Methodology to Estimate Volume–Capacity Ratios at Traffic Signals Based on Upstream-Link Travel Times
Publication: Journal of Transportation Engineering, Part A: Systems
Volume 143, Issue 4
Abstract
This study utilizes travel time data from a well-equipped Intelligent Transportation System corridor to integrate travel time and traffic signal data with the goal of developing a volume-delay relationship between a signal’s volume-capacity ratio and travel time. Specifically, the traffic signal timings were retrieved from an advanced transportation management system, individual travel time data were extracted from a WiFi-based travel time measurement system, and traffic volumes and queues were obtained by observing closed-circuit television video recordings. The collected data were then integrated on a cycle-by-cycle basis by using a C#-automated data postprocessing interface. Several traditional volume-delay functions were calibrated to fit the field data. Also, a new volume-delay function, named So-Stevanovic Volume-Delay Function, was developed to account for exponential behavior of travel time near and beyond the traffic saturation point. The So-Stevanovic Volume-Delay Function satisfied the seven Spiess’s requirements for a well-behaved congestion function and produced slightly better results than the best traditional volume-delay function. All of the functions were then tested again on a different road segment in order to validate the results. These tests confirmed the previous findings that the So-Stevanovic Volume-Delay Function was the best predictor of relationship between volume-capacity ratio and link travel time. Further research should be conducted to validate this function in a variety of field traffic conditions.
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Acknowledgments
The authors thank the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) for providing funding for this research. Special thanks go to Mrs. Melissa Ackert and others from FDOT, Broward County, Palm Beach County, and the City of Boca Raton for their helpful comments on this research. The opinions, findings, and conclusions presented in this paper are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of FDOT or the U.S. Department of Transportation.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Transportation Engineering, Part A: Systems
Volume 143 • Issue 4 • April 2017
Copyright
©2017 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Mar 4, 2016
Accepted: Oct 3, 2016
Published online: Jan 27, 2017
Published in print: Apr 1, 2017
Discussion open until: Jun 27, 2017
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