AERIS - applications for the environment : real-time information synthesis : eco-lanes operational scenario modeling report.

Yelchuru, Balaji; Fitzgerel, Sean; Murari, Sudeeksha; Barth, Matt; Wu, Guoyuan; Kari, David; Xia, Haitao; Singuluri, Sashank; Boriboonsomsin, Kanok · 2014 · ROSA P / United States. Department of Transportation. Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office

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Summary

This report details the modeling and evaluation of the Eco-Lanes Operational Scenario within the Applications for the Environment: Real-Time Information Synthesis (AERIS) Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office. The research addresses the potential for connected vehicle (CV) technology to reduce fuel consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and criteria air pollutants on freeways. The Eco-Lanes scenario encompasses seven applications designed to optimize traffic flow and driving behavior; however, this study specifically models three: Eco-Lanes Management, Eco-Speed Harmonization (ESH), and Eco-Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control (Eco-CACC). The primary motivation is to quantify the environmental and mobility benefits of these applications using microsimulation to support future deployment and benefit-cost analyses. The study employed microsimulation using the Paramics software and the MOVES emissions model to evaluate performance across three network configurations: a hypothetical freeway segment with a lane-drop, a hypothetical segment with on-ramps/off-ramps and a dedicated eco-lane, and the California State Route 91 Eastbound freeway. The modeling approach tested individual applications and their combined implementation. ESH was modeled as a dynamic speed limit system that adjusts speeds based on real-time traffic and environmental data to minimize emissions. Eco-CACC was modeled as a vehicle-to-vehicle communication system enabling platooning with reduced headways. The analysis varied traffic volumes, penetration rates of CV-equipped vehicles, and specific parameters such as intra-platoon clearance and triggering distances to assess sensitivity. Results indicate that both ESH and Eco-CACC provide significant reductions in energy consumption and travel time compared to baseline scenarios. ESH demonstrated consistent energy savings across varying traffic volumes, with benefits scaling with penetration rates. Eco-CACC showed substantial energy and time savings, particularly at higher penetration rates and when utilizing dedicated eco-lanes. The study found that dedicated lanes for Eco-CACC yielded greater relative benefits than general-purpose lanes due to reduced interference from non-platooning vehicles. Furthermore, the combined modeling of ESH and Eco-CACC revealed synergistic benefits, where the integration of speed harmonization with platooning resulted in higher total energy and mobility savings than either application alone. Sensitivity analyses confirmed that benefits were robust across different traffic conditions but were influenced by specific operational parameters like vehicle clearance distances. The significance of this work lies in providing empirical evidence for the environmental efficacy of connected vehicle applications on arterials and freeways. By quantifying the specific reductions in fuel use and emissions, the report supports the strategic prioritization of CV technologies for environmental benefit. The findings offer a foundation for benefit-cost analysis, helping policymakers and transportation operators understand the monetary and ecological value of deploying eco-lanes and related CV infrastructure. The study concludes that while individual applications offer distinct advantages, their combined deployment maximizes the potential for sustainable transportation outcomes.

Key finding

The combined application of Eco-Speed Harmonization and Eco-Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control yielded greater energy and travel time savings than either application used independently.

Methodology

modeling

Provenance

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• traffic density