PURPOSES : This study compared two measures of traffic flow effectiveness on roads with roundabouts and signalized intersections and determined the more appropriate measure. METHODS: In addition to average delay time, the conventionally used measure, average travel time was introduced to measure traffic flow effectiveness because it is able to be obtained through field survey and reflect different travel distances and speed limits of roundabouts and signalized intersections. Using the two measures, roundabouts and signalized intersections were compared through simulations in terms of traffic flow effectiveness. RESULTS : For one-way single-lane roads, the two measures indicated consistent results that roundabouts were more effective than were signalized intersections when the traffic volume was less than 300 vphpl but vice versa when it exceeded 450 vphpl; however, the measures yielded inconsistent results when the volume was 350~400 vphpl. For one-way double-lane roads, the two measures indicated consistent results that roundabouts were more effective than were signalized intersections when the volume was less than 200 vphpl but vice versa when it exceeded 400 vphpl; however, the measures yielded inconsistent results when the volume was 250~350 vphpl. The results obtained using the two measures differed substantially for double-lane roads because behaviors such as weaving and lane changing at roundabouts are more common in double-lane roads than in single-lane roads. CONCLUSIONS : The average delay time would be lower on roads with roundabouts, but average travel time would be lower on roads with signalized intersections. Thus, evaluating the relative effectiveness of roads with roundabouts and signalized intersections by using average delay time alone would be inappropriate, whereas using average travel time as the evaluation index would yield fairer results.

PURPOSES : The purpose of this study is to present a linear programing optimization model for the design of lane-based lane-uses and signal timings for an isolated intersection. METHODS: For the optimization model, a set of constraints for lane-uses and signal settings are identified to ensure feasibility and safety of traffic flow. Three types of objective functions are introduced for optimizing lane-uses and signal operation, including 1) flow ratio minimization of a dual-ring signal control system, 2) cycle length minimization, and 3) capacity maximization. RESULTS : The three types of model were evaluated in terms of minimizing delay time. From the experimental results, the flow ratio minimization model proved to be more effective in reducing delay time than cycle length minimization and capacity maximization models and provided reasonable cycle lengths located between those of other two models. CONCLUSIONS : It was concluded that the flow ratio minimization objective function is the proper one to implement for lane-uses and signal settings optimization to reduce delay time for signalized intersections.

PURPOSES : The purpose of this study is to propose delay-minimizing operation methodology of a signalized intersection based upon optimization of lane-uses on approaching lanes for an intersection. METHODS: For the optimization model of lane-uses, a set of constraints are set up to ensure feasibility and safety of the lane-uses, traffic flow, and signal settings. Minimization of demand to saturation flow ratio of a dual-ring signal control system is introduced to the objective function for delay minimization and effective signal operation. Using the optimized lane-uses, signal timings are optimized by delay-based model of TRANSYT-7F. RESULTS : It was found that the proposed objective function is great relation with delay time for an intersection. From the experimental results, the method was approved to be effective in reducing delay time. Especially, cases for two left-turn lanes reduced greater delays than those for a left turn lane. It is noticed that the cases for different traffic volume by approach reduced greater delays than those for the same traffic volume by approach. CONCLUSIONS : It was concluded that the objective function is proper for lane-uses optimizing model and the operation method is effective in reducing delay time for signalized intersections.