Modified Critical Movement Analysis Approach for Signalized Intersections

Abstract

In the preparation of the fourth edition of the textbook Traffic Engineering, a modified critical movement analysis methodology for signalized intersections was developed. The methodology was developed for consistency with signal timing approaches and to allow a simplified way to do a quick, manual analysis of a signalized intersection. This paper presents this methodology and reports on a comprehensive analysis of its results as compared with those resulting from application of the 2000 Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) methodology as it is implemented in the highway capacity software package. For a wide range of situations, the critical movement analysis provides reasonable estimates of delay and level of service compared with the more complex HCM 2000 approach. This critical movement analysis methodology provides analysts with a more straightforward approach and the ability to either conduct or check an analysis manually, and it can be used as a replacement for the quick estimation method of Chapter 10 of the HCM 2000.