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Guidelines for Activating Ramp Meters During Off-Peak Hours and Weekends
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2022-05-01
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[PDF-4.52 MB]
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Edition:Final Report December 2020 – May 2022
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Abstract:Ramp metering is a Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSM&O) strategy that utilizes signals installed at freeway on-ramps to dynamically manage traffic entering the freeway. Ramp metering signals (RMSs) are usually activated during peak hours to alleviate recurring congestion. However, recurrent congestion during peak hours constitutes less than half of all congestion. It is the non-recurrent congestion, resulting from traffic incidents, work zones, adverse weather conditions, special events, etc., that adversely impacts the performance of the freeway. The primary goal of this research was to develop specific guidelines to activate ramp meters during off-peak hours and on weekends in response to non-recurring congestion. The analysis was based on a 10-mile section of I-95 between Ives Dairy Road and NW 62nd Street in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Real-time traffic data were used to develop the guidelines for activating and deactivating RMSs in response to incidents and adverse weather conditions (i.e., rain) during off-peak hours on weekdays. Since the RMSs are not operational on weekends, a microscopic simulation approach was used to develop the guidelines for activating and deactivating RMSs in response to incidents on weekends. The potential benefits of activating RMSs in response to non-recurring congestion during off-peak hours and on weekends were quantified based on the developed guidelines. Findings suggest that activating the first RMS upstream of the incident location could help improve traffic flow conditions during daytime off-peak periods. During nighttime off-peak periods, results indicated that activating the first RMS upstream and downstream of the incident location could help improve traffic conditions upstream. Findings also suggest that activating the RMSs during daytime and nighttime off-peak periods could help improve traffic flow conditions during rain. During weekends, the results indicated that activation of RMSs in response to incidents increased the average speed and also reduced the average delay of vehicles in the roadway network. The developed guidelines were incorporated into a spreadsheet application designed to automatically determine when to activate or deactivate RMSs during off-peak hours and weekends based on prevailing traffic conditions. Recommendations for the guidelines to be included in the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District Six Standard Operating Guidelines (SOGs) were also provided. The proposed guidelines will enable the FDOT District Six to use ramp metering to improve traffic operations and safety during off-peak hours and weekends.
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