Cycle-Length Performance Measures: Revisiting and Extending Fundamentals

Webster’s single-ring formulation for cycle length and the "Highway Capacity Manual" (HCM) intersection saturation metric are revisited, and the model for dual-ring operation is extended to provide a tool for evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of a prescribed cycle length. The calculations from Webster’s model and the HCM provide a framework for identifying periods of time when cycle length could be substantially shortened, periods of the day when an increase in cycle length would provide some modest improvements, and periods of the day when cycle length is adequate and capacity problems should be addressed by adjusting splits. The methodology is demonstrated for incorporating the number of split failures, overall intersection saturation, and Webster’s optimal cycle length to evaluate the quality of split operation and the effectiveness of cycle length at a signalized intersection.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.3141/2128-05
• Summary URL:
  http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=Cycle-Length+Performance+Measures%3a+Revisiting+and+Extending+Fundamentals&author=C.+Day&author=D.+Bullock&author=J.+Sturdevant&publication_year=2009
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9780309142601
• Authors:
  • Day, Christopher M
  • Bullock, Darcy M
  • Sturdevant, James R
• Publication Date: 2009

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 48-57
• Monograph Title: Traffic Signal Systems 2009
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board
  • Issue Number: 2128
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Change interval (Traffic signal cycle); Highway capacity; Performance measurement; Periods of the day; Saturation flow; Signalized intersections; Traffic signal cycle
• Identifier Terms: Highway Capacity Manual
• Uncontrolled Terms: Webster delay model
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01127137
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 9780309142601
• Report/Paper Numbers: 09-0061
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Apr 24 2009 8:28AM