An Investigation on the Environmental Benefits of a Variable Speed Control Strategy

Details

• Creators:
  Wang, Zhong ; Walton, C. Michael
• Corporate Creators:
  University of Texas at Austin. Center for Transportation Research
• Corporate Contributors:
  Southwest Region University Transportation Center (U.S.)
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Air quality
  • Case studies
  • Environmental impacts
  • Exhaust gases
  • Freeways
  • Nitrogen oxides
  • Traffic speed
  • Variable speed limits
  • Monte Carlo method
  • Ozone
  More +
• Publication/ Report Number:
  SWUTC/06/473700-00072-1
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  Texas ; United States
• TRIS Online Accession Number:
  01042066
• Edition:
  Research Report September 2004 – August 2005
• Corporate Publisher:
  University Transportation Centers Program (U.S.)
• Abstract:
  The safety benefits of variable speed limits (VSL) have already been widely recognized. However, the environmental benefits of variable speed limits have been largely ignored. This paper presents a study of the potential benefits of variable speed limits in reducing mobile emissions. A Monte Carlo simulation approach is developed to evaluate the effectiveness of the idea of using variable speed limits to manage and reduce mobile emissions. A case study is performed on the IH-35 corridor in Austin, Texas. The numerical results indicate that on “Ozone Action” days, by managing the freeway/expressway traffic speeds at appropriate levels through VSL, the major pollutants, such as Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) emissions, could be significantly reduced. Considering the large contribution from freeway/expressway traffic to mobile emissions, a variable speed limit strategy could be an effective measure to balance travelers’ need for mobility with conservation of the environment.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  DTRS99-G-0006 (Grant)
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/40431/dot_40431_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 630.80 KB]
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:6457e259d91718e9641f7bc1204742322e431a64aeb306ab2aa4bb18139b0c25