Abstract
Unconventional geometric designs such as continu-ous-flow intersections, U-turns, and contraflow left-turn lanes have been proposed to reduce left-turn conflicts and improve intersection efficiency. Having a waiting area at a signalised intersection is an unconventional de-sign that is used widely in China and Japan to improve traffic capacity. Many studies have shown that waiting areas improve traffic capacity greatly, but few have con-sidered how to improve the benefits of this design from the aspect of signal optimisation. Comparing the start-up process of intersections with and without waiting areas, this work explores how this geometric design influenc-es vehicle transit time, proposes two signal optimisation strategies, and establishes a unified capacity calculation model. Taking capacity maximisation as the optimisation function, a cycle optimisation model is derived for over-saturated intersections. Finally, the relationship among waiting-area storage capacity, cycle time, and traffic ca-pacity is discussed using field survey data. The results of two cases show that optimising the signal scheme helps reduce intersection delays by 10–15%.
References
Gazis DC. Optimum control of a system of oversaturated intersections. Operations Research. 1964;12(6): 815-831.
Michalopoulos PG, Stephanopoulos G. Oversaturated signal systems with queue length constraints-I. Transportation Research. 1977;11: 413-421.
Michalopoulos PG, Stephanopoulos G. Oversaturated signal systems with queue length constraints-II. Transportation Research. 1977;11: 423-428.
Michalopoulos PG, Stephanopoulos G. Optimal control of oversaturated intersections: Theoretical and practical considerations. Traffic Engineering & Control. 1978;19(5): 216-221.
Green DH. Control of oversaturated intersections. Operational Research Society. 1967;18(2): 161-173.
Guardabassi G, Locatelli A, Papageorgiou M. A note on the optimal control of an oversaturated intersection. Transportation Research Part B: Methodological. 1984;18(2): 111-113.
Daganzo CF. Urban gridlock: Macroscopic modeling and mitigation approaches. Transportation Research Part B: Methodological. 2007;41(1): 49-62. doi: 10.1016/j.trb.2006.03.001.
Sun WL, Wu XK, Wang YP, Yu GZ. A continuous-flow-intersection-lite design and traffic control for oversaturated bottleneck intersections. Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies. 2015;56: 18-33. doi: 10.1016/j.trc.2015.03.011.
Chang TH, Lin JT. Optimal signal timing for an oversaturated intersection. Transportation Research Part B: Methodological. 2000;34(6): 471-491. doi: 10.1016/S0191-2615(99)00034-X.
Chang TH, Sun JY. Modeling and optimization of an oversaturated signalized network. Transportation Research Part B: Methodological. 2004;38(8): 687-707. doi: 10.1016/j.trb.2003.08.002.
Clayton AJH. Road traffic calculations. Journal of ICE. 1941;16(7): 247-264. doi: 10.1680/ijoti.1941.13660.
Webster FV. Traffic signal setting. London Great Britain Road Research Laboratory. Road Research Technical Paper. No. 39, 1958.
Wardrop JG. Some theoretical aspects of road traffic research. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers. 1952;1(3): 325-362. doi: 10.1680/ipeds.1952.11259.
Miller AJ. Settings for fixed-cycle traffic signals. Operational Research Society. 1963;14(4): 373-386. doi: 10.2307/3006800.
Akcelick R. Traffic signals: Capacity and timing analysis. Australian Road Research Board; 1981.
Akcelik R. Comments on the application of queueing theory to delays at signals. Australian Road Research Board. 1990;20(3): 53-61. doi: 10.1057/jors.1963.61.
Wada K, Usui K, Takigawa T, Kuwahara M. An optimization modeling of coordinated traffic signal control based on the variational theory and its stochastic extension. Transportation Research Part B. 2018;117: 907-925. doi: 10.1016/j.trb.2017.08.031.
Macioszek E, Iwanowicz D. A back-of-queue model of a signal-controlled intersection approach developed based on analysis of vehicle driver behavior. Energies. 2021;14(4): 1204. doi: 10.3390/en14041204.
Marsetic R, Semrov D, Zura M. Road artery traffic light optimization with use of the reinforcement learning. Promet – Traffic&Transportation. 2014;26(2): 101-108. doi: 10.7307/ptt.v26i2.1318.
Zhang XH, Wang D. Adaptive traffic signal control mechanism for intelligent transportation based on a consortium blockchain. IEEE Access. 2019;7: 97281-97295. doi: 10.1109/ACCESS.2019.2929259.
Hummer JE, Reid JD. Unconventional left-turn alternatives for urban and suburban arterials—Part one. ITE Journal. 1998;68(9): 26-29.
Hashem R. Capacity of U-turn at median opening. ITE Journal. 1999;69(6): 28-30, 32, 34. doi: 10.1016/S1361-9209(99)00009-7.
