Stochastic Optimization for Coordinated Actuated Traffic Signal Systems

Abstract

AbstractExisting state-of-the-practice traffic signal timing-optimization programs rely on macroscopic and deterministic models to represent traffic flow, including coordinated actuated traffic signal systems. One distinct shortcoming of such an approach is its inability to account for the stochastic nature of traffic, such as the variability in traffic demand, driver behavior, vehicular interarrival times, vehicle mix, and so forth. In addition, the existing traffic signal timing-optimization programs for coordinated actuated traffic signal systems still focus on four basic traffic signal timing parameters (i.e., cycle length, green times or force-off points, offsets, and phase sequences). Studies have shown that actuated signal settings such as minimum green time, vehicle extension, and recall mode are also important parameters in traffic signal operations. This study presents the development of a stochastic-optimization method for coordinated actuated traffic signal systems. The proposed method account...