9) ; References (16) ; Tables (2)

Geographic Terms:

Subject Areas:

Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; I71: Traffic Theory

Files:

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Created Date:

Apr 30 1992 12:00AM

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