CALCULATION OF FUEL CONSUMPTION DUE TO TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN A CASE-STUDY METROPOLITAN AREA

The potential reductions in fuel consumption that could occur if congestion were relieved are estimated for a case-study city. This is done for two types of traffic flow improvements: first, fuel consumption reductions from reduced delays that could be brought about by traffic engineering techniques or other changes to expedite traffic flow are estimated; and second, fuel consumption reductions from estimated; and second, fuel consumption reductions from reduced congestion brought about by reducing peak-period traffic levels by methods such as flexible or staggered work hours are estimated. The analysis makes use of an equilibrium traffic assignment algorithm to determine speeds and flows on each road segment of the road network for each case analysed, and a travel-time/fuel-consumption relation to translate travel time reduction fuel savings. The Milwaukee metropolitan area was chosen as the case-study area because of the availability of high-quality network and trip data. Actual travel time and flow data were collected to check the results of the assignments. The study estimates upper bounds on potential reduction in fuel consumed of 4.1 per cent for the elimination of congestion related delays and 2.8 per cent for reduction of peak traffic volumes. The reductions in fuel consumption that could be realised through actual traffic engineering improvements or programmes to reduce peak traffic levels would be smaller than these upper bounds. (Author/TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00410683
• Corporate Authors:

  Printerhall Limited

  29 Newmart Street
  London W1P 3PE,   England 
• Authors:
  • Tobin, R L
• Publication Date: 1979-12

Language

• Undetermined

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 590-592
• Serial:
  • Traffic Engineering & Control
  • Volume: 20
  • Issue Number: 12
  • Publisher: Hemming Group, Limited
  • ISSN: 0041-0683
  • Serial URL: http://www.tecmagazine.com/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Case studies; Development; Fuel consumption; Mathematical models; Peak hour traffic; Peak periods; Research; Savings; Staggered work hours; Traffic assignment; Traffic congestion; Traffic engineering; Traffic flow; Travel time; Trip length; Urban areas; Work trips
• Uncontrolled Terms: Research and development
• ITRD Terms: 632: Congestion (traffic); 232: Fuel consumption; 697: Journey time; 621: Journey to work; 6473: Mathematical model; 612: Peak hour; 671: Traffic flow; 313: Urban area
• Subject Areas: Energy; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Research; I71: Traffic Theory; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00311719
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 19 1980 12:00AM