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Adaptive Traffic Control Systems: Domestic and Foreign State of Practice (2010) / Chapter Skim
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Pages 36-42

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From page 36...
... COSTS OF DEPLOYING ADAPTIVE TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS According to an earlier study (Hicks and Carter 2000) , cost appears to be a major obstacle to widespread ATCS deployment.
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From page 37...
... Although there is a notion that once an ATCS is set up there is no need for re-timing traffic signal timing plans, there are some costs of reconfiguring ATCS parameters. These costs can be significant owing to inadequate in-house expertise to adjust ATCS parameters to meet new operational needs.
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From page 38...
... followed by the number of stops, intersection delays, average speeds, and queue lengths, in that order. BENEFITS FROM ADAPTIVE TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS DEPLOYMENTS ATCSs are known to have several advantages over traditional traffic signal timing operations with TOD plans.
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From page 39...
... . Considering the responses on ATCS benefits in oversaturation, and that oversaturation mostly occurs in peak periods, Arterial travel times/delays; 33; 26% Number of stops; 26; 21% Intersection delays; 21; 17% Other, please specify; 4; 3% Not applicable; 5; 4% Queue lengths; 17; 14% Average speeds; 18; 15% FIGURE 14 Most common performance measures to evaluate an ATCS.
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From page 40...
... ATCS prevents or eliminates oversaturation; 1; 3% ATCS eliminates or reduces the extent of the periods of oversaturation; 23; 59% ATCS adversely affects the traffic conditions during periods of oversaturation; 4; 10% Oversaturation is very rare on the corridors operated by our ATCS; 2; 5% Other responses; 9; 23% FIGURE 16 ATCS performance in oversaturated traffic conditions.
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From page 41...
... The following list shows some examples of ATCS' users' responses on specific benefits and costs observed in operations of their ATCS deployments. • Advantages – Fuel consumption benefits – City council sees the increase in efficiency – Thirty-three intersections resulted in more than $1 million in fuel reduction – Just the normal obvious benefits with adaptive control – Reduction in air pollution – $583,996/$542,511 one-year ratio of benefits/costs – Engineer less exposed in field – Decreased time to develop signal timings – Public transport priority and emergency vehicle priority – Lower cycle lengths -- better pedestrian response – Accommodates roadwork and special events.
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From page 42...
... . Interestingly, ATCSs require less money than conventional traffic signals for their physical maintenance, when their shares in overall budget and overall operations are compared.
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Key Terms

  • cycle length
  • queue lengths
  • traffic controller
  • adaptive control
  • traffic control

  • travel time
  • travel times
  • signal control
  • traffic signal
  • traffic demand

  • adaptive traffic
  • timing plan
  • control strategies
  • signal timings
  • traffic signals

  • local traffic
  • cycle lengths
  • queue length
  • detector loops
  • traffic conditions

  • nal control
  • timing plans
  • signal timing
  • traffic detectors
  • local intersection

  • traffic engineer
  • public transport
  • oversaturated conditions
  • optimal signal


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