Peak Hour System Analysis on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. The Optimum Traffic Flow Assignment Model

摘要

A model for analyzing flows and evaluating improvements in a rural road network has been developed. This model is applied in the analysis of the road network on the Eastern Shore of Maryland which is characterized by several very restrictive bottlenecks (e.g., two-lane bridges and/or drawbridges on four-lane highways) and by sharp peaks on summer weekends due to recreational travellers. The objective of the study was to determine the feasibility of cost-effectiveness of diverting travellers to alternate routes. The model which was developed, simulates traffic flow in the network under nonsaturated flow conditions, i.e., for volume below capacity. This model uses speed flow functions based on free flow speeds and computed link capacities.