FREEWAY OPERATIONS IN CALIFORNIA
A SEPARATE FREEWAY OPERATION DEPARTMENT WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE LOS ANGELES DISTRICT TO DETERMINE WHAT COULD BE DONE TO IMPROVE OPERATIONS. THE SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF THIS GROUP IS: (1) ALLEVIATE EVERYDAY CONGESTION, (2) ALLEVAITE UNEXPECTED CONGESTION, AND (3) ALLEVIATE OR ELIMINATE PLANNED CONGESTION. TWO KINDS OF BOTTLENECKS ARE BUILT INTO THE FREEWAY SYSTEM. THE FIRST IS CAUSED BY THE GEOMETRY OF THE SYSTEM AND HAS CONGESTION AT THE SAME TIME EVERY WORKDAY. THE UNEXPECTED BOTTLENECK RESULTS FROM AN ACCIDENT OR AN INCIDENT, LIKE A SPILLED LOAD WHICH TEMPORARILY REDUCES THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC THAT THE FREEWAY CAN HANDLE. THE PROGRAM TO REDUCE THE EFFECTS OF GEOMETRIC BOTTLENECKS IS: (1) ADDING CAPACITY BY INTERIM IMPROVEMENTS, SUCH AS RESTRIPING THE FREEWAY FOR ADDITIONAL LANES, (2) LIMITING THE DEMAND FOR THE CRITICAL FREEWAY SECTION BY CONTROLLING ON-RAMPS, AND (3) ADDING CAPACITY BY WIDENING CRITICAL BOTTLENECKS SECTIONS TO PROVIDE A BETTER BALANCE BETWEEN THE CAPACITY AND DEMAND OVER THE ENTIRE SYSTEM. THE INCIDENT DETECTION AND REMOVAL SYSTEM INCLUDES THE OPERATION OF AN ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM, HELICOPTERS WITH CLOSED CIRCUIT TV CAMERAS TO PROVIDE VISUAL DATA ON THE ACCIDENT OR INCIDENT, AND TOW TRUCKS TO CLEAR THE ROADWAY COMPLETELY.
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Authors:
- Russell, G L
- Publication Date: 1969-10
Media Info
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Bottlenecks; Closed circuit television; Freeway operations; Highway capacity; Pavement widening; Traffic congestion; Traffic crashes; Traffic surveillance
- Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00225595
- Record Type: Publication
- Report/Paper Numbers: 11 pp
- Files: TRIS
- Created Date: Mar 19 1971 12:00AM