Evaluation of the operational performance of continuous green T-intersection under different levels of congestion

Abstract

The main objective of this paper is to evaluate and compare the operational efficiency of a conventional signalized T-intersection with an unconventional Continues Green T-intersection under different congestion levels. The analysis was performed using Synchro.8 micro-simulation software. A total of 48 hypothetical scenarios, 24 scenarios for each design, were created by changing the approach volumes and turning percentages on the major / minor intersecting roadways to reflect different levels of congestion that may occur on any urban intersection. Total intersection delay, Level of Service, maximum queue length and volume-to-capacity ratio (v/c) were the measures of effectiveness used for comparison purposes. These performance measures were selected because they demonstrated the overall efficiency of the intersection design. The simulation results showed that the Continuous Green T-intersection operates the best under stable traffic conditions and that it is not an effective solution for signalized T-intersections under heavy traffic volume.