Dedicated traffic management system for truck and vehicle platooning on intersections

Abstract

Congestion is a major problem on the Dutch road networks, which is a widely researched topic. Multiple factors contribute to this increasing congestion, examples of these are increasing traffic demands and inefficient traffic signal control. The focus of this research is on arterial traffic networks consisting of signalized intersections. The effects of two innovations that aim to reduce congestion have been evaluated, which are intelligent traffic signal control using the data of connected vehicles and truck/vehicle platooning. Research has shown promising results in both areas, but there are still some gaps to be filled. Especially in the area of truck/vehicle platooning on intersections and the combination of intelligent intersection control and truck/vehicle platooning. These two innovations have therefore been combined in this study to develop a dedicated traffic management system that leverages vehicle connectivity and platooning capabilities to control the traffic on a signalized intersection. The objective of this study is to determine the traffic flow effects that this system has in mixed traffic conditions. This leads to the following main research question:

What dedicated traffic management system can potentially improve the traffic flows on a logistic corridor where truck platoons drive in mixed traffic (consisting of regular and connected vehicles) and what are the traffic flow effects on this corridor when the system is implemented?

The effectiveness of this dedicated traffic management has been determined by doing a microsimulation on an existing logistic corridor. This study is commissioned by the Province of Noord-Holland, so the chosen corridor for this is located in Noord-Holland. This corridor is a part of the logistic corridor between the largest flower auction in the world, Royal FloraHolland, and the A4 highway. The used part of the corridor consists of three intersections, from which the intersection between the N201 and Koolhovenlaan has been used to implement the dedicated traffic management system. The currently used signal controller on this intersection is a vehicle-actuated signal controller, which uses measurements done by induction loops to update the signal phase and timings plan. The intersection is also a part of a field experiment where freight traffic is granted priority based on vehicle connectivity…