Methods of traffic management measures

TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT MEASURES

Traffic management measures include:

• opening or closure of lanes (e.g. High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes, peak lanes)
• intersection control
• ramp metering
• dynamic speed limits, etc. 

In relation to security issues, it can be thought of as re-routing, route closure, traffic information provision, reverse laning, etc. Traffic management is normally performed by traffic management centres. 

One of the main issues for traffic management is congestion. Proper traffic management can prevent congestion or reduce the consequences of congestion. For example, rerouting of the other traffic. Congestion occurs when the traffic demand exceeds the road capacity. This can occur when the traffic infrastructure capacity is not sufficient to handle normal (peak) traffic volumes (usually at bottlenecks, such as tunnels, bridges, lane-drops, on-ramps, weaving sections etc.), when the capacity is reduced by e.g. traffic incidents, road works or weather (e.g. rain, snow) or when the demand is higher than usual, e.g. in case of large events or evacuations. Solutions are therefore either reducing the traffic demand or increasing the road capacity. ---- (wikipedia search)

A methodology for traffic management in cities provides for extensive use of computer technologies.

Ttraffic management in the urban street and road network, requires a city-wide management system (intelligent transportation system, ITS).  

Traffic management tasks are not formalized but solved empirically. 

Two basic approaches to development of network mathematical models of traffic flows, based on:

• a set of analytical models and on 
• microlevel simulation models

Capabilities of various software tools have been evaluated to yield a method for forecasting network control actions affecting traffic flows, based on a piecewise-constant approximation of a traffic flow intensity function of time.

Forecasting control actions or cycle shifts to ensure coordinated control on highways is applied.

It is of practical interest to forecasting network control actions in intelligent transportation systems, including in real time and for congested sections of the street-and-road network.

Active traffic management is a method of increasing peak capacity and making traffic flows more efficient and smooth-flowing on busy roadways.

Most roadways include devices intended for traffic control, most of them involving direct communication with the road-user, such as signs, signals and pavement markings.  

Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) are advanced applications that provide services relating to different modes of traffic management and the ‘smarter’ use of transport networks. They are based on the transfer of information between transport systems to improved safety and performance, including traffic management systems, information systems, warning systems, vehicle-to-infrastructure communication and vehicle-to-vehicle communication.

Traffic signal controllers are electronic devices located at intersections that control the sequence of the lights. Along with computers, communications equipment, and detectors to count and measure traffic, these controllers are frequently grouped into one system allowing the control of large numbers of traffic signals at intersections approaches to expressways and motorways

 Active traffic management is a method of increasing peak capacity and making traffic flows more efficient and smooth-flowing on busy roadways. Common techniques include DMS, variable speed limits, hard-shoulder running, ramp-metering, etc.

Traffic management measures include:

• Restrictions on turning movements
• One – way streets
• Tidal-flow operations
• Exclusive bus lanes and
  
• Closing side streets
  

Examples of restrictions on turning movements include:

• Restriction on entry or turning during specified timings
•  Restrictions on right or left turns

Advantages of one-way streets are:

• Reduction in the points of conflict
• Increased capacity
• Increased speed
• Facilities the operation of a progressive signal system
• Improvement in parking facilities
• Elimination of dazzle and head-on collision

Tidal-flow operations

• Tidal flow operation is a traffic management process whereby the carriageway width is shared between the two directions of travel in near proportion to the flow in each direction. 

Exclusive Bus Lanes

• A bus lane or bus only lane is a lane restricted to buses, often on certain days and times, and generally used to speed up public transport that would be otherwise held up by traffic congestion.
• Certain other vehicles may also be permitted, such as taxis, high occupancy vehicles, motorcycles, or bicycles.

Measures in high accident zone  

• Establishing a bicycle zone
• Placing road lighting
• Making a right turn waiting area
• Designating a right turn lane
• Anti-slip coloured pavement
• Placing a right turn arrow signal on the road surface
• Drainage pavement
• Changing the location of a corner curb
• Changing the location of a pedestrian crosswalk 

Travel Demand Management 

List of Techniques commonly adopted:

• Car pooling and other ride-sharing programmes
• Peripheral parking schemes
• Chartered buses (Institutional buses) to serve areas of trip origins to common work place
• Staggering of office hours and flexible time to work
• Internal shuttle service in CBD
• Parking restraint
• Road Pricing
• Entry fee
• Priority for buses in traffic
• Restrictions on entry of trucks during day time

Traffic Demand Measures

PULL MEASURES

Pull measures aims at attracting road users to alternative modes. Examples of pull measures are:

• Traffic management
• Improvement of alternative modes
• Integrated multi-mode transport system
• New technologies
• Park and ride facilities
• Improvement of alternative modes
• Public transportation
• Para-transit
• Bicycling/walking
• Traffic management
• Effective use via traffic engineering measures

• New technologies
  
• Intelligent Transportation System
• Low emission vehicle
• New underground delivery system
  

PUSH MEASURES

 Push measures tries to demoralize car users. Examples of push measures are:

• Increasing vehicle occupancy
• Influencing time and need of travel
• Creating deterrence by introducing charges
• Imposing restrictions and
• Land use and urban planning

The following measures are taken-up for traffic management demand at the demand side

• Reducing the number of vehicles by modal change and HOV
• Redistributing the number of vehicles by changing time and space of travel