Evaluation of Innovative Methods to Reduce Stops to Trucks at Isolated Signalized Intersections (7-2972-S)

One research area that has the potential to both improve operations and safety and alleviate infrastructure and maintenance demands from both U.S. and Mexican trucking activities is improved signal operations in rural areas- especially at isolated intersections. Recent advances in sensing technologies and signalization enable more efficient and safe intersection control. In this application, video imaging, or other sensing technology with the capability of differentiating trucks in the traffic stream, and priority algorithms running on computer-based systems that work with existing controllers (or the use of advanced controllers that have their own computer capabilities) may be used as a system that guarantees green time (nonstop conditions) to trucks within some specified distance threshold of the intersection. This research entailed the implementation and analysis of sensing technologies at isolated intersections with high truck volumes and focused on the potential benefits of sensing trucks approaching such an intersection and a priority system that reduces stops to trucks or provide trucks sufficient time to stop comfortably.