Development and Application of Microsimulation in Congested Corridor Analysis

摘要

Traffic signals are one of the primary constraints on corridor capacity in the highwayrn/ arterial network. The extent to which through traffic is impeded is heavily dependent on thernquality of the signal timings. Poor signal timings can result in significant congestion that couldrnotherwise be avoided, or at the very least minimized. The results of congestion typically includerndriver delay and frustration, increased air pollution, wasted fuel, and lost productivity. Improvedrnalgorithms and optimization procedures are constantly being developed, each aimed at providingrnanalytical tools or field equipment that if implemented, will improve travel conditions on thernmajor corridors without serious detriment to the minor traffic flows.rnThe purpose of this research was to use the Synchro / SimTraffic models in the development andrnassessment of signal timing alternatives on a congested corridor. The simulation model was usedrnto assess four signal timing alternatives to improve operations in the congested S.R. 0021rncorridor in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. Considerable effort was devoted to the collection ofrnfield data and the calibration of the microsimulation model to the field observations. Findings ofrnthe analysis surprisingly indicated that the benefits of progression provided by coordination werernfar outweighed by the costs incurred through the loss of flexibility at a critical two-intersectionrnsystem when semi-actuated control with a fixed cycle length was imposed.