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https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/27432/critical-issues-in-transportation-for-2024-and-beyond

SELECTING TRAFFIC SIGNAL CONTROL AT INDIVIDUAL INTERSECTIONS

To assist in the evaluation of the best type of traffic signal control to use at an intersection, this report describes (1) maintenance requirements, (2) vehicle delays on the major and minor streets, (3) overall traffic safety, (4) coordination adaptability, and (5) cost effectiveness. Controller performance was evaluated in terms of delay per vehicle (in seconds/vehicle) and percent stops per vehicle. These measures of effectiveness were selected because they are frequently used in traffic engineering studies and can be directly related to traffic flow at individual intersections. The approach used was to perform detailed analysis of controller effectiveness expressed in terms of stops and delays and then to develop additional relationships for vehicle emissions, fuel consumption, and accidents as a function of stops and delay. Three complementary approaches were used to evaluate controller effectiveness: (1) field data collection using observers to manually measure vehicle volumes and vehicle stops and delay; (2) simulation using the NETSIM model, developed under the sponsorship of FHWA, to evaluate control system performance; and (3) analytical techniques developed by the research team and other agencies. The research results demonstrated that the form of control which minimizes the vehicle stops and delays at an intersection also minimizes fuel consumption and emissions. Furthermore, the differences in the annualized costs for equipment acquisition, installation, operation, and maintenance between the control alternatives were significantly less than the differences between the benefits. For this reason, the control alternative that minimized stops and delays also proved to be the most cost-effective installation. Therefore, it is not considered necessary to develop individual estimates for all of the measures of system effectiveness and costs in order to select the best form of control. Graphs are used to define regions in which each type of control is most effective; the regions defined are for pretimed, semi-actuated and basic full-actuated control. The applicability of volume-density control and detectorization requirements are also defined. Although this report significantly advances the state of knowledge on this subject, the reader should understand that both the field data and simulation data used to develop the relationships were somewhat limited. Further refinement of these relationships through other research, as well as by traffic engineers for their specific situations, is desirable. Nonetheless, the comprehensive information presented herein should prove useful until the desired refinements are accomplished. (Author)

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    • Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
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  • Authors:
    • Tarnoff, P J
    • Parsonson, P S
  • Publication Date: 1981-6

Media Info

  • Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
  • Pagination: 133 p.
  • Serial:
    • NCHRP Report
    • Issue Number: 233
    • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
    • ISSN: 0077-5614

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Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00341183
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS, TRB
  • Created Date: Oct 28 1981 12:00AM