Evaluating the environmental impact of traffic calming

This paper demonstrates the use of the microscopic simulator VISSIM (PTV AG) to assess traffic calming schemes. The test site chosen is Sherburn-in-Elmet in Yorkshire, where traffic calming measures were planned and a public consultation held at the end of 1999. Through the EnvPro program, developed by PTV AG in collaboration with the Transport Operations Research Group (TORG) of the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, estimates of noise and pollution were generated from step-by-step information on position, speed, and acceleration as output by VISSIM. The paper illustrates two important features of microsimulation that make it appealing for analysing the impact of traffic calming: a more comprehensive representation of speed profiles and 3D visualisation of the traffic scene. The 'trial and error' approach to traffic management is wasteful when resources are scarce. As this paper shows, the effects of speed reduction on vehicle emissions and noise can be contradictory, so a thorough analysis of the options and outcomes should be undertaken when proposals are evaluated. Language: en