Utilization of Auxiliary Through Lanes at Signalized Intersections with Downstream Lane Reductions

Abstract

The capacity of multiple through lanes at signalized intersections depends on the distribution of traffic within these lanes, with equal lane distribution corresponding to maximum capacity. However, traffic characteristics, land use, and geometric factors usually prohibit this from occurring. Although the 1994 update of the Highway Capacity Manual considers the case of continuous through lanes at signalized intersections, the default values provided do not address situations in which lane reduction takes place downstream of the intersection. Lane distribution data obtained in the field can remedy the situation but for existing conditions only. This research employed the concept of captive and choice lane users in modeling lane use for intersection configurations with a single continuous through lane and an “auxiliary” through lane, which is continuous upstream of the intersection but is dropped downstream of it. Stepwise multiple regression was performed on data collected at sites in Tennessee to ascertain those factors significantly affecting auxiliary lane use. These factors were found to be ( a) right turns off the facility at the intersection, ( b) total left turns off the facility downstream of the intersection, ( c) right turns onto the facility in the first 122 m (400 ft) upstream of the intersection, ( d) right turns off the facility in the last 152 m (500 ft) of the auxiliary lane, ( e) downstream auxiliary lane length, and ( f) the existence of left-turn bays or two-way continuous left-turn lanes downstream of the intersection. For the configuration studied, lane distribution data often differed considerably from the default values given in the Highway Capacity Manual.