The report documents the conduct and findings of research performed mainly on the Gulf Freeway in Houston, Texas. Some stochastic modeling of the freeway merging process was performed. A rational approach to the design and operation of a freeway control system is presented by defining the functional and operational requirements of the system and the design and installation of a prototype. The operation, detection, and display requirements for a gap-acceptance merging control system for individual ramps are presented in sufficient detail to permit writing of functional specifications and design of an analog merging controller. The development and testing, in a controlled environment, of a merging control system not necessarily requiring ramp vehicles to stop prior to entering the freeway was investigated. The capacity of a controlled entrance ramp is developed and the control policy consistent with the demand-capacity philosophy established. Various hardware and software aspects of freeway control systems using centralized digital computers, including the design requirements of these systems were developed. The cost effectiveness of freeway control systems to provide some insight into the determination of the degree of control possible using various control configurations is discussed. (BPR abstract)
GAP Acceptance and Traffic Interaction in the Freeway Merging Process -- Phase II
1970
305 pages
Report
No indication
English
Civil Engineering , Road Transportation , Vehicular traffic control , Highways , Texas , Systems analysis , Design criteria , Interactions , Ramps , Digital computers , Display devices , Cost effectiveness , Analog systems , Computer systems programs , Vehicular traffic , Freeway merging process , Freeways , Gap acceptance