Ramp meters on trial: Evidence from the Twin Cities metering holiday

Ramp meters in the Twin Cities have been the subject of a recent test of their effectiveness, involving turning them off for eight weeks. This paper analyzes the results with and without ramp metering for several representative freeways during the afternoon peak period. Seven performance measures: mobility, equity, productivity, consumers’ surplus, accessibility, travel time variation and travel demand responses are compared. It is found that ramp meters are particularly helpful for long trips relative to short trips. Ramp metering, while generally beneficial to freeway segments, may not improve trip travel times (including ramp delays). The reduction in travel time variation comprises another benefit from ramp meters. Non-work trips and work trips respond differently to ramp meters. The results are mixed, suggesting a more refined ramp control algorithm, which explicitly considers ramp delay, is in order.     

Dynamic traffic metering in urban street networks: Formulation and solution algorithm

Traffic metering offers great potential to reduce congestion and enhance network performance in oversaturated urban street networks. This paper presents an optimization program for dynamic traffic metering in urban street networks based on the Cell Transmission Model (CTM). We have formulated the problem as a Mixed-Integer Linear Program (MILP) capable of metering traffic at network gates with given signal timing parameters at signalized intersections. Due to the complexities of the MILP model, we have developed a novel and efficient solution approach that solves the problem by converting the MILP to a linear program and several CTM simulation runs. The solution algorithm is applied to two case studies under different conditions. The proposed solution technique finds solutions that have a maximum gap of 1% of the true optimal solution and guarantee the maximum throughput by keeping some vehicles at network gates and only allowing enough vehicles to enter the network to prevent gridlocks. This is confirmed by comparing the case studies with and without traffic metering. The results in an adapted real-world case study network show that traffic metering can increase network throughput by 4.9–38.9% and enhance network performance.     

龙坑枢纽立交方案设计

随着高速公路逐年增长,使得高速公路与高速公路相交的枢纽立交也越来越多.对龙坑枢纽立交方案比选设计进行了详细介绍.     

上海城市快速路匝道处交通分析与控制方案设计

分析了上海市城市快速路交通运行的特点和主要症结,对关键瓶颈位置实施单点匝道控制方案.以洛川路入口匝道为切入点,分析了洛川路主线、匝道的交通状况和相关地面交通状况,针对洛川路入口匝道的具体情况设计匝道控制方案,具体研究了工程控制阈值和匝道调节方案的适用条件.最后对实施的方案效果进行评估,可改变现有拥挤、瘫痪的交通状态,提高快速路的使用效率.     

8XC196KC用于ABS轮速测量方法的改进研究

对ABS中速度测量的过程进行仔细的分析,提出了一种能够将精度和实时性相结合的速度测量方案,该方案能够较为有效地平衡精度和实时性之间的矛盾,并通过实际程序的执行验证了这一结论。这一测量方法不仅可用于ABS的速度测量,也可推广用于其他的速度或周期测量方案中。     

An exploratory investigation of the impact of ramp metering on driver acceleration behavior

Ramp metering has been proven as an effective freeway management strategy; however, the impact of ramp metering on drivers' acceleration behavior has not been fully investigated. A better understanding of acceleration behavior changes with ramp metering is critical to the adequate design of ramp metering facilities. In this study, drivers' speed and acceleration data were collected at two representative metered ramps in Los Angeles, California. The speed and acceleration profiles under meter-on and meter-off scenarios were compared. Statistical results demonstrated that ramp metering affects drivers' acceleration behavior at ramp acceleration lane. It was found that at the metered ramp with short existing acceleration length, the average acceleration rate from ramp meter stop bar to 500 ft downstream under meter-on scenario (4.72 ft./s²) is approximately 40% higher than when meter-off (3.18 ft./s²). The design of acceleration lane length for metered on-ramps should therefore take into account the potential impacts of ramp metering on driver acceleration behavior.     

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在实际的快速路交通流系统中,入口匝道的流量和快速路主路的速度都是受限的,因此在对快速路交通流进行控制时考虑这些限制十分必要. 基于迭代学习控制的快速路入口匝道控制是近年来快速路控制领域的一个研究热点,然而,至今为止还没有在输入和状态同时受限情况下的相关收敛性分析. 本文首先介绍了快速路交通流模型,并将交通密度控制转化为输出跟踪问题;然后通过严格的数学分析证明了在入口匝道流量受限和主路速度受限的情况下,基于迭代学习控制的入口匝道控制仍然能保证交通流密度收敛于期望密度;最后通过仿真研究验证了该方法在受限情况下能达到很好的控制效果.     

应变电测技术在产品设计中的应用

简要介绍了应变电测技术的优点、在典型产品设计中的应用情况和使用时的注意事项。建议在产品设计中广泛使用该技术进行验证。     

Development of analytical procedure for selection of control measures to reduce congestions at various freeway bottlenecks

Variable speed limit (VSL) and ramp metering (RM) affect freeway traffic operations in different ways and, accordingly, result in different effects on system travel time. The primary objective of this study is to propose an analytical procedure to help determine which control measure should be selected given different freeway bottlenecks and traffic conditions. The bottlenecks considered included an isolated merge bottleneck, a merge bottleneck with a closely spaced upstream off-ramp, and a diverge bottleneck with a closely spaced upstream on-ramp. Two RM and a VSL control strategies were considered, including the ALINEA, ALINEA/Q and feedback based VSL. The maximum achievable improvements in system efficiency by various control measures were calculated and the results were tested using modified cell transmission models. A coordinated control strategy that combined ALINEA/Q and VSL control was also proposed. The effects of VSL and RM control on system travel time at different freeway bottleneck areas were compared to identify the applicable conditions of different control measures. The analytical procedure was proposed for the selection of control measures at different bottlenecks and the ex-ante estimation of control effects were also discussed.     

A stochastic analysis of highway capacity: Empirical evidence and implications

This paper presents a stochastic characterization of highway capacity and explores its implications on ramp metering control at the corridor level. The stochastic variation of highway capacity is captured through a Space–Time Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (STARIMA) model. It is identified following a Seasonal STARIMA model (0, 0, 2₃) × (0, 1, 0)₂, which indicates that the capacities of adjacent locations are spatially–temporally correlated. Hourly capacity patterns further verify the stochastic nature of highway capacity. The goal of this paper is to study (1) how to take advantage of the extra information, such as capacity variation, and (2) what benefits can be gained from stochastic capacity modeling. The implication of stochastic capacity is investigated through a ramp metering case study. A mean–standard deviation formulation of capacity is proposed to achieve the trade-off between traffic operation efficiency and robustness. Following that, a modified stochastic capacity-constraint ZONE ramp metering scheme embedded cell transmission model algorithm is introduced. The numerical experiment suggests that considering capacity variation information would alleviate the spillback effect and improve throughput. Monte Carlo simulation further supports this argument. This study helps verify and characterize the stochastic nature of capacity, validates the benefits of using capacity variation information, and thus enhances the necessity of implementing stochastic capacity in traffic operation.