GAP ACCEPTANCE AND TRAFFIC INTERACTION IN THE FREEWAY MERGING PROCESS-PHASE 2. FINAL REPORT

A RATIONAL APPROACH TO THE DESIGN AND OPERATION OF A FREEWAY CONTROL SYSTEM IS PRESENTED BY DEFINING THE FUNCTIONAL AND OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE SYSTEM AND THE DESIGN AND INSTALLATION OF A PROTOTYPE. THE OPERATION, DETECTION, AND DISPLAY REQUIREMENTS FOR A GAP ACCEPTANCE MERGING CONTROL SYSTEM FOR INDIVIDUAL RAMPS ARE PRESENTED. DEVELOPMENTS OF A MERGING CONTROL SYSTEM NOT NECESSARILY REQUIRING RAMP VEHICLES TO STOP PRIOR TO ENTERING THE FREEWAY WAS INVESTIGATED. THE CAPACITY OF A CONTROLLED ENTRANCE RAMP IS DEVELOPED AND THE CONTROL POLICY CONSISTENT WITH THE DEMAND CAPACITY PHILOSOPHY ESTABLISHED. TRAFFIC CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH CONTROL SYSTEMS ARE PRESENTED. COST EFFECTIVENESS AND DESIGN REQUIREMENTS FOR FREEWAY CONTROL SYSTEMS ARE DISCUSSED. /HSL/