Intelligent Detection-Control System for Rural Signalized Intersections (0-4022-2)

Traffic engineers are often faced with operational and safety challenges at rural, high-speed signalized intersections. Vehicle-actuated control, combined with multiple advance detectors, is often used to improve operations and safety. However, this type of detection and control has not always eliminated rear-end or right-angle crashes. Crashes sometimes continue to occur at high-speed intersections, and delays to traffic movements can be unnecessarily long. This project developed and tested a detection-control system that is capable of minimizing both delay and crash frequency at rural intersections. This report documents the work performed, findings, and conclusions reached as a result of the two-year research project. During the first year, an intelligent detection-control system was developed and evaluated. The development consisted of defining the system's functionality and the hardware needed to implement it in the field. The evaluation consisted of using simulation software to exercise the algorithm for a range of traffic and geometric conditions. During the second year, the system was installed at two intersections and evaluated using field data. The results of this evaluation indicated that the system is able to provide equal or lower delays for a reasonable range of speeds, flow rates, and turn percentages. The results also indicate that the system will reduce the number of drivers running the red indication.