ENHANCING THE EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF INTERSECTIONS WITH INTENSIVE TRAFFIC AND PEDESTRIAN FLOWS

Abstract

Introduction. Problematic sections of the road network are intersections with high traffic intensity of conflicting pedestrian and traffic flow, in particular, right and left turns. At such crossings, there are significant traffic delays. In the case of vehicles turning left or right at an intersection when passing at a traffic light signal that allows traffic, should give way to pedestrians crossing the roadway on the crosswalk. In the case of high intensity of pedestrian traffic, it is impossible to complete the turn of such vehicles, they remain at the intersection, so there are significant traffic delays for returning vehicles.Purpose. Therefore, the work aims to study the interaction of traffic and pedestrian flows with high intensity at regulated intersections to improve their capacity.Methods. To study the parameters of traffic flows, in particular, the length of congestion, we used traffic flow models, which include a psychophysiological model of following a vehicle moving in front, and a model based on traffic rules. To model, pedestrian flows the Wiedemann model was used. The leastsquares method was used to obtain empirical nonlinear dependences of congestion length on the intensities of conflicting pedestrian and traffic flows.Results. The paper uses known methods for solving applied problems in the field of traffic for some unique cases, namely the intersection of intensive -traffic and pedestrian flows. Studies of road and pedestrian traffic parameters at crossings have shown that the length of congestion significantly depends on the intensity of traffic flow, but with increas-ing intensity of pedestrian traffic more than 1000 people/h, the length of congestion changes insignificantly. If there are trams at the intersection, the length of congestion increases by an average of 1.14% and depends significantly on the intensity of traffic and pedestrian flows.It is proposed to introduce three-phase traffic light regulation on such sections when one of the phases allows traffic only for pedestrians. The simulation results showed that the length of congestion in the absence of rail vehicles on the approaches to the intersection decreases by an average of 45.3% and is weakly dependent on the intensity of pedestrian flows. If there are rail vehicles at the crossing, the length of congestion can reduce by an average of 13.7%. But in some cases may increase.Conclusion. The research methodology presented in this paper can be used for intersections with another traffic organization scheme to justify the feasibility of introducing threephase traffic light control when one of the phases allows traffic only to pedestrians.