title: Evaluating the Operational Features of an Unconventional Dual-Bay U-Turn Design for Intersections.
abstract: Median U-turn intersection treatment (MUTIT) has been considered an alternative measure to reduce congestion and traffic conflict at intersection areas. The MUTIT is sometimes difficult to implement in the field because it requires wide median on arterials for U-turn vehicles. The objective of this study is to introduce an unconventional U-turn treatment (UUT) for intersections which requires less median space but is also effective. The UUT has a dual-bay design with different turning radiuses for small and large vehicles. The VISSIM simulation model was developed to evaluate the operational features of the UUT. The model was calibrated using data collected from intersections in China. The capacity, delay and number of stops were evaluated and compared with the direct-left-turn (DLT) for the same intersections. The results showed that the UUT significantly improved the operations at intersection areas, especially when volume/capacity ratio is small, and ratio of left-turn to through traffic is small. With the UUT, the capacity is increased by 9.81% to 10.38%, vehicle delay is decreased by 18.5% to 40.1%, and number of stops is decreased by 23.19% to 36.62%, when volume/capacity ratio is less than 0.50. The study also found that traffic efficiency could be further improved when the UUT is designed in conjunction with signal control. In the case, the UUT plus signalized control increases the capacity by 25% to 26.02%, decreases vehicle delay by 50.5% to 55.8%, and reduces number of stops by 69.5%, compared with the traditional DLT.
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Urban ITS, Southeast University, Si Pai Lou #2, Nanjing, China.|Jiangsu Province Collaborative Innovation Center of Modern Urban Traffic Technologies, Si Pai Lou #2, Nanjing, China.|School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Nanchang Hangkong University, Feng He Nan #696, Nanchang, China.
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Urban ITS, Southeast University, Si Pai Lou #2, Nanjing, China.|Jiangsu Province Collaborative Innovation Center of Modern Urban Traffic Technologies, Si Pai Lou #2, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Zhibin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Urban ITS, Southeast University, Si Pai Lou #2, Nanjing, China.|Jiangsu Province Collaborative Innovation Center of Modern Urban Traffic Technologies, Si Pai Lou #2, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Urban ITS, Southeast University, Si Pai Lou #2, Nanjing, China.|Jiangsu Province Collaborative Innovation Center of Modern Urban Traffic Technologies, Si Pai Lou #2, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Jingxu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Urban ITS, Southeast University, Si Pai Lou #2, Nanjing, China.|Jiangsu Province Collaborative Innovation Center of Modern Urban Traffic Technologies, Si Pai Lou #2, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Urban ITS, Southeast University, Si Pai Lou #2, Nanjing, China.|Jiangsu Province Collaborative Innovation Center of Modern Urban Traffic Technologies, Si Pai Lou #2, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D001334:Automobile Driving; D002138:Calibration; D002681:China; D004779:Environment Design; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D014186:Transportation