THE IMPROVED EFFECTIVENESS OF TRAFFIC SIGNAL SYSTEMS SEMI-ACTUATED SIGNALS ON ARTERIAL STREETS

This report describes an investigation of the effectiveness of semi-actuated signal controllers compared to fixed-time signal controllers at minor cross streets along progressively timed arteries. The effectiveness was determined by measuring the stopped-time delay and travel time on the artery during three times of the day, AM peak period, off-peak period, and PM peak period at three types of sites at five locations: a heavily travelled arterial with 1/4 mile signal spacing and very little cross traffic at the minor cross street, a heavily travelled arterial with moderate cross traffic at the minor cross street, and a heavily travelled arterial with a great deal of circulatory and cross street traffic. Fixed-time signal control was found to be as effective as, and sometimes more effective than, semi-actuated control at the majority of the locations studied. As installation costs are slightly higher for semi-actuated control, fixed-time control would be more cost-effective. However, the differences in delay and travel time for the two modes of control are slight. Recommendations are made for further investigation to aid in selecting the most effective mode of control at minor cross-street intersections.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • See also PB-236 635. Prepared in cooperation with California Dept. of Transportation, Sacramento, Rept. no. CA-DOT-TR-3120-5-75-1.
• Corporate Authors:

  Los Angeles, City of, California

  Department of Traffic, Bureau of Traffic Research
  Los Angeles, CA  United States  90012

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  California Department of Transportation

  1120 N Street
  Sacramento, CA  United States  95814
• Authors:
  • Terry, D S
  • Shuken, H L
• Publication Date: 1975-6-10

Media Info

• Pagination: 139 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Actuators; Arterial highways; Control devices; Cost effectiveness; Highway traffic; Instruments for measuring time; Intersections; Measures of effectiveness; Off peak periods; Peak hour traffic; Pretimed traffic signal controllers; Semi traffic actuated controllers; Signal lights; Signalized intersections; Stopped time delays; Streets; Time lag; Traffic; Traffic control; Traffic delays; Traffic engineering; Traffic signals; Traffic surveys; Travel time; Urban areas; Urban transportation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Effectiveness
• Geographic Terms: California
• Old TRIS Terms: Off-peak traffic; Semiactuated traffic signal controller; Semiactuated traffic signals; Time measurement; Vehicular traffic
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00094613
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: Staff-54.06 Final Rpt.
• Files: NTIS, TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: May 14 1976 12:00AM