The Components and Benefits of an Advanced Surface Arterial Traffic Management System

Traffic congestion has become an increasing problem on major surface arterial roadways. Demand for accessibility to adjacent land uses yields increased vehicular turning movement activity at driveways and intersections. As turning and cross-road traffic volumes increase, the need for traffic signalization will eventually be warranted. When numerous, independently operating traffic signals are present on a given arterial roadway, adverse effects can result. First, continuous movement along the arterials at a desirable speed may not be assured. Second, vehicular delay will increase because of the slower operating speeds and increased number of stops. Third, safety can be threatened as poor traffic flow (i.e. increased number of stops, etc.) may lead to potential vehicular conflict. Fourth, vehicle emissions may increase as a result of poor traffic progression and can have unfavorable consequences to the local air quality. Lastly, increased fuel consumption is possible as traffic waits along poorly timed arterials. Of the five effects mentioned, travel delay is the most conspicuous and readily measured. to offset these effects, advanced traffic control systems have been developed to effectively and efficiently coordinate traffic flow along an arterial roadways or throughtout an area. In this study, a review of the most current technolgies in Advanced Traffic Management Systems (ATMS) for surface arterial roadways was performed. An emphasis was placed on new and developing technologies which are likely to be available for use within the next five years. In addition, advanced traffic control systems presently within Indiana were covered. Finally, recommendations for surface arterial ATMS were made including a proposed application for major arterial roadways in the metropolitan Indianapolis area. Furthermore, the cost-effectiveness of a surface arterial ATMS was discussed. This included the consideration of the initial construction, maintenance, and operation costs of the system hardware and software as well as roadway user benefits and costs. A comparison of before and after surface arterial ATMS user benefits was made.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.5703/1288284313328
• Corporate Authors:

  Purdue University

  Joint Transportation Research Program
  West Lafayette, IN  United States  47907-2051

  Indiana Department of Transportation

  100 N Senate Avenue
  Indianapolis, IN  United States  46204

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Andrews, Ted M
  • Sinha, Kumares C
• Publication Date: 1994-1

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Informatioin Report
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 188p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Advanced traffic management systems; Arterial highways; Highway traffic control; Signalization; Traffic delays; Traffic flow; Traffic signals
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01453862
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/IN/JHRP-93/01J
• Contract Numbers: HPR-2034
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Nov 15 2012 12:32PM