Lesson
Familiarize travelers with active traffic management applications and use visible police presence when initiating ATM operations to improve pedestrian safety.
A synthesis of active traffic management (ATM) deployment experience.
2013
Overland Park; Kansas; United States; Bellevue; Washington; United States
Background (Show)
Lesson Learned
Dynamic Turn Restrictions
Bellevue, Washington implemented a variable right turn restriction on the eastbound right turn movement at NE 8th Street and Bellevue Way using illuminated blank-out signs. The eastbound movement here is the main exit route from a shopping mall that occupies three quadrants of the intersection. High pedestrian traffic, essentially blocking eastbound right turning vehicles, can reduce eastbound capacity by 50 percent. Actuation of the dynamic restriction is based on occupancy data from an upstream detector. A blank-out sign at the intersection illuminates the traditional R3-1 sign. There is also an advance sign over the curb lane that can display two states: a through/right arrow and a through arrow only. Timers were implemented to ensure the turn restriction stays in the same state for at least 10 minutes. There is also a manual switch so police officers can manually turn the restriction on or off.
Lessons Learned
Bellevue respondents indicated that the success of the turn restriction strategy depends on three things:
Bellevue, Washington implemented a variable right turn restriction on the eastbound right turn movement at NE 8th Street and Bellevue Way using illuminated blank-out signs. The eastbound movement here is the main exit route from a shopping mall that occupies three quadrants of the intersection. High pedestrian traffic, essentially blocking eastbound right turning vehicles, can reduce eastbound capacity by 50 percent. Actuation of the dynamic restriction is based on occupancy data from an upstream detector. A blank-out sign at the intersection illuminates the traditional R3-1 sign. There is also an advance sign over the curb lane that can display two states: a through/right arrow and a through arrow only. Timers were implemented to ensure the turn restriction stays in the same state for at least 10 minutes. There is also a manual switch so police officers can manually turn the restriction on or off.
Lessons Learned
Bellevue respondents indicated that the success of the turn restriction strategy depends on three things:
- Drivers need to see a need for the restriction
- The presence of reasonable alternative routes
- Periodic police enforcement.
States
Countries
Systems Engineering
Goal Areas
Keywords
coordinated signals, signal coordination, centralized signal control, signal synchronization, traffic signals, advanced signal control, signal timing optimization, coordinated signal control, advanced signal controller, traffic signal retiming, retiming
Lesson ID: 2016-00741
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