Work-zone traffic management with transportation planning software

In this paper, the pros and cons of applying transportation planning software (TPS) in work-zone traffic management are investigated. The overall objective is to provide potential users, particularly small municipalities, with a basis for selecting the TPS best suited for evaluating traffic management alternatives for work zones. Four TPSs (TRANPLAN, MINUTP, SYSTEM II, and QRS II) were examined and rated with respect to eleven characteristics, SYSTEM II and QRS II, rated first and second, respectively, are used to assign traffic in a selected network. Alternate routes during road work are identified to minimize total delay and noise impact. The performance of the two TPSs is assessed in relation to predictive accuracy, post-processing requirements, and compatibility with other software. It is found that, while concerns about predictive accuracy and training needs can be overcome at a price, some special features are required within the present generation of TPS for them to be truly beneficial in the routine analysis of work-zone traffic plans. The significance of these features is discussed in reference to the assignment case study. Key words: traffic assignment, work zone, traffic management, planning, software, SYSTEM II, QRS II.

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Work Zone Optimization for Two-Lane Highway Resurfacing Projects with an Alternate Route

Transportation Research Record Journal of the Transportation Research Board ◽

10.1177/0361198105191100106 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 1911 (1) ◽

pp. 51-66 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Chun-Hung (Peter) Chen ◽

Paul Schonfeld ◽

Jawad Paracha

Keyword(s):

Simulated Annealing ◽

Traffic Management ◽

Agency Cost ◽

Work Zone ◽

Time Dependent ◽

User Cost ◽

Total Cost ◽

Management Plans ◽

Delay Cost ◽

Alternate Routes

Pavements on two-lane two-way highways are usually resurfaced by closing one lane at a time. Vehicles then travel in the remaining lane along the work zone, alternating directions within each control cycle. In an earlier work, Chen and Schonfeld developed a work zone optimization model for two-lane highways with time-dependent inflows and no detours, based on simulated annealing. In this paper, several alternatives are evaluated, defined by the number of closed lanes and fractions of traffic diverted to alternate routes. The algorithm referred to as SAUASD (simulated annealing for uniform alternatives with a single detour) is developed to find the best single alternative within a resurfacing project. The algorithm referred to as SAMASD (simulated annealing for mixed alternatives with a single detour) is developed to search through possible mixed alternatives and their diverted fractions, to minimize total cost, further including agency cost (resurfacing cost and idling cost) and user cost (user delay cost and accident cost). Thus, traffic management plans are developed with uniform or mixed alternatives within a two-lane highway resurfacing project.

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Guidelines for Application of Portable Work Zone Intelligent Transportation Systems

Transportation Research Record Journal of the Transportation Research Board ◽

10.3141/1824-02 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 1824 (1) ◽

pp. 15-22 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Michael D. Fontaine

Keyword(s):

Intelligent Transportation Systems ◽

Traffic Management ◽

Intelligent Transportation ◽

Transportation Systems ◽

Lessons Learned ◽

Work Zone ◽

Expected Performance ◽

Operational Tests ◽

Message Signs ◽

Alternate Routes

Work zone intelligent transportation systems (WZITSs) are promoted as a way to improve safety and reduce congestion at work zone locations where traditional traffic management centers do not exist. These systems usually integrate portable changeable message signs and speed sensors with a central control system that automatically determines appropriate messages that are based on current traffic conditions. Manufacturers of these systems claim that WZITSs can warn drivers of downstream congestion, alert drivers to slower speeds ahead, and suggest alternate routes on the basis of prevailing conditions. Transportation agencies are often asked to make decisions on the installation of a WZITS without the benefit of objective information on its expected performance. Relatively few operational tests of these systems have been performed, and the results are not always well documented or conclusive. Agencies need guidance to help them determine whether a WZITS system would improve safety and operations at a specific site. Applications of WZITSs are reviewed, and a series of guidelines for their deployment, based on lessons learned from past tests, is presented.

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Ekspertni pristup poboljšanju sigurnosti u zonama radova na cesti

Sigurnost ◽

10.31306/s.60.3.2 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 60 (3) ◽

pp. 247-260

Author(s):

Joso Vrkljan ◽

Miljenko Mustapić ◽

Antun Štimac

Keyword(s):

Expert System ◽

Expert Systems ◽

Traffic Management ◽

Work Zone ◽

Road User ◽

Special Focus ◽

Road Maintenance ◽

Work Zones ◽

The Road ◽

Road Work

SUMMARY: An ever-increasing volume of traffic on Croatian roads increases the volume of maintenance work. Road works negatively impact traffic mobility and road user safety, and also safety of the maintenance workers. Improving traffic mobility and safety is the key issue that all interested parties (planning and managing road works and those executing them) should address. Mitigation of negative effects is possible via certain expert system measures. Presented in the paper are the options provided by expert systems implemented in the road work zones as factors for improving road maintenance and safe traffic flow, as well as road workers safety. Introducing relevant data into the data base, an expert system is created providing the driver approaching a road work zone with a number of alternative routes. Also shown is a driving diagram for road work zones with special focus on slowing down speed upon entering the road work zone. The results show that the implementation of expert systems based on relevant data would significantly facilitate traffic management in road work zones and improve the safety of traffic and road workers, as well as the workers' efficacy.

