Overview of a Simulation Study of the Highway 401 FTMS. Accepted for publication in the Canadian Journal of Civil Engineers

Many of North America's urban traffic networks experience recurring congestion during large portions of the commuting periods. Non-recurring congestion is also common. In response to the considerable efficiency and safety repercussions of this congestion, many areas have, or are, implementing freeway traffic management systems (FTMS). Though the qualitative benefits of FTMS have long been established, the quantitative benefits have been more difficult to determine as they are system dependent. In addition, it is often not clear which traffic management strategies will result in the greatest benefits at various times during the day. One way to address this problem is to utilize a simulation model as an analysis or evaluation tool. This paper describes the calibration and application of such an analysis tool. This paper discusses the application of the network traffic simulation model INTEGRATION to a thirty-five kilometer section of Highway 401 in Toronto, Canada. Both the eastbound and westbound directions have been modelled as separate networks. However, only results for the eastbound direction from 4 A.M. to 12 noon are presented herein. In order to model 9 hours of operation on the 239 link eastbound network, approximately 1.5 hours of execution time is required when operating on a 80486 computer operating at 33 MHz. Existing freeway conditions are quantified using both FTMS detector data and a floating car travel tim