PATH

Assessment of MeMS Sensors in an Urban Traffic Environment

Varaiya, Pravin
2004

The objective of this "innovative new research topics" proposal was to investigate the potential of a vehicle detection system that combines an acoustic or magnetic sensor, a microprocessor, a radio, and a battery. If such a system is feasible, it would be a low-cost, flexible alternative to loop detection systems. The wireless sensor system could be installed in a few minutes, without the expensive loop installation that requires cutting the pavement, power and loop cabling, and extended traffic disruption. Four tasks were proposed: (1) detecting a stationary vehicle, (2) detecting a...

Macroscopic Roadway Traffic Controller Design

Chien, C. C.
Zhang, Y.
Stotsky, A.
Dharmasena, S. R.
Ioannou, P.
1995

In this paper, a roadway controller is designed, analyzed and simulated for a single automated highway lane that achieves desired traffic densities along the lane. A macroscopic traffic flow model that is modified for AHS (Automated Highway Systems) operation is used for control design and analysis. The authors show that the proposed roadway controller guarantees exponential convergence of the traffic density at each section of the lane to the desired density. Simulation results are used to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed controller and the significant benefits AHS may bring...

On-Ramp Metering Experiments to Increase Freeway Merge Capacity

Cassidy, Michael J.
Rudjanakanoknad, Jittichai
2005

Observations of two freeway/on-ramp merges unveil the mechanism that causes their capacities to diminish when queues form just upstream. Field experiments at one of the sites demonstrate that by responding to occupancies measured near the merge, ramp metering can reverse this mechanism, or postpone its occurrence, and thereby generate higher merge capacities. Detailed observations at the second site imply that higher merge capacities can also be achieved using traffic control schemes that regulate inflows to the merge from the freeway shoulder lane. Collectively, the findings point to...

Smart Call Box Field Operation Test Evaluation: Summary Report (revised Draft 5-1-97)

Banks, James H.
Powell, Patrick A. D.
1997

The Smart Call Box Field Operational Test evaluated the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of using smart call boxes for five data processing and transmission tasks: traffic census, incident detection, hazardous weather reporting, changeable message sign control, and video surveillance. Evaluation focused on assessing the cost-effectiveness of smart call boxes as compared with a baseline system using hardwire telephone communications. The evaluation was primarily based on functional adequacy and capital costs.

Socio-economic Attributes And Impacts Of Travel Reliability: A Stated Preference Approach

Small, K.
Noland, R.
Koskenoja, P.
1995

This report examines the behavioral reactions to the impact of changes in the probability of a non-recurrent incident and how this affects the expected costs of a commute trip. The basic approach combines the estimation of a travel demand model with a supply side model of a congested highway. Various socio-economic variables, including a detailed classification of occupational groupings, are also examined. The tasks are accomplished through a theoretical model of scheduling choice in the face of uncertain travel times, and through a survey of commuters in the Los Angeles region.

Productivity and Cost-Effectiveness of Demand Responsive Transit Systems

Dessouky, Maged M.
Ordóñez, Fernando
Quadrifoglio, Luca
2005

We study the impact on productivity of specific operating practices currently used by demand responsive transit (DRT) providers. We investigate the effect of using a zoning vs. a no-zoning strategy and time-window settings on performance measures such as total trip miles, deadhead miles and fleet size. It is difficult to establish closed form expressions to assess the impact on the performance measures of a specific zoning practice or time-window setting for a real transportation network. Thus, we conduct this study through a simulation model of the operations of DRT providers on a network...

Early Opportunities to Apply Automation in California Managed Lanes

Liu, Hao
McKeever, Benjamin
Lu, Xiao-Yun
Shladover, Steven
2019

Connected and automated vehicles hold the potential for substantial improvements to traffic safety, travel time reliability, roadway capacity, and environmental impacts and managed lanes have the potential to be ideal testbeds for CAV technologies. The purpose of this report is to identify specific opportunities to leverage California’s managed lane network as early experimental and pilot deployment sites for CAVs. To this end, we have conducted a detailed inventory of the managed lane facilities in California and applied evaluation criteria to identify two promising sites for future CAV...

Definition and Evaluation of Bus and Truck Automation Operations Concepts: Final Report

Taso, H. S. Jacob
Botha, Jan L.
2003

Traffic congestion will continue to worsen and likely worsen at a faster rate than ever. People throughput and freight throughput have become critical issues for California and the rest of the nation. PATH has funded a research project entitled Definition And Evaluation of Bus And Truck Automation Operations Concepts, proposed by the authors. This report summarizes the major findings of the research project. During the one-year project, we reviewed literature and developed operating concepts for both urban bus automation and inter-city truck automation. We also selected a small number of...

A Paramics Plugin for Actuated Signal Control and First Generation UTCS

Gomes, Gabriel
Skabardonis, Alexander
2006

This report serves as a user manual for a plugin developed under the Paramics API for simulating standard surface street traffic controllers. The strategies included are time-of-day, actuated signal control, traffic responsive, and traffic responsive with critical intersection control.

Bus Lanes/Bus Rapid Transit Systems on Highways: Review of the Literature

Miller, Mark A.
2009

This report documents a review of the literature illustrated by examples of bus rapid transit systems practice implemented on conventional highways. By conventional highways we mean arterials, freeways and busways, which are frequently referred to, respectively, as on-street and off-street bus service options. On-street bus facilities have widespread applicability because of their relatively low costs, ease of implementation, and opportunities for incremental deployment. For on-street facilities, numerous implementation options exist depending on the placement of the bus lane (curb or...