Comparative Analysis of Optimization Models for Paired Intersections with Left-Turn Bays

Abstract

Left-turn bays may be provided at paired intersections when heavy left-turn demands exist on some approaches. Such left-turn bays may have significant effects on intersection operations. Considering the settings of left-turn bays, two single-objective optimization models are developed for paired intersections with uncoordinated and coordinated signals, respectively. Numerical examples are fulfilled to demonstrate and compare the formulated models, and the orthogonal simulation experiments are carried out. Assuming that the relevance of traffic flow exists, the results show that the optimized effective green times and left-turn bay lengths depend on traffic demand, whereas the optimized offset between paired intersections is sensitive to intersection spacing; the optimization model with coordinated signals outstrips that with uncoordinated signals at 99% confidence level when the distance between paired intersections is not too far and traffic demand is not too low, whereas the former may be inferior to the latter when traffic demand is low enough and intersection spacing is far enough.