PRETIMED SIGNAL-CONTROL SYSTEM FOR AN UNDERWATER VEHICULAR TUNNEL

Previous research has indicated that limiting traffic demand in an underwater vehicular tunnel can produce substantial increases in flow rates and speeds. A pretimed control system consisting of a standard traffic signal was used to meter traffic entering the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel. Four different cycle lengths and splits were tested, and the results were compared to those obtained from the uncontrolled situation. The increase in flow rates and speeds of 3 of the control strategies over those in normal operation showed that even a simple control system is capable of significantly benefiting traffic flow through a tunnel. An evaluation methodology was applied to the control alternatives; both quality of flow and flow rates were considered. Primary emphasis was placed on a methodology requiring a maximum of time and effort in data collection. The operations of the tunnel was observed in its 2 basic states--congested and uncongested. The quality of flow in a tunnel is poorest on the downgrade, better on the level section, and best on the upgrade. The results of this research should help to make pretimed, tunnel-bottleneck control a more practical engineering tool.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1975/533/533-002.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=PRETIMED+SIGNAL-CONTROL+SYSTEM+FOR+AN+UNDERWATER+VEHICULAR+TUNNEL&author=S.+SMITH&author=E.+Carter&publication_year=1975
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/030902384X
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Freeway Operations. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • SMITH, S A
  • Carter, Everett C
• Conference:
  • 54th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia
  • Date: 1975-1-13 to 1975-1-17
• Publication Date: 1975

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 22-33
• Monograph Title: Freeway Entry, Flow, and Control
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 533
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bottlenecks; Control systems; Evaluation; Traffic congestion; Traffic flow; Traffic signal cycle; Traffic signal timing; Traffic speed; Vehicular tunnels
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00099660
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 030902384X
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Nov 5 1975 12:00AM