This project has developed guidance on how traffic signal management and operation should be undertaken to realise the intent of network operation planning and achieve the desired performance outcomes for road users. The guidance is in the form of a Signal Management Toolkit including an indicative impact assessment for a range of signal timing and modal priority techniques. It will assist signal operators in the identification and assessment of appropriate treatments as part of a network fit assessment for Stage 5 of the Network Operation Plan process (Development of network management, operation and improvement plans). Network operation planning is a relatively recent initiative amongst Australian road agencies that helps to translate high-level transport objectives for delivery of road user services into low-level guidance on how the road network should be developed and operated. Traffic signal management is a fundamental component of network operations, and with increasing congestion and multi-modal use of the network, there is more pressure on signal operators to proactively optimise operations for the benefit of all users. A network operation plan (NOP) provides a reference framework for signal operators to identify and implement operational treatments that will support the stated objectives for operation of the road network and manage conflicting modal priorities. For example, where an NOP has identified a route with priority for public transport, then signal operations may result in time re-allocation to buses that are running late, but reduced level of service (LOS) for the mobility of other modes. Equally, a route for freight and general traffic priority may result in treatments that reduce access for side streets. The Signal Management Toolkit (the Toolkit) provides indicative impacts of a range of techniques used to afford priority to a particular user, including emergency vehicles, public transport (trams and buses), pedestrians, cyclists, freight and private motorists (general traffic). The impact assessment framework is aligned with the Austroads LOS metrics for network operations planning and considers the impacts of each technique on other road users in relation to their key needs of relevance to signal operations (i.e. mobility, safety and access). The impact assessment was undertaken in collaboration with road agency and industry practitioners to ensure it reflects operational experience. The Toolkit is also delivered in Excel spreadsheet format (https://www.onlinepublications.austroads.com.au/download_additional_fil…). The Toolkit will help road agencies to identify appropriate techniques for delivering modal priorities and assess their alignment with the NOP (i.e. network fit assessment). It also highlights potential adverse impacts on other road users, and objectives that may not be acceptable or otherwise require mitigation elsewhere to assure an overall positive ‘network fit’. The documentation of the impacts of a comprehensive list of signal management techniques through this project represents significant progress in capturing knowledge of experienced operators. It provides planners and operators with a common means of communicating in relation to network performance outcomes that reflect the broad range of road users and their needs. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting