Real-Time Adaptive Traffic Control System Evaluation Superstition Springs Mall Area in Mesa, Arizona

摘要

The City of Mesa, AZ installed a SCATS (Sydney Coordinated Adaptive Traffic System) in early 2011 controlling 18 signalized intersections near Superstition Springs Mall, an area with significant traffic volume fluctuations. This paper compares the City's time-of-day (TOD) traffic signal operation with SCATS operation for both low season (summer) and high season (winter) volumes. Both intersection turning movement counts and midblock traffic volumes were collected. Travel times (both Bluetooth re-identification and GPS) as well as minor street queue and delay data were collected for both seasonal periods in consecutive weeks, with one week being SCATS operation and the next week being TOD operation (i.e. with SCATS turned off). The Bluetooth travel times were obtained by matching of Bluetooth MAC addresses at upstream and downstream locations with the travel times between them determined. This paper presents before and after results including average travel time and speed, number of stops, average intersection delay and minor street delay for TOD and traffic adaptive operation during both seasonal periods. A statistical comparison was made to test for significant differences in measures of effectiveness. In an attempt to account for the effect of non-recurring events on traffic operations, traffic incidents, special events and weather-related events were compiled for the study area during the study periods and considered in the comparison.