Optimal Traffic Control for a Tandem Intersection With Improved Lane Assignments at Presignals

Abstract

This article focuses on the optimal traffic control strategy for a tandem intersection with pre­signals. First, the impact of a lane assignment scheme at presignals on the operational performance of the tandem intersection is analyzed. An improved lane assignment method is thus proposed to avoid setting the lanes with the same traffic flow direction adjacent to each other as far as possible. Second, vehicle delay models behind the presignals and in the sorting area are established, respectively. Third, considering green times of presignal phases and sorting area lengths on all approaches as variables, an optimization model is proposed to minimize the average vehicle delay. Finally, a case study is conducted on a congested intersection in Changchun, China, to validate the proposed method. The effects of the proposed improved lane assignment scheme on the tandem intersection are analyzed compared with the traditional lane assignment scheme. The results show that the former can decrease average vehicle delay by 22.9% and increase intersection capacity by 18.6%.