Development of a dynamic offset with coordinated signal control system for rural corridors

Abstract

A dynamic offset with coordinated signal control system (DYCCS) was developed in this study. When configuring the DYCCS, the Critical Intersection (CI) of a coordinated corridor was operated based on saturation equalization signal control, and the adjacent intersections were controlled by coordinated semi-actuated signal control, with the background cycle corresponding to the suggested cycle length of the CI. An algorithm for the dynamic offset was suggested to integrate in the coordinated semi-actuated signal control algorithm and the saturation equalization signal control algorithm. Moreover, simulations were conducted for pre-timed signal control using one or three optimized signal timings and the DYCCS. The simulations demonstrated that the DYCCS can decrease the average vehicle delay relative to an optimized time of day and a Coordinated Signal Control System (CCS) utilizing a fixed offset. It is anticipated that the implementation of this DYCCS in newly constructed intersections or existing intersections controlled by a pretimed signal control may significantly decrease vehicle delay and may enhance progression effects in a coordinated corridor. A local controller equipped with this algorithm combined with an existing traffic responsive control, such as COSMOS, would be efficient under various conditions.