BFC 32302

TRAFFIC SIGNAL TIMING: DESIGN EXAMPLE

The geometric and traffic flow values of an intersection are given as follows:

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Peak Hour Flows obtained from 16-hour classified traffic counts:

Morning peak:

100 35 55
150
150
175
195
200
165
65 40 75

Evening peak:

95 35 40
120
140
160
165
185
195
40 55 80

Question

Design a 3 phase fixed-time traffic signal including pedestrian phase for the given
intersection.

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Solution

Average value of the morning and evening peak:

From Left-turn traffic Straight traffic Right-turn traffic Total

Approach (pcu) (pcu) (pcu) (pcu)
NORTH (55+40)/2 = 48 (150+120)/2 = 135 (35+35)/2 = 35 218
SOUTH (65+40)/2 = 53 (165+195)/2 = 180 (40+55)/2 = 48 281
EAST (75+80)/2 = 78 (200+185)/2 = 193 (175+160)/2 = 168 439
WEST (100+95)/2 = 98 (150+140)/2 = 145 (195+165)/2 = 180 423

Projected design values:

Let us say that the project will be implemented the following year.

Assuming the traffic growth rate = 5%, the traffic flow in the following year is:

pcu(future) = pcu(present)  (1 + r)n

where r = traffic growth rate and n = number of years

since n = 1 and r = 0.05, therefore the design values are as follows:

From Left-turn traffic Straight traffic Right-turn traffic Total

Approach (pcu) (pcu) (pcu) (pcu)
NORTH 48(1.05)1 = 50 135(1.05)1 = 142 35(1.05)1 = 37 229
SOUTH 53(1.05)1 = 56 180(1.05)1 = 189 48(1.05)1 = 50 295
EAST 78(1.05)1 = 82 193(1.05)1 = 203 168(1.05)1 = 176 461
WEST 98(1.05)1 = 103 145(1.05)1 = 152 180(1.05)1 = 189 444

 DETERMINATION OF SATURATION FLOW, S

NORTH:

S = 1965 pcu/hr for W = 4.0 m (Table 1.1)

Fg = 1.09 for –3% grade (Table 1.2)

Fl = 0.98 for % left-turn = (50/229)100% = 22% (Table 1.4)
Fr = 0.90 for % right-turn = (37/229)100% = 16% (Table 1.4)

Adjusted SN = 1965  1.09  0.98  0.90 = 1889 pcu/hr

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SOUTH:
S = 1965 pcu/hr for W = 4.0 m (Table 1.1)

Fg = 0.91 for +3% grade (Table 1.2)

Fl = 0.98 for % left-turn = (56/295)100% = 19% (Table 1.4)
Fr = 0.89 for % right-turn = (50/295)100% = 17% (Table 1.4)

Adjusted SS = 1965  0.91  0.98  0.89 = 1560 pcu/hr

EAST:

a) Left lane: S = 1915 pcu/hr for W = 3.75 m (Table 1.1)

Fg = 1.00 for 0% grade (Table 1.2)

Fl = 0.95 for % left-turn = (82/285)100% = 29% (Table 1.4)

Adjusted SEL = 1915  1.00  0.95 = 1819 pcu/hr

b) Right lane: S = 1915 pcu/hr for W = 3.75 m (Table 1.1)

Fg = 1.00 for 0% grade (Table 1.2)

Ft = 0.85 for R < 10 m (Table 1.3)

Adjusted SER = 1915  1.00  0.85 = 1628 pcu/hr

WEST:

a) Left lane: S = 1915 pcu/hr for W = 3.75 m (Table 1.1)

Fg = 1.00 for 0% grade (Table 1.2)

Fl = 0.93 for % left-turn = (103/255)100% = 40% (Table 1.4)

Adjusted SWL = 1915  1.00  0.93 = 1781 pcu/hr

b) Right lane: S = 1915 pcu/hr for W = 3.75 m (Table 1.1)

Fg = 1.00 for 0% grade (Table 1.2)

Ft = 0.85 for R < 10 m (Table 1.3)

Adjusted SWR = 1915  1.00  0.85 = 1628 pcu/hr

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Consider the following 3-phase traffic signal:

Phase 1:

Phase 2:

Phase 3:

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 DETERMINATION OF Y VALUE

PHASE 1 2 3
MOVEMENT WL EL WR ER N S
IDENTIFICATION
q 255 285 189 176 229 295
s 1781 1817 1628 1628 1889 1560
y = q/s 0.143 0.157 0.116 0.108 0.121 0.189
Y 0.157 0.116 0.189

Y = 0.157 + 0.116 + 0.189 = 0.462

Since Y < 0.85, we can proceed with the timing calculations.

