Determination of Mini-Roundabout Capacity in the United States
Publication: Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 140, Issue 10
Abstract
The design of mini-roundabouts has been around and practiced in Europe for decades. It has been a successful and low-cost intersection configuration using existing external boundaries of intersections. Nevertheless, accessible traffic capacity models for mini-roundabouts do not exist. This study provides design recommendations and a simulation approach for capacity models of mini-roundabouts from U.S. data. Two geometries are selected that have a 7 or 10 m (24- or 36-ft) approach width typical of conventional intersections. The mini-roundabouts are best defined by the inscribed circle diameter of 15 and 23 m (50 and 75 ft). Field data are collected on drivers’ behavior and decisions for a mini-roundabout design in order to calibrate simulation models. A microscopic traffic simulation software is used to model the selected prototype designs for capacity estimations. The defining feature for mini-roundabouts is the traversable central and splitter islands for large vehicles that make through or left-turn movements. The linear regression models presented estimate the capacity of the mini-roundabouts to be lower than that of the single-lane roundabout. However the mini-roundabout has a higher capacity per square foot of land, which would be an innovative solution for urban areas for increasing capacity at existing all-way stop-controlled intersections at lower cost than single-lane roundabouts.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
Binning, J. C. (2000). Assessment of roundabout capacity and delay ARCADY 5 user guide, Transportation Research Laboratory, U.K., 〈https://www.trlsoftware.co.uk/ProductContent.aspx?ID=1〉 (Aug. 1, 2013).
Brilon, W. (2005). “Roundabouts: A state of the art in Germany.” Proc., Transportation Research Board Int. Conf. on Roundabouts, Vail, CO.
Cicu, F., Illotta, P., Bared, J., and Isebrands, H. (2011). “VISSIM calibration of roundabouts traffic performances.” Proc., 90th Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, TRB, Washington, DC.
Federal Highway Administration. (2010). “Mini-roundabouts: Technical summary.”, Washington, DC.
HCM. (2010). “Highway capacity manual 2010.” Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC.
Kyte, M., et al. (1996). “Capacity and level of service at unsignalized intersections.”, Washington, DC.
Lochrane, T., Zhang, W., and Bared, J. (2012). “Mini-roundabouts for the United States and traffic capacity models.” Inst. Transp. Eng. J., 82(11), 20–24.
Robinson, B., et al. (2000). “Roundabouts: An informational guide.”, Federal Highway Administration, Washington, DC.
Rodegerdts, L., et al. (2007). “Roundabouts in the United States.”, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC.
Sawers, C. (2009). “Mini-roundabouts for the United States.” Inst. Transp. Eng. J., 79(2), 46–50.
Troutbeck, R. J. (1992). “Estimating the critical acceptance gap from traffic movements.”, Physical Infrastructure Centre, Queensland Univ. of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
VISSIM. (2011). Version 5-40-01 user manual, PTV America, Portland, OR.
Waddell, E., and Albertson, J. (2005). “The diamondale mini: America’s first mini-roundabout.” Proc., Transportation Research Board Int. Roundabout Conf., Vail, CO.
Weinnert, A. (2000). “Estimation of critical gaps and follow-up times at rural unsignalized intersections in Germany.” Proc., Transportation Research Board 4th Int. Symp. on Highway Capacity, TRB, Washington, DC.
Zhang, W. (2013). “Mini-roundabouts in the United States: The next wave of efficient intersection design.”, American Public Works Association, Washington, DC, 120–123.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Oct 22, 2013
Accepted: Apr 10, 2014
Published online: Jun 26, 2014
Published in print: Oct 1, 2014
Discussion open until: Nov 26, 2014
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.