Closed-loop traffic control systems can be operated by either Time-of-Day (TOD) mode or Traffic Responsive Plan Selection (TRPS) mode. When properly configured, the TRPS mode has the potential to provide an optimal operation due to its ability to accommodate abnormal traffic conditions such as incidents, special events, and holiday traffic. TRPS mode can also reduce the need for frequent redesign/updates to signal timing plans. To date, there have not been any formal guidelines for selection of robust and optimal TRPS system parameters and thresholds. Consequently, traffic engineers usually revert to the TOD mode of operation for its ease of setup. This report provides a new methodology for robust and optimal selection of TRPS parameters and thresholds. The report presents an innovative framework of TRPS system setup following a comprehensive approach that incorporates a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm and a supervised discriminant analysis. The developed guidelines are presented in simplified tables to facilitate their implementation. Guidelines were verified by using hardware-in-the-loop simulations. Compared to just the worst possible solutions encountered during the optimization, the final solution provided a concurrent savings of 53 percent in delay and 19 percent in stops.

This report serves as a comprehensive guide to traffic signal timing and documents the tasks completed in association with its development. The focus of this document is on traffic signal control principles, practices, and procedures. It describes the relationship between traffic signal timing and transportation policy and addresses maintenance and operations of traffic signals. It represents a synthesis of traffic signal timing concepts and their application and focuses on the use of detection, related timing parameters, and resulting effects to users at the intersection. It discusses advanced topics briefly to raise awareness related to their use and application. The purpose of the Signal Timing Manual is to provide direction and guidance to managers, supervisors, and practitioners based on sound practice to proactively and comprehensively improve signal timing. The outcome of properly training staff and proactively operating and maintaining traffic signals is signal timing that reduces congestion and fuel consumption ultimately improving our quality of life and the air we breathe. This manual provides an easy-to-use concise, practical and modular guide on signal timing. The elements of signal timing from policy and funding considerations to timing plan development, assessment, and maintenance are covered in the manual. The manual is the culmination of research into practices across North America and serves as a reference for a range of practitioners, from those involved in the day to day management, operation and maintenance of traffic signals to those that plan, design, operate and maintain these systems.

"TRB's National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 812: Signal Timing Manual - Second Edition, covers fundamentals and advanced concepts related to signal timing. The report addresses ways to develop a signal timing program based on the operating environment, users, user priorities by movement, and local operational objectives. Advanced concepts covered in the report include the systems engineering process, adaptive signal control, preferential vehicle treatments, and timing strategies for over-saturated conditions, special events, and inclement weather. An overview PowerPoint presentation accompanies the report." --

"For more than 50 years, the Transportation Research Record has been internationally recognized as one of the preeminent peer-reviewed journals for transportation research papers from authors in the United States and from around the world. One of the most cited transportation journals, the TRR offers unparalleled depth and breadth in the coverage of transportation topics from both academic and practitioner perspectives. All modes of passenger and freight transportation are addressed in papers covering a wide array of disciplines, including policy, planning, administration, economics and financing, operations, construction, design, maintenance, safety, and more."--Publisher's website

An intelligent transportation system (ITS) offers considerable opportunities for increasing the safety, efficiency, and predictability of traffic flow and reducing vehicle emissions. Sensors (or detectors) enable the effective gathering of arterial and controlled-access highway information in support of automatic incident detection, active transportation and demand management, traffic-adaptive signal control, and ramp and freeway metering and dispatching of emergency response providers. As traffic flow sensors are integrated with big data sources such as connected and cooperative vehicles, and cell phones and other Bluetooth-enabled devices, more accurate and timely traffic flow information can be obtained. The book examines the roles of traffic management centers that serve cities, counties, and other regions, and the collocation issues that ensue when multiple agencies share the same space. It describes sensor applications and data requirements for several ITS strategies; sensor technologies; sensor installation, initialization, and field-testing procedures; and alternate sources of traffic flow data. The book addresses concerns related to the introduction of automated and connected vehicles, and the benefits that systems engineering and national ITS architectures in the US, Europe, Japan, and elsewhere bring to ITS. Sensor and data fusion benefits to traffic management are described, while the Bayesian and Dempster–Shafer approaches to data fusion are discussed in more detail. ITS Sensors and Architectures for Traffic Management and Connected Vehicles suits the needs of personnel in transportation institutes and highway agencies, and students in undergraduate or graduate transportation engineering courses.