 DETERMINATION OF TOTAL LOST TIME PER CYCLE, L

Assume amber time, a = 3 seconds, all red interval, R = 2 seconds and driver reaction
time, l = 2 seconds

Therefore intergreen time, I = a + R

=3+2
= 5 seconds

Total lost time, L =  (I – a) +  l

= 3(5 – 3) + 3(2)
= 12 seconds

 DETERMINATION OF OPTIMUM CYCLE TIME, Co

Optimum cycle time, Co = 1.5L + 5

1–Y
= 1.5(12) + 5
1 – 0.462
= 43 seconds

Design Co can be between 75% to 150% of the calculated Co.

For simplicity, take design Co = 60 seconds.

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 DETERMINATION OF SIGNAL SETTINGS

Total effective green time = Co – L

= 60 – 12
= 48 seconds

Effective green time, g = y (Co – L)

Y

g1 = 0.157(48) = 16 seconds

0.462

g2 = 0.116(48) = 12 seconds

0.462

g3 = 0.189(48) = 20 seconds

0.462

g1 + g2 + g3 = Co – L = 48 seconds  O.K.!

Actual green time, G = g + l + R

G1 = 16 + 2 + 2 = 20 seconds

G2 = 12 + 2 + 2 = 16 seconds

G3 = 20 + 2 + 2 = 24 seconds

Controller setting time, K = G – a – R

K1 = 20 – 3 – 2 = 15 seconds

K2 = 16 – 3 – 2 = 11 seconds

K3 = 24 – 3 – 2 = 19 seconds

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CHECK FO PEDESTRIAN REQUIREMENT FOR GREEN TIME

(Note: Check only the critical pedestrian crossings where W is the widest)

Gped = 5 + (W/1.22) - I

= 5 + (8.5/1.22) - 5

= 6.97 seconds  7 seconds

In the calculation, green time available for critical pedestrian crossing is in phase 3 where
actual green time, G3 = 24 seconds.

Since G > Gped, therefore it is adequate.

TIMING SCHEDULE

0 15 18 60
Phase 1: G A R

0 20 31 34 60
Phase 2: R G A R

0 36 55 58 60
Phase 3: R G AR

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BASIC TERMINOLOGY

Approach A lane or group of lanes through which traffic enters the

intersection
Cycle One complete sequence (for all approaches) of signal
indications (green, amber, red)
Cycle time The total time for the signal to complete one sequence of
signal indication
Interval A period of time during which all signal indications
remain constant
Change interval The amber plus red intervals that provide for clearance of
the intersection before conflicting traffic movements are
released
Green time The time within a cycle in which an approach has the
green indication
Lost time Time during which the intersection is not effectively used
by any approach
Effective green The time that is effectively available to the permitted
traffic movements.
It is the equivalent time during which the actual flow can
be maintained at the saturation flow level.
Taken to be the green time plus the change interval minus
the lost time for the approach
Effective red The time during which a given traffic movement is
effectively not permitted to move.
It is the cycle length minus the effective green time.
Saturation flow The maximum flow that could pass through an
intersection, from a given approach if that approach were
allocated all of the cycle time as effective green with no
lost time.
Lane capacity The maximum flow that can pass through an intersection
under prevailing roadway and traffic conditions, given
the effective green time allocated to the approach.
It is the saturation flow multiplied by the ratio of
effective green to cycle length.

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Signal timing The operating characteristics of the signal with the

parameters being cycle length and the effective green and
red times allocated to the intersection approach
Pre-timed Signal A signal whose signal timing is fixed over specified time
periods and does not change in response to traffic flow
variation
Traffic phase A part of the cycle time allocated to any traffic
movement or any combination of traffic movements
receiving the right of way.
Any change in the right of way marks the beginning of a
new phase.
Intergreen period The time between the end of the green period of the
phase losing the right of way and the beginning of the
green period of the phase gaining the right of way.
Thus, it includes amber time plus any all-red time
between the two green periods.

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