Current practice for signal timing and signal coordination is to develop and operate a limited number of predetermined time-of-day plans. Coordination plans are commonly developed for and based on weekday morning, mid-day, evening, and weekend peak periods. During the remaining time periods signals are operating either in fully/semi-actuated modes or fixed modes. Engineers often face a dilemma to decide when signals should be coordinated. This project aims at developing quantitative guidelines. One of the most significant benefits of signal coordination is the reduction of number of stops which has received less attention in previous studies. First, a probabilistic model that predicts the expected number of stops on non-coordinated arterials was developed. The model was validated through VISSIM simulation of a real signalized arterial, Sparks Blvd. in Sparks, Nevada. The results confirmed that the model was highly reliable in estimating the number of stops. Based on the probabilistic model, a practical signal timing guideline was developed according to the percentage of stops on non-coordinated arterials. Finally, a case study was conducted to demonstrate the application of the guideline. The same Sparks Blvd. arterial was used in the case study but with various traffic demand conditions. The case study confirmed the practicality of guideline.

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.

This report documents research conducted to develop better strategies to use with traffic actuated control in coordinated signal systems. Recommendations are presented on more efficient strategies for coordination using actuated control. Representative arterial traffic control problems were modeled into a statistical testbed using TRAF-NETSIM. A set of scenarios covering a range of arterial geometry, traffic volumes and traffic actuated control settings were tested and evaluated. PASSER II-90 was used to develop base signal timing plans. Chapter One describes the various objectives that were intended to be achieved by this research. It also discusses signal coordination strategies for actuated control. Chapter Two presents the background information and various traffic engineering simulation models available for use in this study. Chapters Three and Four explain the study methodology adopted for this research and the results obtained for the various study scenarios, respectively. Chapter Five presents the conclusions and recommendations of the research.

This handbook, which was developed in recognition of the need for the compilation and dissemination of information on advanced traffic control systems, presents the basic principles for the planning, design, and implementation of such systems for urban streets and freeways. The presentation concept and organization of this handbook is developed from the viewpoint of systems engineering. Traffic control studies are described, and traffic control and surveillance concepts are reviewed. Hardware components are outlined, and computer concepts, and communication concepts are stated. Local and central controllers are described, as well as display, television and driver information systems. Available systems technology and candidate system definition, evaluation and implementation are also covered. The management of traffic control systems is discussed.

Most U.S. urban traffic signal systems deploy multiple signal timing plans to account for daily variability of traffic demand (i.e. morning peak, midday, afternoon peak, off peak and night). Groups of signals (belonging to the one zone or section) along an urban arterial, usually operate in a coordinated manner. This essentially means that timing plans change at the same time for all the signals in the group, so as to facilitate vehicle progression of through a series of signals. Good traffic signal timing practices assume a certain level of monitoring and maintenance in order to guarantee that they are efficient in servicing current traffic conditions. When investigating signal control optimality the most significant evidence to consider is intersection/approach traffic volume. Availability of traffic data is crucial when examining the robustness of signal timing plans for varying daily demand. Flexibility of field signal timing plans to handle day to day and daily traffic demand fluctuations determines whether the designed/optimized signal plan is appropriate/optimal. The purpose of this study is to establish the methodology to examine the ability of currently deployed signal timing plans to serve traffic demands' diurnal and day-to-day fluctuations, and based on traffic volumes, identify appropriate TOD breakpoints. A methodology developed in this research study is intended to assist traffic signal engineers and operators in developing more robust timing plans which operate well over a broader range of daily and day-to-day demand conditions. This study, also, investigates various methods to identify TOD breakpoints and optimal number of signal timing plans based on the significant amount of collected traffic data. This research included developing an auto-spreadsheet which would enable traffic operators/engineers to observe and evaluate the latest changes in daily demand and based on the historical hourly volumes and identify the most appropriate signal timing plan for the corresponding demand.