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Highway capacity in work zones – experiences in foreign conditions

Put i saobraćaj ◽

10.31075/pis.66.03.07 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 66 (3) ◽

pp. 49-58

Author(s):

Stefan Andjelkovic ◽

Vladan Tubić

Keyword(s):

Traffic Management ◽

Work Zone ◽

Level Of Service ◽

Work Zones ◽

Highway Capacity ◽

Traffic Demand ◽

Traffic Conditions ◽

Satisfactory Level ◽

Road Capacity ◽

Road Work

Traffic management in the highway work zones is a challenge for all traffic engineers. Road work zones are one of the most significant problems for the normal realization of traffic conditions, which can cause various consequences that will greatly reduce capacity and reduce the level of service. On the sections in the work zone, bottlenecks appear, which result in congestion, ie. lead to an imbalance of traffic demand and road capacity. This paper provides an overview of the literature and foreign experiences and ways of regulating traffic in the work zones on the highway. Bearing in mind that we are talking about roads of the highest rank, where are sections with work zones, it is necessary to maintain a satisfactory level of service by applying the concept of regulation that will minimally interfere the normal realization of traffic conditions.

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Safety Models for Rural Freeway Work Zones

Transportation Research Record Journal of the Transportation Research Board ◽

10.3141/1715-01 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 1715 (1) ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Shyam Venugopal ◽

Andrzej Tarko

Keyword(s):

Traffic Control ◽

Traffic Management ◽

Negative Binomial ◽

Road Construction ◽

Work Zone ◽

Work Zones ◽

Expected Number ◽

Crash Data ◽

Inappropriate Use ◽

Road Work

Construction and maintenance work zones have traditionally been hazardous locations within the highway environment. Studies show that the accident rates during road construction are generally higher than during periods of regular traffic operations. The increase in the number of crashes may be attributed to ( a) general disruption to the flowing traffic due to sudden discontinuities caused by closed lanes, ( b) improper lane merging maneuvers, ( c) the presence of heavy construction equipment within the work area, ( d) inappropriate use of traffic control devices, and ( e) poor traffic management. Research was conducted to develop regression models predicting the expected number of crashes at work zones on rural, two-lane freeway segments. Crashes on approaches to work zones and those inside the work zones were analyzed separately. For developing these models, an extensive database was obtained, including freeway data, crash data, and work zone characteristics. Negative binomial models were developed with average daily traffic, the length of the work zones, and the duration of the work projects as exposure-to-risk variables. The cost of the various work projects was found to be a good substitute for some of the exposure-to-risk variables. The investigated variables included the number of on and off ramps, both on approaches and inside the work zones; the type of work; and the intensity of the road work involved. The models may be used to evaluate beforehand the expected number of crashes on the work zone, given the work zone characteristics.

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Predictive Time-Based Feedback Control Approach for Managing Freeway Incidents

Transportation Research Record Journal of the Transportation Research Board ◽

10.3141/1710-09 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 1710 (1) ◽

pp. 79-84 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Omar B. Sawaya ◽

Dung L. Doan ◽

Athanasios K. Ziliaskopoulos

Keyword(s):

Feedback Control ◽

Traffic Management ◽

Control Strategies ◽

Compliance Rate ◽

Dynamic Control ◽

Route Guidance ◽

Control Approach ◽

Real Time Traffic ◽

Freeway Incidents ◽

Alternate Routes

A feedback control approach is introduced that produces dynamic control strategies in the form of alternate routes around freeway incidents and in response to the prevailing traffic conditions. The approach is based on the equalization of predictive travel times on alternate routes. The methodology is intended to be used as a decision-aid tool for real-time traffic management applications, more specifically for route guidance via variable message signs. The approach is implemented and tested computationally on an example network in a simulated environment under various scenarios of system disturbances. The results indicate that the performance of this approach is fairly robust to uncertainties in demand, compliance rate, and incident severity. It also performs better than an anticipatory approach and an instantaneous time–based feedback control approach.

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Study on Risk Evaluation Methods of Road Work Zone on Urban Expressway

ICTIS 2013 ◽

10.1061/9780784413036.025 ◽

2013 ◽

Author(s):

Feng Lu ◽

Shaowu Qian ◽

Yunlong Wang

Keyword(s):

Risk Evaluation ◽

Evaluation Methods ◽

Work Zone ◽

Urban Expressway ◽

Road Work

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The Edmonton–Calgary corridor transportation study

Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering ◽

10.1139/l79-021 ◽

1979 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 208-220

Author(s):

John W. Mayne ◽

John F. Morrall

Keyword(s):

Transportation Planning ◽

New Technologies ◽

General Context ◽

Low Density ◽

Strategic Choices ◽

Multimodal Systems ◽

Transportation Service ◽

Wide Range ◽

Bus Service ◽

Management Alternatives

The Edmonton–Calgary corridor transportation study is an example of multimodal intercity passenger transportation planning in a low-density corridor. This represents a departure from most corridor studies, which have been conducted in the most intensively travelled and densely populated regions. The study provided the background data, information, and analysis to facilitate transportation planning in the Edmonton–Calgary corridor region. A wide range of capital-intensive alternatives (particularly for the rail and air modes) and a number of transportation system management alternatives are related to transportation issues in the corridor region in a multimodal systems analysis framework.This paper discusses a number of unique approaches used in the study that were the result of the need to deal with the low-density aspects, the need to consider both regional and intercity travel, and the inherent design of the study. These include its iterative approach to the analysis, its handling of the demand and cost analysis, its consideration of multimodal impacts, and the emphasis on identifying key issues and resulting strategic choices. The success and drawbacks of these methodologies are reviewed.The paper also reviews the major findings of the study, many of which can be extended to a more general context: a competitive market analysis may be of little interest in low-density regions; new technologies tend to bias even further the imbalance between intercity and regional transportation service; the automobile has a key role to play in regional transportation; for many transportation needs the intercity bus is an economical and efficient mode; and an improved rail service is an uncertain and long-term venture, which could detrimentally affect all intercity bus service in the region.

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