Roundabout Signal Metering Operation Methods by Considering Approach Lane’s Degree of Saturation

PURPOSES:Under the capacity conditions with balanced approach flows, roundabouts give less delay than existing signalized intersections; however, flows over 450 vehicles/hour/lane with unbalanced approach flow conditions, roundabouts efficiency drops due to the short time difference between the critical gap and the follow-up headway. The purpose of this study is developing a roundabout Signal Metering operation method by considering approach lanes degree of saturation. METHODS: A four-way-approach with one-lane roundabout is selected to compare the Signal Metering performance for the case of 16 different unbalanced flow conditions. Based on these traffic conditions, the performance is evaluated for 64 different cases of Signal Metering combinations by using SIDRA software. A degree of saturation(V/C ratio) sum for two adjoined approaches is used for the performance index of choosing Metered Approach and Controlling Approach. RESULTS: When the V/C ratio sum is 0.29~0.81 and Metered Approach flow is less than Controlling Approach flow, the average delay saving per vehicle is about 7 seconds; however, after this rage the delay saving decreases gradually until the V/C ratio sum reaches around 1.0. The range of V/C ratio sum 0.93~1.09 provides average delay saving per vehicle about 3 seconds. In case of V/C ratio sum is grater than 1.0 and the flows of Metered Approach is grater than Controlling Approach, the average delay per vehicle increases 3~11 times respectively. CONCLUSIONS: As expected, the Signal Metering provides substantial improvements in delay saving for the case of V/C ratio sum i