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The impact of speed limits on traffic equilibrium and system performance in networks

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  • Yang, Hai
  • Wang, Xiaolei
  • Yin, Yafeng

Abstract

Speed limits are usually imposed on roads in an attempt to enhance safety and sometimes serve the purpose of reducing fuel consumption and vehicular emissions as well. Most previous studies up to date focus on investigation of the effects of speed limits from a local perspective, while network-wide traffic reallocation effects are overlooked. This paper makes the first attempt to investigate how a link-specific speed limit law reallocates traffic flow in an equilibrium manner at a macroscopic network level. We find that, although the link travel time–flow relationship is altered after a speed limit is imposed, the standard traffic assignment method still applies. With the commonly adopted assumptions, the uniqueness of link travel times at user equilibrium (UE) remains valid, and the UE flows on links with non-binding speed limits are still unique. The UE flows on other links with binding speed limits may not be unique but can be explicitly characterized by a polyhedron or a linear system of equalities and inequalities. Furthermore, taking into account the traffic reallocation effects of speed limits, we compare the capability of speed limits and road pricing for decentralizing desirable network flow patterns. Although from a different perspective for regulating traffic flows with a different mechanism, a speed limit law may play the same role as a toll charge scheme and perform better than some negative (rebate) toll schemes under certain conditions for network flow management.

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  • Yang, Hai & Wang, Xiaolei & Yin, Yafeng, 2012. "The impact of speed limits on traffic equilibrium and system performance in networks," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 46(10), pages 1295-1307.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:transb:v:46:y:2012:i:10:p:1295-1307
    DOI: 10.1016/j.trb.2012.08.002
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Michael Greenstone, 2002. "A Reexamination of Resource Allocation Responses to the 65-MPH Speed Limit," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 40(2), pages 271-278, April.
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    Cited by:

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    7. Nitzsche, Eric & Tscharaktschiew, Stefan, 2013. "Efficiency of speed limits in cities: A spatial computable general equilibrium assessment," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 23-48.
    8. Wang, Judith Y.T. & Ehrgott, Matthias & Chen, Anthony, 2014. "A bi-objective user equilibrium model of travel time reliability in a road network," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 4-15.
    9. Wang, Xiaolei & Ye, Hongbo & Yang, Hai, 2015. "Decentralizing Pareto-efficient network flow/speed patterns with hybrid schemes of speed limit and road pricing," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 51-64.
    10. Nourinejad, Mehdi & Gandomi, Amir & Roorda, Matthew J., 2020. "Illegal parking and optimal enforcement policies with search friction," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
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