A decision-support methodology for priority allocation among road users at signalized junctions

Abstract

Changing traffic signal programs due to traffic dynamics is an essential step to improve the quality of the city's traffic management. But the large number of players, who are competing for the same resources, complicates the selection of new signal programs. The cars, Public Transport (PT) and pedestrians all coming from different directions create a complex right of way allocation problem. The selection of a new program becomes an especially complex task when PT priority logic is integrated into the signal program planning. This paper suggests a methodology for performing the selection process. The methodology described in this article for selecting an alternative signal program is based on a definition of Standard Planning Attributes (SPA), which serve as a “data dictionary”. The selection criteria, called Integrated Components, takes into account the interdependencies linking the various Signal Groups (SGs) and Standard Planning Attributes and the directivity of the relationship between Planning Attributes (PA) and the performance level of each road user.