Best Practices for Road Weather Management Version 2.0

Title:

Investigating the Impacts of Rainy Weather at Isolated Signalized Intersections

Abstract:

This report examines the impacts of wet weather on traffic flow and signalized intersections, and it also examines the feasibility of mitigating these impacts. An intersection in the field was video taped to obtain data on the saturation flow rates during dry and wet weather conditions. Free flow speed data was also collected during wet and dry conditions to determine if a change in desired speed existed. The saturation flow rate decreased by approximately 4.7 percent, and the free flow speeds decreased by 9.4 percent during wet weather. Data were used to calibrate the VISSIM microscopic simulation model, and simulate an isolated intersection in both dry and wet conditions. When simulated under a variety of input vehicle volumes, it was determined that there are reductions in the capacity of the intersection, and increases in delay, queue lengths, travel time, and number of stops during wet weather. New signal timing plans were developed to mitigate the effects of wet weather.

Source(s):

Center for Transportation Studies, University of Virginia; prepared for the Center for ITS Implementation Research

https://trid.trb.org/view/789701

Date: 2006

Author:

Demetsky, Tantillo

Keywords:

Pavement condition
Traffic management
Traffic modeling
Mobility
Traffic signal
Speed
Volume
Capacity
Arterial management
Precipitation

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