Development of Traffic Signal Operations Educational Materials:Final rept. Aug 99-Jul 05

摘要

The traffic signal controller is one of the most ubiquitous and important components of our nation's transportation system. About two-thirds of all miles driven each year by U.S. motorists are on roadways controlled by traffic signals. In some urban areas, signals at busy intersections control the movement of more than 100,000 vehicles per day. However, most transportation engineers receive little if any education on traffic controllers, how they work, and how one designs a signal timing plan that takes advantage of all of the intricacies of the traffic controller-detector system. This project takes a first step to alleviate this problem by developing materials on traffic signal operations and timing that can be used to educate university students and practicing traffic engineers about the major components of the traffic control system. This work includes the role of experts in identifying and documenting knowledge, a set of interviews conducted with experts in traffic signal operations, an assessment of the problems with current transportation engineering textbooks, the need for case studies as part of the engineering education process, and the need for materials that present the basic elements of traffic signal operations.