Evaluation of the Benefits of Active Traffic Management Schemes Using Microsimulation Programming

This paper describes how a key problem on British roads is the high level of traffic demand, which promises a steady increase into the future. A cost effective, intelligent and efficient way to ease the problems that this causes is to implement Active Traffic Management (ATM) onto the strategic highway network. ATM works by reacting to traffic conditions on the highway and changing driver behavior according to these conditions and this involves increasing the capacity of roads during peak periods by using variable speed limits and hard-shoulder running, similar to that undertaken on the M42 in the West Midlands. The variable speed limits are triggered by a combination of flow and speed measurements at specific loop sites along the carriageway, which are processed by the MIDAS congestion control algorithm to provide suitable signals on gantries and signs in the surrounding area. The hard-shoulder is used as a live lane when the speed limit drops to a specified value. The status of the hard-shoulder is indicated on gantry signals allowing drivers to use the extra capacity and ease congestion on other lanes. ATM congestion control has been successfully implemented on the M25 and M42, and is subsequently being rolled-out around the Birmingham Box. This paper provides an insight into the design and construction of a microsimulation model to simulate the implementation of ATM on the M6 J4-J5.

• Record URL:
  https://aetransport.org/past-etc-papers/conference-papers-pre-2009/conference-papers-2009
• Corporate Authors:

  Association for European Transport (AET)

  1 Vernon Mews, Vernon Street, West Kensington
  London W14 0RL,    
• Authors:
  • Millard, Matt
  • Unwin, Paul
• Conference:
  • European Transport Conference, 2009
  • Location: Leiden Leeuwenhorst Conference Centre , Netherlands
  • Date: 2009-10-5 to 2009-10-7
• Publication Date: 2009

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: Bibliography; Figures; Maps; Photos; Tables;
• Pagination: 18p
• Monograph Title: European Transport Conference, 2009 Proceedings

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Highway capacity; Highway traffic control; Peak hour traffic; Traffic congestion; Traffic flow; Travel behavior; Variable speed limits
• Uncontrolled Terms: Active traffic management; Travel lanes
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01349424
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 10 2011 10:42AM