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Best Practices for Road Weather Management Version 2.0

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Title:

Weather-Responsive Signal Timing: Practical Guidelines

Abstract:

This paper presents a systematic investigation into the impacts of adverse weather on signal operation and the potential benefits of implementing weather-responsive signal control. The investigation considered isolated and coordinated signalized intersections in urban and suburban areas under different traffic conditions. Both operational and safety analyses were conducted in this investigation. Study results suggest that the operational benefits of weather-responsive signal control are generally significant and that the greatest benefits can be realized at coordinated corridors in town and city centers. Results also suggest that dilemma zones are most likely introduced on a particular intersection approach once the coefficient of friction between tire and pavement drops below the design value of a wet pavement. Further, a set of recommended guidelines that relate weather conditions to operational impacts and potential benefits of weather-responsive signal timing was developed and provided in this study.

Source(s):

85th Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting; Montana State University and University of Utah. For an electronic copy of this resource, please direct your request to WeatherFeedback@dot.gov.

Date: 2005

Author:

Al-Kaisy, Freedman

Keywords:


Traffic control
Traffic management
Safety
Speed
Benefits
Pavement condition

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