Performance Analysis of Isolated Intersection Traffic Signals

This dissertation analyzes two unsolved problems to fulfill the gap in the literature: (1) What is the vehicle delay and intersection capacity considering left-turn traffic at a pre-timed signal? (2) What are the mean and variance of delay to vehicles at a vehicle-actuated signal? The first part of this research evaluates the intersection performance in terms of capacity and delay at an isolated pre-timed signal intersection. Despite a large body of literature on pre-timed signals, few studies have examined the interactions between left-turn and through vehicles. In order to examine this missing piece in studies of signalized intersections, two probabilistic models are proposed to deal with the left-turn bay blockage and queue spillback in a heuristic manner. The second part of this research studies an isolated intersection with a vehicle-actuated signal. The actuated system dynamically allocates the green time among multiple approaches according to vehicle arrivals. A model is developed to study vehicle delay under a general arrival distribution with a given unit extension. The model allows optimizing signal performance over the unit extension. The third part of this research applies graphical methods and diffusion approximations to traffic signal problems. A graphical method originally proposed by Newell is reinterpreted in order to directly measure the variance of time for queue clearance at a signalized intersection. Furthermore, the problem of disruptions occurring during a pre-timed traffic signal cycle is investigated. The quantitative estimation of the duration that the effects of disruptions dissipate is provided by diffusion approximation.

• Record URL:
  http://swutc.tamu.edu/2013/10/21/600451-00021-1/
• Summary URL:
  https://library.ctr.utexas.edu/Presto/catalogid=32153
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This document was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  Southwest Region University Transportation Center

  Texas A&M University
  3135 TAMU
  College Station, TX  United States  77843-3135

  Texas A&M Transportation Institute

  Texas A&M University System
  3135 TAMU
  College Station, TX  United States  77843-3135

  Research and Innovative Technology Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Yin, Kai
• Publication Date: 2013-10

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 142p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Green interval (Traffic signal cycle); Isolated intersections; Left turn phase; Pretimed traffic signal controllers; Signalized intersections; Stopped time delays; Through traffic; Traffic actuated controllers; Traffic delays; Traffic queuing
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01496669
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: SWUTC/13/600451-00021-1
• Contract Numbers: DTRT12-G-UTC06
• Files: UTC, TRIS, RITA, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Oct 28 2013 9:47AM