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Some Properties of Flows at Freeway Bottlenecks

Author

Listed:
  • Lei Zhang
  • David Levinson

    (Nexus (Networks, Economics, and Urban Systems) Research Group, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Minnesota)

Abstract

Capacity of a freeway segment should only be measured when it is an active bottleneck. The properties of flows at active freeway bottlenecks bear on both the definition of capacity and the procedure of capacity analysis. Past studies have examined the flow features at bottlenecks on several freeways in Toronto, Ontario, and San Diego, California. This study examined twentyseven active bottlenecks in the Twin Cities metro area, Minnesota, for a seven-week period. The analysis focuses on the properties of pre-queue transition flows (PQF) and queue discharge flows (QDF) averaged across various time intervals (thirty-second, daily average, and long-run average). It is found that the percentage flows drop after upstream queues form at all studied bottlenecks range from 2 percent to 11 percent. The 30-second QDFs display high variation and should not be assumed to be constant. The daily average QDFs at each studied bottleneck follows a normal distribution based on two normality tests and visual inspection of the normal probability plot. Results also suggest that the long-run average QDFs (mean 2016 pc/ln/hr) and PQFs (mean 2124 pc/ln/hr) are both normally distributed. The implication of these empirical findings on capacity estimation is also discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Lei Zhang & David Levinson, 2004. "Some Properties of Flows at Freeway Bottlenecks," Working Papers 200403, University of Minnesota: Nexus Research Group.
    • Handle: RePEc:nex:wpaper:bottleneckproperties
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    File URL: https://hdl.handle.net/11299/179903
    File Function: First version, 2007
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zhang, Lei & Levinson, David, 2010. "Ramp metering and freeway bottleneck capacity," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 44(4), pages 218-235, May.
    2. Cassidy, Michael J. & Bertini, Robert L., 1999. "Some traffic features at freeway bottlenecks," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 25-42, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Cited by:

    1. Shengnan Li & Hu Yang & Minglun Li & Jianjun Dai & Pu Wang, 2023. "A Highway On-Ramp Control Approach Integrating Percolation Bottleneck Analysis and Vehicle Source Identification," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-15, August.
    2. Zhang, Lei & Levinson, David, 2010. "Ramp metering and freeway bottleneck capacity," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 44(4), pages 218-235, May.
    3. Anderson, Michael L. & Davis, Lucas W., 2020. "An empirical test of hypercongestion in highway bottlenecks," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    4. Lapardhaja, Servet & Jalota, Devansh & Doig, Jean & Almubarak, Abdullah & Cassidy, Michael, 2021. "Testing alternative treatments for underused carpool lanes on narrow freeways," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 139-149.
    5. Michael L. Anderson & Lucas W. Davis, 2018. "Two Empirical Tests of Hypercongestion," NBER Working Papers 24469, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    6. Banks, James, 2006. "New Approach to Bottleneck Capacity Analysis: Second Interim Report, Work Accomplished During Fiscal Year 2004-2005," Institute of Transportation Studies, Research Reports, Working Papers, Proceedings qt4089969k, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Berkeley.
    7. Hall, Jonathan D., 2018. "Pareto improvements from Lexus Lanes: The effects of pricing a portion of the lanes on congested highways," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 158(C), pages 113-125.
    8. Banks, James H., 2006. "New Approach to Bottleneck Capacity Analysis: Final Report," Institute of Transportation Studies, Research Reports, Working Papers, Proceedings qt6hm1g7s6, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Berkeley.
    9. Han, Youngjun & Chen, Danjue & Ahn, Soyoung, 2017. "Variable speed limit control at fixed freeway bottlenecks using connected vehicles," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 113-134.
    10. Liu, Wei & Yin, Yafeng & Yang, Hai, 2015. "Effectiveness of variable speed limits considering commuters’ long-term response," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 81(P2), pages 498-519.
    11. Chow, Andy H.F. & Lu, Xiao-Yun & Qiu, Tony Z., 2009. "Empirical Analysis of Traffic Breakdown Probability Distribution with Respect to Speed and Occupancy," Institute of Transportation Studies, Research Reports, Working Papers, Proceedings qt35j7r3t5, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Berkeley.

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    JEL classification:

    • R41 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Transportation: Demand, Supply, and Congestion; Travel Time; Safety and Accidents; Transportation Noise
    • R48 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Government Pricing and Policy

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