Post‐Installation Evaluation of the Effects of Ramp Metering in North Carolina

Since September 2017, the first four on‐ramp signals in North Carolina, positioned on the westbound lanes of I‐540 in Wake County, have been regularly activated Monday to Friday from 6:30 ‐ 9am. This report focused on the impact of these on‐ramp signals. The results identified are the product of data collected in the I‐540 WB area over multiple years from numerous sources, both before and after on‐ramp signals. When feasible, the costs and benefits of the on‐ramp signals were monetized using benefit cost analysis methods. The results of this study show that the on‐ ramp signals resulted in benefits including a forecasted net savings of $7,949,541 over the ten years after the installation of the on‐ramp signals. In addition, the analytical methods updated and developed through this study will provide North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) with planning and evaluation frameworks that can be readily applied to future on‐ramp signal projects. In the future, NCDOT can use the planning‐level tools to evaluate the potential of implementing on‐ramp signals in other locations in the state and can apply the evaluation tools to assess the impacts of the on‐ramp signals after installation. Ultimately, the methods, processes, and lessons learned delivered with this study can help North Carolina save make faster and more accurate decisions about future on‐ramp signal projects.

• Record URL:
  https://connect.ncdot.gov/projects/research/RNAProjDocs/2018-19%20Final%20Report.pdf
• Summary URL:
  https://connect.ncdot.gov/projects/research/Pages/ProjDetails.aspx?ProjectID=2018-19
• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/59873
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Cover title: Planning Level Evaluation of the Effects of Ramp Metering on North Carolina Freeways Final Report.
• Corporate Authors:

  North Carolina State University, Raleigh

  Institute for Transportation Research and Education
  Centennial Campus Box 8601
  Raleigh, NC  United States  27695-8601

  North Carolina Department of Transportation

  Research and Analysis Group, 104 Fayetteville Street
  Raleigh, NC  United States  27601

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Davis, Joy
  • Chase, Thomas
  • Aghdashi, Behzad
  • Cunningham, Chris
  • Head, Weston
  • Poslusny, James
  • Karlson, Terry
• Publication Date: 2019-2

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Maps; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 72p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Before and after studies; Benefit cost analysis; Evaluation and assessment; Freeways; Lessons learned; Ramp metering
• Geographic Terms: North Carolina
• Subject Areas: Economics; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01771792
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/NC/2018‐19, NCDOT Project 2018‐19
• Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: May 21 2021 10:54AM