TRAFFIC SIGNAL CO-ORDINATION RESEARCH EXPERIENCE IN THE UK. SINO-BRITISH HIGHWAYS AND URBAN TRAFFIC CONFERENCE. PAPERS PRESENTED AT THE CONFERENCE HELD IN BEIJING 17TH-22ND NOVEMBER 1986

This paper discusses two methods of traffic signal coordination, developed at the transport and Road Research Laboratory, (TRRL) and used widely in the United Kingdom. Transyt is a very cost-effective method for improving traffic flow in urban street networks, which coordinates and links adjacent traffic signals set on fixed-time plans. In it, the signals at two or more adjacent intersections are linked on a common cycle time; the 'offsets' (beginnings of cycle times) are set so that traffic leaving one junction arrives at the next downstream junction when the signals are green. The transyt method is now well-established and it is used worldwide. After comprehensively testing transyt, TRRL cooperated with ferranti, gec, and plessey to develop SCOOT, a new online vehicle-responsive system. SCOOT is able to obtain benefits which other traffic-responsive control methods have failed to achieve, and some of the possible reasons for this are explained. SCOOT has now been installed or ordered by about 25 British cities and towns, together with three overseas. It is especially appropriate where traffic conditions are very congested (e.g. Central London) or highly variable (e.g. Heathrow airport), and where it has been found difficult to keep fixed-time transyt times up-to-date. Two appendices are included: (1) trrl's digest of its user guide to transyt version 8; (2) trrl's leaflet about SCOOT. (TRRL)

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• Corporate Authors:

  INSTITUTION OF HIGHWAYS & TRANSPORTATION

  6 ENDSLEIGH STREET
  LONDON,   United Kingdom  WC1H 0DZ
• Authors:
  • Vincent, R A
• Publication Date: 1986

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 483-487
• Serial:
  • Publication of: INSTITUTION OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS
  • Publisher: Institution of Electrical Engineers
  • ISSN: 0537-9989

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Area traffic signal control; Automatic control; Automation; Computer programs; Conferences; Signalization; Traffic control; Traffic signal control systems; Traffic signal cycle; Traffic signals; Urban areas
• ITRD Terms: 669: Area traffic control; 3882: Automatic; 8525: Conference; 576: Cycle (traffic signals); 597: Linked signals; 556: Signalization; 8645: Software; 654: Traffic control; 565: Traffic signal; 313: Urban area
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00493149
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: May 31 1990 12:00AM