Ramp metering effects on the urban street network working together in an urban corridor environment

Abstract

Field trials, conducted in the southern part of the Corridor Peripherique in Paris, are presented. These trials were performed within the ATT - Project EUROCOR which addresses integrated modeling and control of corridor traffic networks with application to the sites of Corridor Peripherique in Paris and of A10 in Amsterdam. The investigation includes comprehensive data collection from the Corridor Peripherique over several weeks and a comparative evaluation of traffic conditions with and without ramp metering. The essential result is that ramp metering ameliorates traffic conditions in the overall corridor network (including the adjacent road network) significantly during rush hours. The amelioration in the adjacent road network is due to reduced congestion on the motorway, resulting in less drivers diverting from the motorway towards the parallel street. This result confirms the positive impact of ramp metering measures in an integrated corridor context.