Assessment of the impact of speed limit reduction and traffic signal coordination on vehicle emissions using an integrated approach

Abstract

This paper examines the effects of two traffic management measures, speed limit reduction and coordinated traffic lights, in an area of Antwerp, Belgium. An integrated model is deployed that combines the microscopic traffic simulation model Paramics with the CO 2 and NO X emission model VERSIT+. On the one hand, reductions in CO 2 and NO X emissions of about 25% were found if speed limits are lowered from 50 to 30 km/h in the residential part of the case study area. On the other hand, reductions in the order of 10% can be expected from the implementation of a green wave signal coordination scheme along an urban arterial road.