Controlling User Groups in Traffic

On the basis of policy-based target groups, the authors developed a prioritization strategy for traffic streams and applied it with the adaptive urban traffic control (UTC) ImFlow. The authors main aim was to gain understanding of the possibilities of a policy driven prioritization in an urban context. The authors conclude that traffic light control can become more rational, effective and efficient from a policy viewpoint. However, situational and operational constraints pose a limit. There is a growing awareness that traffic management and transport policy in general should deal with target groups instead of general traffic volumes. Moreover, traffic light control can be a tool for achieving transport policy goals beyond overall delay minimization. Once a system is installed, common practice is to fine-tune control parameters in order to keep delays minimal for all traffic at individual junctions. This implies a kind of prioritization with an unclear outcome for society that may even lead to contradictions in priority on a network scale. With a target group approach, policy making can presumably become more rational, effective and efficient. Optimizing traffic light control by prioritizing target groups on a network scale can lead to better performance for high-ranked groups, in line with policy objectives. However, at the same time it might lead to local traffic problems that can be rated as unacceptable. Furthermore, control constraints related to traffic safety (e.g. clearance times) and equity (e.g. maximum waiting time) might implicate a limited ability to adjust weights in traffic light control plans. This paper discusses the development of a target group strategy and its application with ImFlow for a case of two intersections in the city of Helmond in the Netherlands. The aim of the authors research was to answer the question whether policy objectives can be pursued by applying weights for different user groups? Secondly, the authors examined whether this approach is easy to implement and if it leads to acceptable local situations that together are more in line with overall policy objectives.

• Record URL:
  https://aetransport.org/past-etc-papers/conference-papers-2012
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract used by permission of Association for European Transport.
• Corporate Authors:

  Association for European Transport (AET)

  1 Vernon Mews, Vernon Street, West Kensington
  London W14 0RL,    
• Authors:
  • Vreeswijk, Jaap
  • Wismans, Luc
  • Tutert, Bas
• Conference:
  • European Transport Conference 2012
  • Location: Glasgow , Scotland
  • Date: 2012-10-8 to 2012-10-10
• Publication Date: 2012

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Maps; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 5p
• Monograph Title: European Transport Conference 2012

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Highway traffic control; Intersections; Optimization; Policy analysis; Traffic delays; Traffic signal control systems; Traffic signal priority; Urban areas
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01542217
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 29 2014 11:26AM