GENERALIZED COMBINATION METHOD FOR AREA TRAFFIC CONTROL

A simple generalization of the British combination method is given for optimizing offsets in synchronized, traffic- signal networks of a general structure. The method then is used in a recursive procedure to determine values for the offsets along each street, the splits of green time at each intersections of the network, and the common cycle time of the controlled area. The signals' cost to travelers is evaluated as the sum of 2 components: one associated with a deterministic traffic-flow model and the other associated with randomness in traffic behavior. The deterministic component is a function of the coordination among the signals in the network and generally increases with cycle length. The stochastic component depends on the expected overflow queue at each traffic light and decreases with cycle length. It is shown that optimal settings are determined at the equilibrium point of minimum total cost resulting from the combined effect of the 2 components.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1975/531/531-005.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=GENERALIZED+COMBINATION+METHOD+FOR+AREA+TRAFFIC+CONTROL&author=N.+Gartner&author=J.+Little&publication_year=1975
• Availability:
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Traffic Control Devices. 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:
  • Gartner, Nathan
  • Little, John D 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 58-69
• Monograph Title: Traffic Control and Motorist Information
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 531
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Mathematical models; Methodology; Optimization; Queuing; Stochastic processes; Traffic control; Traffic flow; Traffic signal cycle
• Candidate Terms: Recursion theory
• Uncontrolled Terms: Models
• Old TRIS Terms: Traffic control systems
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00097210
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309023785
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Oct 18 1975 12:00AM