ARTERIAL PROGRESSION--NEW DESIGN APPROACH

This paper proposes a new approach for the design of traffic signal timings to coordinate the progression of traffic on arterial highways. The two most popular signal optimization policies in use today are the maximal bandwidth approach and the minimum delay and stops approach. The new approach is proposed as a measure of the quality of progression perceived by the driver. It deals with progression opportunities (PROS), and the policy is to maximize the number of PROS available on an arterial signal system. It differs from the maximal bandwidth approach by considering progression opportunities that occur outside the traditional through progression band. Arterial progression design based on this approach will usually show decreased stops and delay compared with the maximal bandwidth design without suffering the loss of perceived progression associated with direct minimization of stops and delay. The number of progression opportunities presented to the driver at any point in time is, by definition, the number of successive green signals that will be encountered at the design speed without stopping. (Author)