The ability to manage traffic in real time is a key requirement of operating efficient transport networks. While the appropriate provision and construction of new capacity has its place as communities and economies grow, there is an increasing emphasis on managing resources in a way that enables properly sustainable outcomes for the future. This paper describes the planning, design, construction and initial outcomes of the Auckland ramp signalling project. This project, currently being undertaken by Transit New Zealand, is aimed at enabling real time management of the entire Auckland motorway network. The planning and delivery of this project is a major undertaking across all 190km of the Auckland motorway network, and involves installation of signals on all motorway on-ramps together with a full communications system supporting the associated extensive signage, detectors, cameras, and traveller information systems. This paper describes the key attributes of the operating algorithms adopted for this project based on the SCATS Ramp Metering System (SRMS) developed by the NSW Road & Traffic Authority. This is a fully adaptive system that constantly measures motorway traffic conditions against wait times and queues on the individual local arterial approaches in order to ensure optimum overall operation. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E217099.
Abstract