MINIMIZING TRUCK STOPS AT HIGH-SPEED RURAL SIGNALIZED INTERSECTIONS

Since implementation of the North American Free Trade agreement (NAFTA), some highways in Texas, particularly in border areas, have seen an increase in truck traffic. This increase in truck traffic is having a direct impact at high-speed rural traffic signals. There has been an increase in pavement damage and traffic delay including truck traffic. Increase in truck traffic has also decreased safety at these intersections due to differences in braking characteristics. The objective of this project was to develop a system to minimize stops experienced by trucks at high-speed signalized intersections. This system had to be reasonably accurate, easy to operate and cost effective. This project used loop detectors and a classifier to identify trucks approaching the intersection. This information is then used by an algorithm developed by Texas Transportation Institute's researchers to minimize truck stops and traffic delay while improving safety, reducing pavement wear, and decreasing traffic delay.