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Operational Efficiency
A street's operational efficiency is improved by increasing
the capability of the street to carry vehicular traffic and
people. In terms of vehicular traffic, a street's capacity
is the maximum number of vehicles that can pass a given point
on a roadway during a given period under prevailing roadway
and traffic conditions. Capacity is affected by the physical
features of the roadway, nature of traffic, and weather.
Physical ways to improve vehicular capacity include:
Street widening - widening a street from two to four
travel lanes more than doubles the capacity by providing
additional maneuverability for traffic.
Intersection improvements - increasing the turning
radii, adding exclusive turn lanes, and channelizing
movements can improve the capacity of an existing
intersection
.
Improving vertical and horizontal alignment - reduces
the congestion caused by slow moving vehicles.
Eliminating roadside obstacles - reduces side friction
and improves a driver's field of sight.
Operational ways to improve street capacity include:
Control of access - A roadway with complete access
control can often carry three times the traffic handled
by a non-controlled access street with identical lane
width and number.
Parking removal - Increases capacity by providing
additional street width for traffic flow and reducing
friction to flow caused by parking and unparking
vehicles
.
One-way operation - The capacity of a street can
sometimes be increased 20-50%, depending upon turning
movements and street width, by initiating one-way
traffic operations. One-way streets also can improve
traffic flow by decreasing potential traffic conflicts
and simplifying traffic signal coordination.
Reversible Lanes - Reversible traffic lanes may be used
to increase street capacity in situations where heavy
directional flows occur during peak periods.
Signal phasing and coordination - Uncoordinated signals
and poor signal phasing restrict traffic flow by
creating excessive stop-and-go operation.
Altering travel demand is a third way to improve the
efficiency of existing streets. Travel demand can be reduced
or altered in the following ways:
VIII-4
Object Description
Description
| Title | Page 80 |
| Full Text | Operational Efficiency A street's operational efficiency is improved by increasing the capability of the street to carry vehicular traffic and people. In terms of vehicular traffic, a street's capacity is the maximum number of vehicles that can pass a given point on a roadway during a given period under prevailing roadway and traffic conditions. Capacity is affected by the physical features of the roadway, nature of traffic, and weather. Physical ways to improve vehicular capacity include: Street widening - widening a street from two to four travel lanes more than doubles the capacity by providing additional maneuverability for traffic. Intersection improvements - increasing the turning radii, adding exclusive turn lanes, and channelizing movements can improve the capacity of an existing intersection . Improving vertical and horizontal alignment - reduces the congestion caused by slow moving vehicles. Eliminating roadside obstacles - reduces side friction and improves a driver's field of sight. Operational ways to improve street capacity include: Control of access - A roadway with complete access control can often carry three times the traffic handled by a non-controlled access street with identical lane width and number. Parking removal - Increases capacity by providing additional street width for traffic flow and reducing friction to flow caused by parking and unparking vehicles . One-way operation - The capacity of a street can sometimes be increased 20-50%, depending upon turning movements and street width, by initiating one-way traffic operations. One-way streets also can improve traffic flow by decreasing potential traffic conflicts and simplifying traffic signal coordination. Reversible Lanes - Reversible traffic lanes may be used to increase street capacity in situations where heavy directional flows occur during peak periods. Signal phasing and coordination - Uncoordinated signals and poor signal phasing restrict traffic flow by creating excessive stop-and-go operation. Altering travel demand is a third way to improve the efficiency of existing streets. Travel demand can be reduced or altered in the following ways: VIII-4 |
