WORKED EXAMPLES

1. Traffic Flow Example-1 A Speed range (Km/hr) 2 -5 69 10 13 14 17 18 - 21 B Flows (qi) vph 1 4 0 7 20

Example-2 Consider a roadway with a fundamental diagram given below

2
(100, 1200)

2 km

Conc/n (k) veh/km

A construction truck enters the roadway at Point-A and exists at B. AB is 2km. Just before entering the roadway, the traffic stream was at State 1 on the fundamental diagram. However, the construction truck only travels at a speed of 12 km per hour with the result that traffic piled

behind it at a density of 100 vehicles per km (State 2). Estimate the total time it will take for the traffic to return to its normal State on AB and give a history of the traffic events on the roadway. 2. Fixed Bottleneck Example-3 Consider a 1 Km bottleneck section of a highway for which the speed density relationship is where Cj = 120 veh/km; Vf = 50 km/hr. At the beginning of the incident, C = 21.26 veh/km. For the following inflow rates, calculate the corresponding outflow rates. 0 t 12 min; q = 1025 veh/hr 12 t 30 min; q = 1050 veh/hr 30 t 60 min; q = 900 veh/hr Example-4 On a two lane carriageway roadworks restrict the width of both traffic lane forming a bottleneck to traffic flow. The maximum flow per lane on the unobstructed carriageway is 2,500 veh/hr while on the section under repair, the maximum flow per lane is 2,000 veh/hr. When stationary vehicles are spaced at average distance headways of 8m. It may be assumed that there is a linear relationship between speed and density. When the traffic flow approaching the roadworks is 4,500 veh/hr. Calculate: i) the speed of the traffic stream a considerable distance in advance of the bottleneck ii) the speed of the traffic stream immediately before the commencement of the bottleneck iii) the speed of the shock wave formed by the bottleneck Example-5 Six runs were made in each direction along a two way highway between UTC and Rumukoroshe (Points A and B). Flows were measured both with and against the moving car and the following notes obtained. Car travelling from Point A to Point B Trip Commences 16.05 16.34 17.05 17.35 Ends 16.16 16.44 17.17 17.44 Overtaking 2 3 4 5 No. of Vehicles Overtaken 1 2 1 3 Met 401 360 419 397

18.05 18.35

18.18 18.45

2 2

1 3

406 412

Car travelling from Point B to Point A Trip Commences 16.19 16.50 17.20 17.50 18.20 18.50 Ends 16.31 17.03 17.32 17.59 18.33 19.01 Overtaking 3 7 4 4 5 7 No. of Vehicles Overtaken 2 3 2 3 2 1 Met 320 319 307 331 317 305

Distance from point A to B is 6.4 km. Calculate the flow and stream speed in each direction

Example-6 The observations shown below were obtained by an observer while travelling with and against a traffic stream. In both cases, the distance travelled by the observer was 1.059 km. Calculate the mean journey speed and the flow of the traffic stream. Number of vehicles met by observer whilst travelling against the traffic stream 78 76 60 78 66 93 80 83 79 66 Travel time of observer (minutes) Number of vehicles passing the observer minus the number passed by the observer -1 -1 -4 3 -1 0 -3 -4 1 -8 Travel time of observer (minutes)

2.94 2.72 2.71 2.82 2.53 3.39 3.01 2.62 2.54 2.43

2.97 2.29 1.57 3.97 1.61 2.65 1.73 2.98 2.92 2.35

3. LOS and Capacity Example-7 Determine the Service Volume at level of service C and capacity of a section of a 2-lane rural highway characterised by the following: a) A.H.S. of 80 km/hr with 40% passing opportunity are available. b) The travelled way is 6-meters wide with 0.5m lateral clearance on both sides c) The section is in a rolling terrain and trucks constitute 20% of the traffic

Example-8 Determine the worst level of service on a six-lane highway where the greater directional flow is 2000 veh/hr. The roadway section is at the end of a 1km long grade of 3%. The A.H..S. is 100 km per hr; Lane width is 3.5m each and trucks constitute7% of the oneway traffic volume. There is a 1m wall located 1.5m away from the edge of the travelled way. Example-9 Estimate the capacity of a 1.5km section of a 2-lane rural highway. There are obstructions at 0.5m from the pavement edge on both sides of the roadway. Lanes are 3.25m wide and the grade is 4%. Alignment is such that A.H.S. is 80 km/hr and passing opportunity greater than 450m is 60%. Traffic consists of 10% trucks. Suppose the actual flow observed on the highway is 1,400 veh/hr on both directions of travel, what is the minimum number of lanes to assure level of service D. Assume balanced loading. After selecting the appropriate number of lanes, determine the actual level of service that will be obtained on the highway.

Example-10 A road junction consists of five approach roads as illustrated in the diagram. A traffic signal is to be installed at the junction and arrival flow and saturation flow on each approach is given in the table Approach Arrival flow (q) 1 720 2 600 3 600 4 320 5 500 Pcu/hr

2,400 Saturation flow (S)

3,000

2,400

2,000

3,000

Pcu/hr

2 5

4 3

Determine an appropriate set of phase diagrams and hence calculate the optimum fixed cycle timings for the functions,

Assume a total lost time per cycle of 10 seconds 4. Parking Studies Problem-11 During a parking survey, the number of unoccupied spaces out of a total of 48 parking spaces was counted every 15 minutes. The results of the counts are given in the following table.

No. of unoccupied spaces (x) 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

No. of counts (n) 29 42 21 16 7 2 3 0 =120

1. What is the average number of free parking spaces? 2. Assuming the Poisson distribution to be applicable, what is the expected number of counts in which 1, 2, 3 and 4 free parking spaces will be observed. 3. What is the probability that at least a free space is available at any given instant (assuming the Poissons distribution).

4. How many more spaces will you provide if it is desired that there should be a 0.95 chance of at least a parking space available. 5. Using the chi-square test or any other appropriate tests determine whether the Poisson distribution is an appropriate approximation of the problem. 5. Before and After Studies Example-12 In an ordinary square junction of two roads there were twenty accidents in a year. After provision of traffic signals, the number of accidents dropped to 8 per year. In the sector of the city where this junction is situated, the general trend observed was that number of accidents increased at a rate of 10 percent during the period covered by the above two observations. Test whether the improvement in junction design has a significant effect at 5% significant level. Example-13 Before-and-after accident and speed studies for a section of road were carried out for the introduction of a revised speed limit. The following data was obtained:

Accidents on section of road

Accidents in surrounding area

Before After

8 2

200 220

Mean sample speed on section of road, Km/hr 37.5 40.2

Standard Deviation of sample speeds (Km/hr) 7 7

No. of observations in sample

50 100

What conclusions can you draw from this data?

( 6. Gap Acceptance Example-14

02.05 3.84 )

Derive an expression for capacity of the minor road entry volume at a major/minor priority junction in terms of the major road flow, the gap acceptance and the move-up tine of the vehicles on the minor road. Example-15 The observations shown below were obtained by an observer while travelling with and against traffic stream. In both cases, the distance travelled by the observer was 1.059 km. Calculate the mean journey speed and the flow of the traffic stream.

No of vehicles met by observer while travelling against the traffic stream (X)

Travel time of observer (mins) (ta)

No. of vehicles passing the observer minus the no. passed by the observer (y)

Travel time of observer (min) tw

78 76 60 78 66 93 80 83 79 66

2.94 2.72 2.71 2.82 2.53 3.39 3.01 2.62 2.54 2.43

-1 -1 -4 3 -1 0 -3 -4 1 -8

2.97 2.29 1.57 3.97 1.61 2.65 1.73 2.98 2.92 2.35