A Simulation Approach for Evaluating Congestion and Its Mitigation Measures on Urban Arterials Operating with Mixed Traffic Conditions

Bari, Chintaman Santosh; Gunjal, Tanmayee V.; Dhamaniya, Ashish · 2022 · Crossref

DOI: 10.26552/com.c.2022.3.d126-d140

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Summary

This study addresses the challenge of traffic congestion on urban arterials operating under mixed traffic conditions, specifically focusing on a 5.7-kilometer stretch in Surat, India. Motivated by rapid urbanization and the resulting pressure on transport infrastructure, the research aims to evaluate congestion levels and test the effectiveness of geometric mitigation measures. The authors utilize a microsimulation approach to assess various congestion indexes, including the speed performance index, volume-to-capacity ratio, and travel time-based congestion index, offering a cost-effective alternative to field implementation of costly infrastructure changes. The methodology involves developing and calibrating a simulation model using VISSIM software. Field data collection included videographic surveys for traffic volume and composition, radar gun surveys for speed, and Performance Box (P-Box) instruments for travel time data. Vehicles were classified into five categories: two-wheelers, three-wheelers, small cars, big cars, and buses. The simulation model was calibrated using the Wiedemann 74 car-following model, adjusting parameters such as look-ahead distance and safety distances to match field-observed speed and volume distributions. Calibration success was verified using F-tests for speed and GEH statistics for volume, while validation was performed using chi-square tests on travel time data. The study evaluated ten scenarios involving geometric improvements, primarily converting uncontrolled intersections to channelized or signal-controlled intersections at key points along the arterial. Results indicated that the speed performance index improved by 8.88% when a channelized intersection was implemented at one point element. A further improvement of 11.52% was observed when two point elements were converted to channelized intersections. The analysis demonstrated that these geometric modifications effectively reduced congestion metrics, with the simulation accurately reflecting the heterogeneous nature of Indian traffic. The significance of this research lies in its demonstration that microsimulation tools can reliably evaluate congestion mitigation strategies in mixed traffic environments. By providing specific quantitative improvements in speed performance, the study offers traffic engineers a validated method for planning infrastructure upgrades. The findings suggest that targeted geometric changes, such as channelizing intersections, can significantly enhance traffic flow and reduce delays on congested urban arterials without the immediate need for extensive physical construction trials.

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• traffic density