Making CAV Deployments Compatible with Complete Streets Objectives for Safe and Efficient Operation Phase I

Details

• Creators:
  Mahmassani, Hani S. ; Hegde, Sharika J. ; Raymer, Meredith ; Khakpour, Amirmohammad
• Corporate Creators:
  Center for Connected and Automated Transportation (CCAT) ; Northwestern University (Evanston, Ill.)
• Corporate Contributors:
  United States. Department of Transportation. University Transportation Centers (UTC) Program ; United States. Department of Transportation. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Autonomous Vehicles Complete Streets Congestion Management Systems Connected Vehicles Micromobility Shared Mobility Transportation Planning Urban Areas
• Publication/ Report Number:
  CCAT-NU-2025-3
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States
• Edition:
  Final Report (December 2023 – September 2025)
• Corporate Publisher:
  Center for Connected and Automated Transportation. Northwestern University
• Abstract:
  This research examines how Connected and Autonomous Vehicle (CAV) deployments can be made compatible with Complete Streets objectives through strategic infrastructure design and systematic interaction management to optimize urban space utilization. Urban transportation systems face increasing pressure to accommodate both autonomous vehicle technology and human-centered design principles within limited street space. Three analytical approaches were employed to address this challenge. Network-level analysis using area-based Network Fundamental Diagrams quantified multimodal traffic flow through SUMO microsimulations across varying infrastructure configurations. Microscopic interaction modeling used extended Drift Diffusion Models to analyze pedestrian-CAV encounters in two-lane environments, examining how different behavioral parameters affect safety and efficiency. A probabilistic space utilization framework employed Monte Carlo simulations to identify conflict hotspots and evaluate competing demands for street space. Results demonstrate that modal separation produces substantial efficiency gains, with network throughput increasing from 0.09 to 0.18 veh/min/m² when transitioning from shared to separated infrastructure. Pedestrian separation through sidewalks generates the largest initial benefits across all modes. However, in space-constrained environments where complete separation is impossible, managing interactions between different modes becomes critical for maintaining both safety and efficiency. Optimal pedestrian-CAV interaction parameters minimize conflicts while preserving reasonable crossing opportunities, and the probabilistic framework successfully identifies areas where systematic management strategies are most needed. The research concludes that infrastructure separation provides optimal outcomes, but effective management of modal interactions is essential for maximizing space utilization efficiency in real-world urban environments. Transportation planners can apply this methodological toolkit to evaluate design alternatives, prioritize separation where feasible, and implement evidence-based strategies for managing unavoidable conflicts in space-constrained locations.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  69A3551747105
• Collection(s):
  University Transportation Centers Autonomous Vehicles
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:c75bfca1d7f9ffadb7704ba1b3201a864ad6d366e576bc72fd28ae942680d83f28a986b14cba4ecfbaa0b892ca8ea26e199ece06f2df030137dc81b9de502ad2
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/87580/dot_87580_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 7.23 MB ]