This paper discusses a case study of the Lincoln Tunnel, which is one of three Hudson River crossings between northern New Jersey and Manhattan currently operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The study considered traffic management strategies such as highway speed electronic tolling lanes, toll plaza reconfiguration, occupancy priority lane(s), high occupancy toll lane(s), and the implementation of a second exclusive bus lane for the Lincoln Tunnel facility. The study was unique: it contained three distinct traffic areas each with different characteristics, urban arterial, urban streets, and toll plaza. Therefore, the VISSIM micro-simulation software provided the most effective tool to analyze and evaluate the traffic management schemes. The project area covers a 2.5-mile corridor extending from the western approach roads to the tunnel, including the New Jersey Turnpike, New Jersey State Routes 3 and 495, and was inclusive of all entry and exit points along the corridor. The study required a particularly complex data collection program that involved approximately 200 surveyors for each of the data collection days. The data collected included vehicle classification, occupancy, and payment type by approach. To determine the origin-destination patterns, license plate data was collected and matched at all entry and exit points to the study network. Finally, standard manual turning movement counts and queue counts were performed throughout the corridor to develop balanced traffic volumes and provide calibration references. The paper explains the complexity of the data collection program and the planning and organization that was involved including data conversion techniques for use in the VISSIM micro-simulation model. The VISSIM model was created within a 3D urban environment using 3D studio to create the landscape and buildings that enable easier understanding of the model for multiple stakeholders.
Abstract