Abstract
An evaluation was made to determine the effects of providing central computer coordination on the denver ramp-metering system. Information from the system was collected with the coordination algorithmoperational and with it disabled. The data suggest that, when localdemand-responsive ramp-metering control is unable to maintain freeway speeds at or near the posted limit of 55 mph, central coordination can be useful in reducing main-line delays. However, when speeds are near 55 mph with local ramp metering in operation, central coordination of the type used in the denver system may be of little benefit. This paper appears in transportation research record no. 1320, Freeway operations, highway capacity, and traffic flow 1991.