Including Exiting Vehicles in Capacity Estimation at Single-Lane U.S. Roundabouts

The current model used in the United States to predict approach capacity at a single-lane roundabout uses information about entry driver behavior in response to the circulating traffic stream only. There is no procedure for including exiting vehicles in capacity estimation. Exiting vehicles are vehicles that leave the circulating stream of traffic by maneuvering into the exit lane at a roundabout approach. Exiting vehicles are known to have an effect on capacity at roundabout approaches in other countries, but their effect in the United States is not known. The purpose of this research is to determine whether including exiting vehicles improves capacity estimation at a roundabout approach. An exploration of the relationships of the proportion of exiting vehicles and the width of the splitter island to approach capacities is included. Capacities were estimated both with and without exiting vehicles as part of the conflicting flow and compared with measured field capacities. The findings demonstrate that capacity estimates with exiting vehicles result in improved prediction of the actual capacity of a roundabout approach over estimates without exiting vehicles. The proportion of exiting vehicles in the major stream and the width of the splitter island appear to provide some benefit in capacity prediction, but exactly how these parameters can be incorporated into the capacity prediction process must be further explored.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.3141/1988-05
• 
• Summary URL:
  • http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=Including+Exiting+Vehicles+in+Capacity+Estimation+at+Single-Lane+U.S.+Roundabouts&author=Y.+Mereszczak&author=M.+Dixon&author=M.+Kyte&author=L.+Rodegerdts&author=M.+Blogg&publication_year=2006
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309099986
• Authors:
  • Mereszczak, Yuri
  • Dixon, Michael P
  • Kyte, Michael
  • Rodegerdts, Lee A
  • Blogg, Miranda L
• Publication Date: 2006

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 23-30
• Monograph Title: Highway Capacity and Quality of Service 2006
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board
  • Issue Number: 1988
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Approach lanes; Estimating; Highway capacity; Mathematical prediction; Roundabouts; Traffic flow
• Identifier Terms: Highway Capacity Manual
• Uncontrolled Terms: Exiting vehicles; Roundabout approach; Roundabout capacity
• Geographic Terms: United States
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; I71: Traffic Theory;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01020089
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309099986
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Mar 3 2006 10:59AM