Jagannathan R, Bared JG Design and operational performance of crossover displaced left-turn intersections. Journal of the Transportation Research Board. 2004;1881: 1-10. doi: 10.3141/1881-01.
Jagannathan R. Synthesis of the median U-turn intersection treatment, safety, and operational benefits. Federal Highway Administration, Washington, DC. FHWA-HRT-07-033, 2007.
Hughes W, Jagannathan R. Median U-turn intersection. Federal Highway Administration, Washington, DC. FHWA-HRT-09-057, 2009.
Wu JM, Liu P, Tian ZZ, Xu C. Operational analysis of the contraflow left-turn lane design at signalized intersections in China. Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies. 2016;69: 228-241. doi: 10.1016/j.trc.2016.06.011.
Bared JG, Kaisar EI. Median U-turn design as an alternative treatment for left turns at signalized intersections. ITE Journal. 2002;72(2): 50-54.
Yang XF, Chang GL, Rahwanji S, Lu Y. Development of planning-stage models for analyzing continuous flow intersections. Journal of Transportation Engineering. 2013;139(11): 1124-1132. doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)TE.1943-5436.0000596.
Yang XF, Yao C. Development of signal optimization models for asymmetric two-leg continuous flow intersections. Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies. 2017;74: 306-326. doi: 10.1016/j.trc.2016.11.021.
Ma WJ, Liu Y, Zhao J, Wu N. Increasing the capacity of signalized intersections with left-turn waiting areas. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice. 2017;105: 181-196. doi: 10.1016/j.tra.2017.08.021.
Zhao Y, Liu P, Tian ZZ, Wang W. Evaluating the operational impact of left-turn waiting areas at signalized intersections in China. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board. 2012;2286(1): 12-20. doi: 10.3141/2286-02.
Zhao Y, Liu P, Tian ZZ, Wang W. Evaluating the operational impacts of left-turn waiting areas at dual left-turn lanes at signalized intersections. 2012 The Twelfth COTA International Conference of Transportation Professionals, 1 Jan. 2012; 2012. p. 350-361. doi: 10.1061/9780784412442.038.
Zhao Y, Liu P, Tian ZZ, Wang W. Effects of left-turn waiting areas on capacity and level of service of signalized intersections. Journal of Transportation Engineering. 2013;139(11): 1076-1085. doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)TE.1943-5436.0000593.
You SK, et al. Performance assessment of straight waiting area at signalized intersections. 2011 International Conference on Multimedia Technology, 30 Aug. 2011; 2011. p. 1144-1147. doi: 10.1109/ICMT.2011.6003161.
Jiang XG, Zhang GP, Bai W, Fan WB. Safety evaluation of signalized intersections with left-turn waiting area in China. Accident Analysis and Prevention. 2016;95: 461-469. doi: 10.1016/j.aap.2015.09.006.
Jiang XG, et al. Safety assessment of signalized intersections with through-movement waiting area in China. Safety Science. 2017;95: 28-37. doi: 10.1016/j.ssci.2017.01.013.
Chen H, Zhang N, Qian Z. Vissim-based simulation of the left-turn waiting zone at signalized intersection. 2008 International Conference on Intelligent Computation Technology and Automation (ICICTA); 2008. p. 736-740. doi: 10.1109/ICICTA.2008.284.
Liu M, Han Y, Gu JL. Integrated optimization model for the time-space resource of waiting-area for through vehicles. Journal of University of Shanghai for Science and Technology. 2015;37(4): 385-391.
Yang M, He XM, Li J, Xu TF. The influence of waiting-area for through vehicles at signalized intersection. 2008 International Conference on Intelligent Computation Technology and Automation (ICICTA); 2008. p. 543-546. doi: 10.1109/ICICTA.2008.310.
Liu ZY, Wang JP, Song ZH, Zhang X. Waiting area research at large intersections in Hohhot. Applied Mechanics and Materials. 2014;587-589: 2234-2238. doi: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.587-589.2234.
Gao LP, et al. Modeling and simulation on left-turn waiting area at isolated signalized intersection. 2009 International Conference on Measuring Technology and Mechatronics Automation. IEEE; 2009. p. 255-258. doi: 10.1109/ICMTMA.2009.61.
Chen YX, He YL, Sun XD, Ma XL. Impact of left-turn waiting areas on the capacity of left-turn lane in signalized intersection. Journal of Chang’an University (Natural Science Edition). 2015;35(6): 111-116.
Wang H, Bao LJ, Yun MP. Analysis of delayed starting strategy for through vehicles at intersection waiting-zone. Journal of Highway and Transportation Research and Development. 2016;33(4): 108-112.
Transportation Research Board. Highway Capacity Manual (2010). 5th ed. Washington, DC: National Research Council; 2010.
Institute of Transportation Engineers. Traffic Engineering Handbook. 7th ed. New Jersey: Wiley Publishing; 2016.