Signal Optimization at Urban Highway Rail Grade Crossings Using an Online Adaptive Priority Strategy
Publication: Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 138, Issue 4
Abstract
In urban areas, conventional transit priority systems (e.g., passive priority) present some problems, such as causing too many traffic delays and degradation of on line performance due to the lack of real-time data. The purpose of this study is to develop an on line adaptive priority strategy to optimize traffic operation at a series of consecutive grade crossings in urban areas. The proposed strategy takes into account the impact on cross-street traffic as well. A mathematical model of non linear programming with linear constraints is formulated to minimize overall passenger delays at grade crossings for light rail transit and to minimize the impact on cross-street traffic. The optimization is enabled by real-time arrival-time prediction with GPS-equipped vehicles. To exhibit the anticipatory performance of the proposed strategy, both a numerical analysis and a simulation test are conducted with trolley operation along a stretch of C Street in San Diego. Compared with current signal timings, those obtained from the proposed strategy demonstrate promising results.
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Acknowledgments
This work was performed by the California PATH Program at the University of California at Berkeley in cooperation with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), San Diego Regional Planning Agency (SANDAG), San Diego Trolley, Inc. (SDTI), and the city of San Diego. We are grateful to Meng Li, Kun Zhou, Yue Li, Fanping Bu, and Kanok Boriboonsomsin for their participation in discussions and Scott Johnston for his technical support. We also thank Dan Lovegren with Caltrans, Frank Yates with the city of San Diego, Cristal Spring and Stephen Celniker with SANDAG, and Mike Gundy and Tom Tupta with SDTI for their continuing cooperation and support during the study. We appreciate the anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments.
The contents of this paper reflect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the State of California. This paper does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation.
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Information
Published In
Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 138 • Issue 4 • April 2012
Pages: 479 - 484
Copyright
© 2012. American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Mar 30, 2011
Accepted: Aug 24, 2011
Published online: Mar 15, 2012
Published in print: Apr 1, 2012
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