Blending Efficiency and Resilience in the Performance Assessment of Urban Intersections: A Novel Heuristic Informed by Literature Review

Abstract

Urban mobility underscores the vital importance of ensuring traffic efficiency on road segments, intersections, and transportation networks, especially in challenging circumstances. In this perspective, the essential approach to improving urban intersection efficiency should involve understanding critical factors for maintaining operational performance in the face of disruptions such as storms. This paper, inspired by a systematic literature review, presents a novel heuristic for evaluating urban intersection efficiency, with resilience as its guiding principle. The methodological path was designed to address the fundamental question: How can urban intersections be designed and managed to ensure efficiency and resilience in the face of disruptions? Drawing inspiration from the Highway Capacity Manual procedure, the methodological approach encompasses both pre-storm and post-storm scenarios, comparing delay times at roundabouts and signalized intersections before and after a storm. The results reveal significant changes in delay times for traffic signals, although the choice between roundabouts and signalized intersections should be context-specific, considering factors like traffic conditions, resilience requirements, and associated trade-offs. By shedding light on the interplay between intersection design, control strategies, and urban resilience, this research provides valuable insights into integrating resilience considerations into intersection performance assessment and management strategies. It also underscores how particular intersection designs can impact efficiency and recovery, essential considerations when assessing whether a road or intersection project is resilient.