Share:


Optimizing signal phase plan, green splits and lane length for isolated signalized intersections

    Ronghan Yao Affiliation
    ; Hongmei Zhou Affiliation
    ; Ying-En Ge Affiliation

Abstract

At an isolated signalized intersection, short left-turn lanes may be provided to enhance intersection capacity and level of service. The capacity of an entire intersection depends not only on the effective green time per phase and the length of each short left-turn lane but also on the selected signal phase plan. This paper enumerates 16 typical signal phase plans for a four-leg intersection with protected left-turn phases. Given the existence of short left-turn lanes and the freedom to select signal phase plans, two optimization models are formulated. Numerical examples are carried out to illustrate the application of these models and show the sensitivity of the outcomes to impact factors. The orthogonal experiments show that the primary factor is whether a short left-turn lane is added on an approach and the demand distribution is the secondary factor in determining an optimal allocation of the time-space resources of an intersection. To analyse traffic flow operations under different signal phase sequences, the simulation tests are fulfilled using VISSIM under the assumption that the components of a signal phase plan and green splits are all identical. The simulated results indicate that the signal phase sequence for a specified approach may greatly affect traffic movements at an approach, and the leading green phasing is better than the lagging one for a specified approach when the left-turn bay length is short at the approach. Finally, two variations of the developed models are recommended for use and the procedure for the model application is provided in practice.


First published online 27 April 2017

Keyword : isolated intersections, signal phase plan, lane length, signal timing, left-turn lanes, capacity-to-delay ratio

How to Cite
Yao, R., Zhou, H., & Ge, Y.-E. (2018). Optimizing signal phase plan, green splits and lane length for isolated signalized intersections. Transport, 33(2), 520–535. https://doi.org/10.3846/16484142.2017.1297327
Published in Issue
Jan 26, 2018
Abstract Views
966
PDF Downloads
920
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

References

Akçelik, R. 1998. Traffic Signals: Capacity and Timing Analysis. Research Report ARR 123. 108 p. Available from Internet: http://www.arrb.com.au/admin/file/content13/c6/ARR%20123.pdf

Highway Capacity Manual. 2000. Transportation Research Board. 1134 p.

Gan, Y. A. 2005. Operations Research. Tsinghua University Press, Beijing, China. (in Chinese).

Kikuchi, S.; Kii, M.; Chakroborty, P. 2004. Lengths of double or dual left-turn lanes, Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board 1881: 72–78. https://doi.org/10.3141/1881-09

Kikuchi, S.; Kronprasert, N.; Kii, M. 2007. Lengths of turn lanes on intersection approaches: three-branch fork lanes: left-turn, through, and right-turn lanes, Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board 2023: 92–101. https://doi.org/10.3141/2023-10

Koonce, P.; Rodegerdts, L.; Lee, K.; Quayle, S.; Beaird, S.; Braud, C.; Bonneson, J.; Tarnoff, P.; Urbanik, T. 2008. Traffic Signal Timing Manual. Publication No FHWA-HOP-08-024. US Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Washington, DC, US. 274 p. Available from Internet: https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop08024/fhwa_hop_08_024.pdf

Lam, W. H. K.; Poon, A. C. K.; Mung, G. K. S. 1997. Integrated model for lane-use and signal-phase designs, Journal of Transportation Engineering 123(2): 114–122. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-947X(1997)123:2(114)

Qi, Y.; Yu, L.; Azimi, M.; Guo, L. 2007. Determination of storage lengths of left-turn lanes at signalized intersections, Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board 2023: 102–111. https://doi.org/10.3141/2023-11

Qi, Y. G.; Guo, L.; Yu, L.; Teng, H. 2012. Estimation of design lengths of left-turn lanes, Journal of Transportation Engineering 138(3): 274–283. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)TE.1943-5436.0000299

RTRA. 2003. Guidelines for Traffic Signals (RiLSA). Road and Transportation Research Association (RTRA). 182 p.

Roess, R. P.; Prassas, E. S.; McShane, W. R. 2010. Traffic Engineering. 4th edition. Pearson. 744 p.

Tian, Z. Z.; Wu, N. 2006. Probabilistic model for signalized intersection capacity with a short right-turn lane, Journal of Transportation Engineering 132(3): 205–212. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-947X(2006)132:3(205)

Webster, F. V. 1958. Traffic Signal Settings. Road Research Technical Paper No 39. Road Research Laboratory. Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, England. 44 p.

Webster, F. V.; Cobbe, B. M. 1966. Traffic Signals. Road Research Technical Paper No 56. Road Research Laboratory. Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, England. 111 p.

Wong, C. K.; Heydecker, B. G. 2011. Optimal allocation of turns to lanes at an isolated signal-controlled junction, Transportation Research Part B: Methodological 45(4): 667–681. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trb.2010.12.001

Wong, C. K.; Wong, S. C. 2003. Lane-based optimization of signal timings for isolated junctions, Transportation Research Part B: Methodological 37(1): 63–84. https://org/10.1016/S0191-2615(01)00045-5

Wu, G. C. 2012. Probability Theory and Mathematical Statistics. Beijing, China: China Renmin University Press (in Chinese).

Wu, N. 2011. Modelling blockage probability and capacity of shared lanes at signalized intersections, Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences 16: 481–491. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.04.469

Wu, N. 2007. Total approach capacity at signalized intersections with shared and short lanes: generalized model based on a simulation study, Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board 2027: 19–26. https://doi.org/10.3141/2027-03

Yang, J.; Zhou, H. 2011. Integrating left-turn lane geometric design with signal timing, Journal of Transportation Engineering 137(11): 767–774. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)TE.1943-5436.0000282

Yao, R. 2013. Sensitivity analysis of optimization models for isolated intersections with short left-turn lanes on approaches, Journal of Advanced Transportation 47(1): 28–42. https://doi.org/10.1002/atr.1185

Yao, R.; Zhang, H. M. 2013. Optimal allocation of lane space and green splits of isolated signalized intersections with short left-turn lanes, Journal of Transportation Engineering 139(7): 667–677. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)TE.1943-5436.0000551

Yin, K.; Zhang, Y.; Wang, B. 2011. Modeling delay during heavy traffic for signalized intersections with short left-turn bays, Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board 2257: 103–110. https://doi.org/10.3141/2257-12

Yin, K.; Zhang, Y.; Wang, B. 2010. Analytical models for protected plus permitted left-turn capacity at signalized intersection with heavy traffic, Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board 2192: 177–184. https://doi.org/10.3141/2192-17

Zhang, Y.; Tong, J. 2008. Modeling left-turn blockage and capacity at signalized intersection with short left-turn bay, Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board 2071: 71–76. https://doi.org/10.3141/2071-09