SAFETY WARNING SYSTEM FOR THE GULF FREEWAY

ABOUT 13 INCIDENTS OCCUR WEEKLY ON THE INBOUND SECTION OF THE RAMP CONTROL AREA OF THE GULF FREEWAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. ABOUT A QUARTER OF ALL INCIDENTS DURING THE PEAK HOURS, AND MOST INCIDENTS DURING THE OFF-PEAK PERIODS, RESULT IN MINIMUM DELAY IN THEMSELVES BUT CREATE A SAFETY HAZARD. A RAMP METERING SYSTEM THAT EMPLOYS LOOP DETECTORS IN ALL FREEWAY LANES UPSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM OF THE OVERPASSES AND WARNING SIGNS ON THE RAMPS THEMSELVES IS DESCRIBED. AN AUTOMATIC CONTROL ALGORITHM THAT USES CRITICAL ENERGY AS A CONTROL PARAMETER HAS PERFORMED SATISFACTORILY. ALTERNATE CONTROL ALGORITHMS USING SPEED AND LANE OCCUPANCY AS VARIABLES ARE CURRENTLY BEING EVALUATED.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/1587330
• Authors:
  • Dudek, C L
• Publication Date: 1972-7

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: p. 3-4
• Serial:
  • Texas Transportation Researcher
  • Volume: 8
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: Texas Transportation Institute
  • ISSN: 0040-4748

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Algorithms; Freeways; Highway safety; Interchange ramps; Loop detectors; Queuing; Ramp metering; Traffic congestion
• Uncontrolled Terms: Congestion
• Old TRIS Terms: Freeway ramps
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00226665
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 7 1973 12:00AM