Considering various ALINEA ramp metering strategies for crash risk mitigation on freeways under congested regime

    Authors

    M. Abdel-Aty; A. Dhindsa;V. Gayah

    Comments

    Authors: contact us about adding a copy of your work at STARS@ucf.edu

    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Transp. Res. Pt. C-Emerg. Technol.

    Keywords

    crash risk; freeway safety; ramp metering; micro-simulation; MICROSCOPIC TRAFFIC SIMULATION; Transportation Science & Technology

    Abstract

    This study evaluates the expected benefits of using the ALINEA ramp metering algorithm as a method for real-time safety improvement on an urban freeway. The objective of this research is to use ramp metering to produce a significant decrease in the risk of crashes on the freeway while avoiding any significant adverse effects on operation. This is achieved by simulating the freeway during the congested period in micro-simulation and testing various ramp metering configurations to determine which provides the best results. Statistical measures developed for the same stretch of freeway using loop detector data are used to quantify the risk of crashes as well as the benefits in each of the alternative strategies. The study concludes that there are significant benefits in metering multiple ramps when the feedback ramp metering algorithm is implemented at multiple locations. It was found that increasing the number of metered on-ramps produces increasing safety benefits. Also, a shorter cycle length for each of the meters and a higher critical occupancy value leads to better results. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

    Journal Title

    Transportation Research Part C-Emerging Technologies

    Volume

    15

    Issue/Number

    2

    Publication Date

    1-1-2007

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    113

    Last Page

    134

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000246940500003

    ISSN

    0968-090X

    Share

    COinS