MPC
Project Details

Title:	Modeling and Evaluation of Traffic Signal Preemption near Railroad Crossings in Small Urban Area
Principal Investigators:	Amiy Varma
University:	North Dakota State University
Status:	Terminated
Year:	2010-11
Project #:	MPC-350
RH Display ID:	14401
Keywords:	grade crossing protection systems, railroad grade crossings, railroad safety, traffic congestion, traffic control devices, traffic signal preemption, urban areas

Abstract

Railroad crossings are prevalent in small urban areas in the Mountain Plains region. The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) has established different levels of priority control, which deal with different degree of modification of signal timing plans based on operating conditions and type of priority. Traffic signal preemption control is the most restriction priority control strategy. When the operation of a traffic signal is preempted, there is unconditional interruption of the normal signal timing. Signals on arterial corridors adjacent to railroad track have to be preempted from safety and efficiency standpoint. Different communities have practiced different traffic signal pre-emption strategies for signals near railroad crossings. The non-responsive traffic signal preemption may cause queue, congestion, and delay on surface/arterial streets as well queuing near tracks. Lack of clearance time for queues near railroad track can have safety implications. Traffic signal preemption disrupts the normal traffic signal cycle and the recovery time associated with this disruption is of interest and may result in congestion and increased delays on adjacent surface streets. This research would provide practical guidelines for low-cost operational and safety improvements using and related to traffic signal preemption strategies of signals near railroad crossings in small urban areas.