Florida State University Libraries Electronic Theses, Treatises and Dissertations The Graduate School 2006 Simulation Analysis of Truck Restricted and HOV Lanes Saidi Siuhi Follow this and additional works at the FSU Digital Library. For more information, please contact [email protected] THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING SIMULATION ANALYSIS OF TRUCK RESTRICTED AND HOV LANES By SAIDI SIUHI A Thesis submitted to the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Degree Awarded: Fall Semester, 2006 The members of the Committee approve the thesis of Saidi Siuhi defended on November 06, 2006. Renatus N. Mussa Professor Directing Thesis John O. Sobanjo Committee Member Wei-Chou V. Ping Committee Member Approved: Kamal Tawfiq, Chair, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Ching-Jen Chen, Dean, College of Engineering The Office of Graduate Studies Has Verified and Approved the Above Named Committee Members. ii To my family iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my major professor Dr. Renatus Mussa for his outstanding academic contributions and financial support he provided me during my study at Florida State University. His profound intellectual abilities, tireless efforts, and willingness to share his in-depth knowledge and experience provided me with valuable elements essential for my academic and career progressions. Moreover, I am grateful to my Committee Members, Dr. Wei-Chou V. Ping and Dr. John Sobanjo for their contributions. I am particularly grateful to the management of the Florida State University and Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) for their financial support. In this context, the following past and present researchers at the Traffic Engineering Laboratory are gratefully acknowledged for their valuable inputs, supports, and criticism: Mr. Timur Mauga, Dr. Victor Muchuruza, Dr. Thobias Sando, Mr. Deo Chimba, Miss Doreen Kobelo, Miss Judith Lwitiko, Mr. Saidi Mchumo, Mr. Donation Mkubulo, and Miss Mahinga Hekeno. The continued support and encouragement of my family were essential ingredients for successful completion of my studies at Florida State University. I am deeply grateful to all of them. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Tables ................................................................................................................................ vii List of Figures..............................................................................................................................viii Abstract.......................................................................................................................................... ix INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background ...................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Objectives of the Study .................................................................................................... 2 1.3 VISSIM Simulation Model .............................................................................................. 3 LITERATURE REVIEW AND CURRENT PRACTICES ........................................................... 6 2.1 Types of Restrictions on Urban Freeways ....................................................................... 6 2.2 Vehicles Targeted by Lane Restriction ............................................................................ 7 2.3 Benefits of Truck Restrictions on Urban Freeways ......................................................... 8 2.3.1 Improve Operations and Safety.................................................................................... 9 2.3.2 Equalize Pavement Wear-and-Tear............................................................................ 10 2.4 Negative Impacts of Truck Restriction on Urban Freeways.......................................... 11 2.4.1 Traffic Operations and safety..................................................................................... 11 2.4.2 Enforcement................................................................................................................ 13 2.4.3 Pavement Wear and Rate of Deterioration ................................................................ 14 2.4.4 Economic Costs .......................................................................................................... 14 2.5 Effectiveness of Truck Restrictions on Urban Freeways............................................... 14 2.5.1 Florida Truck Lane Restrictions................................................................................. 15 2.5.2 Illinois and Wisconsin Lane Restrictions ................................................................... 16 2.5.3 Capital Beltway Lane Restrictions ............................................................................. 17 2.6 Summary of the Literature Review ................................................................................ 19 v METHODOLOGY ....................................................................................................................... 20 3.1 Selection of the Study Corridor...................................................................................... 20 3.1.1 Truck Lane Restriction on Interstate 75..................................................................... 22 3.1.2 Truck Lane Restriction on Interstate 95..................................................................... 22 3.1.3 Truck Lane Restriction on Homestead Extension of Florida’s Turnpike (HEFT) ..... 23 3.2 Description of the Study Corridor.................................................................................. 24 3.3 Data Collection............................................................................................................... 27 3.4 VISSIM Network Coding............................................................................................... 31 3.5 Model Calibration, Verification and Validation ............................................................ 32 SIMULATION RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ......................................................................... 34 4.1 Evaluation of Travel Time ............................................................................................. 34 4.2 Evaluation of Travel Speeds .......................................................................................... 39 4.3 Traffic Queue Length..................................................................................................... 45 4.4 Number of Lane Changes............................................................................................... 46 4.5 Speed Differences Among Lanes................................................................................... 48 4.6 Vehicle Distribution....................................................................................................... 49 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ....................................................................... 54 APPENDIX A: Vehicle Routing Algorithm................................................................................ 58 APPENDIX B: Field Data used for Calibrating the Model.......................................................... 60 APPENDIX C: Left Lane Restriction Peak Hour Simulation Results ......................................... 76 APPENDIX D: Left Lane Restriction Off Peak Hour Simulation Results................................. 115 REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................... 167 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH ...................................................................................................... 169 vi LIST OF TABLES TABLE 1 Characteristics of Truck Lane Restriction Corridors in Florida ................................. 20 TABLE 2 Study Corridor Characteristics.................................................................................... 25 TABLE 3 Study Corridor Traffic Operating Characteristics....................................................... 27 TABLE 4 Travel Time Results for Peak Traffic Flow (seconds per mile).................................. 35 TABLE 5 Travel Time Results for Off Peak Traffic Flow (seconds per mile) ........................... 36 TABLE 6 Travel Time Results for Peak Traffic Flow (seconds per mile).................................. 37 TABLE 7 Travel Time Results for Peak Traffic Flow (seconds per mile).................................. 39 TABLE 8 Travel Speeds per Lane for Peak Traffic Flow (mi/hr)............................................... 40 TABLE 9 Travel Speeds per Lane for Off Peak Traffic Flow (mi/hr) ........................................ 41 TABLE 10 Travel Speeds per Lane for Peak Traffic Flow (mi/hr)............................................. 42 TABLE 11 Travel Speeds per Lane for Peak Traffic Flow (mi/hr)............................................. 44 TABLE 12 Lane Occupancy Ratios for Peak Hour—Left Lane Restricted................................ 50 TABLE 13 Lane Occupancy Ratios for Off Peak Northbound Traffic....................................... 51 TABLE 14 Lane Occupancy Ratios for Peak Hour—Center Lane Restricted............................ 52 TABLE 15 Lane Occupancy Ratios for Peak Hour—Right Lane Restricted.............................. 53 vii LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE