An Optimization Control Algorithm of Traffic Signals for Urban Arterials

An optimization model to the application of signal coordination for traffic arterials based on multi-group partition is proposed. The approach divides a large signalized arterial into subgroups with three to five signals in each subgroup according to actual traffic conditions. In each subgroup, signal coordination between neighboring intersections is built by a common cycle and offsets. A case study was presented to illustrate how the proposed approach could be applied, and the signal timing solutions were compared with the solutions from traditional signal coordination method using well-known TRANSYT-7F. Evaluation of the timing solutions using CORSIM simulator indicated that the proposed approach improved efficiencies for traffic arterials and reduced the vehicles’ delay time.