THE EFFECTS OF ENTRANCE RAMP CLOSURE ON FREEWAY OPERATION DURING MORNING PEAK PERIODS

RAMP METERING, WHICH IS A REGULATORY BUT VOLUNTARY FORM OF TRAFFIC CONTROL, IS EFFECTIVE FOR IMPROVING FREEWAY OPERATIONS. HOWEVER, TRAFFIC INPUT DEMAND FREQUENTLY EXCEEDS THE CAPACITY OF SOME FREEWAY BOTTLENECKS RESULTING IN UPSTREAM CONGESTION. THE STUDY DISCUSSES THE USE OF POSITIVE RAMP CLOSURE DURING PEAK PERIODS TO FURTHER REDUCE TRAFFIC INPUT TO THE FREEWAY FROM A SELECTED RAMP. THE INDICATIONS ARE THAT FREEWAY OPERATION IS IMPROVED, WHILE DIVERTED MOTORISTS EXPERIENCE ONLY A MINIMUM ADDED DELAY. FURTHER RESEARCH MAY ESTABLISH WHEN AND HOW LONG A PARTICULAR RAMP SHOULD BE CLOSED. /NTIS/

• Supplemental Notes:
  • REPORT NO RR-139-9
• Corporate Authors:

  Texas Transportation Institute

  Texas A&M University System, 1600 E Lamar Boulevard
  Arlington, TX  United States  76011
• Authors:
  • Loutzenheiser, R C
• Publication Date: 1971-8

Media Info

• Pagination: 33 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Freeway operations; Interchange ramps; Ramp metering; Traffic control
• Old TRIS Terms: Freeway ramps
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00226521
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: Res Rept
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 17 1973 12:00AM