IS WIDE-AREA TRAFFIC CONTROL REALLY NECESSARY?

The article discusses the justification and merits of a wide-area traffic control system, and shows that the controlled co-ordination of traffic signals over a wide area reduced traffic delays substantially in several North American and European cities. The financial benefits of wide-area control systems are not always obvious but it has been shown that the yearly cost of traffic delays to the community can be in the order of millions of pounds. Several schemes operated in this country have produced 10-12 percent reductions in journey times. The flexibility of a system such as transyt using computer controlled traffic signals is discussed, indicating it's many advantages. The use of computers rather than progressive-link equipment means that modifications to traffic flows can be made in a few minutes rather than weeks, and a favourable path can be given to public service and emergency vehicles when needed. It is emphasised that rapid detection and repair of faults is essential in the prevention of accidents. /TRRL/

• Corporate Authors:

  IPC Building and Contract Journals Limited

  32 Southwark Bridge Road
  London SE1 9EX,   England 
• Authors:
  • Honey, D W
• Publication Date: 1975-8-29

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Photos; References;
• Pagination: p. 23-26
• Serial:
  • Surveyor - Public Authority Technology
  • Volume: 146
  • Issue Number: 4342
  • Publisher: IPC Building and Contract Journals Limited

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Area traffic signal control; Areas; Benefit cost analysis; Bus priority; Bus transportation; Buses; Costs; Digital computers; Emergency vehicles; Strategic planning; Traffic control; Traffic delays; Traffic signal controllers; Traffic signal preemption; Traffic signals; Travel time; Trip length
• Geographic Terms: Canada; Europe; United Kingdom; United States
• Old TRIS Terms: Public service vehicles; Traffic control systems
• ITRD Terms: 669: Area traffic control; 1272: Bus; 8018: Canada; 226: Cost benefit analysis; 9010: Delay; 8673: Digital computer; 1261: Emergency vehicle; 8034: Europe; 697: Journey time; 648: Priority (traffic); 565: Traffic signal; 8119: United Kingdom; 8122: USA
• Subject Areas: Finance; Highways; Motor Carriers; Operations and Traffic Management; Public Transportation; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00132304
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 23 1976 12:00AM