A model, called integration, was developed to evaluate the operation of integrated freeway/traffic signal networks during periods of recurring and non-recurring congestion. This paper describes the application of the model to the Burlington skyway FTMS system near Hamilton, Ontario. The objective of the FTMS system is to monitor traffic conditions on the skyway in order to determine when incidents and/or congestion due to other conditions warrant any diversion of traffic. At this time, appropriate changeable-message sign (CMS) legends must be selected, signal timings on the diversion arterial must be adjusted and the operation of the lift bridge must be closely monitored. The paper describes the application of the integration model in order to evaluate and optimise the operation of the Burlington skyway FTMS during incident situations. It is shown how existing traffic counts are first utilised to generate synthetic origin-destination counts for the corridor, and how the speed-volume characteristics of various corridor elements were determined. Subsequently, the integration model is applied to model a series of incident scenarios and a range of different incident response plans for each. These response plans included real-time control of signal timings, real-time diversion of traffic and a combination of the above. Finally, the application of the q-route driver information system is discussed in terms of its role as a traffic diversion tool during periods of recurring and non-recurring traffic congestion. (A) This paper was also published in the journal, Traffic Engineering and Control (1989) 30 (5) 228-241, and for the abstract see also IRRD 820840.
Samenvatting