Assignment Task
The data
For this coursework, we will utilize the data collected on this year’s TDCA fieldwork conducted on Friday 28th of October 2022 from at Clarendon Road/A660 Junction. The coursework task requires you to analyse traffic levels, queue length and saturation headway on this junction in order to consider the effectiveness of the signalised intersection.
The Tasks
You are required to prepare a report that analyses the data provided to consider whether there is a case for implementing traffic management strategies to improve the performance of the junction, and shift the demand towards more sustainable travel modes . Your report should answer the following questions:
1. Estimate and discuss the modal split (of people, not vehicles) outbound during the study period. For this task, you will need to collect pedestrians counts outbound using the video provided.
2. Using the traffic counts, queue length survey and discharge headway, evaluate and discuss the performance of the traffic lights at the junction. For this task, you will need to collect the discharge headway using the video provided. You may use any additional dataset(s) that you find relevant to your discussion.
3. What would be the minimum green time needed to clear the queue, during the busiest time on the data collection day? Calculate and discuss what would be the effect on the pedestrian crossing.
4. Based on your results on the tasks above, recommend and justify a traffic management measure to shift demand from private vehicles to more sustainable travel modes. You may use other datasets from the data collection exercise to calculate benefits such as potential reduction in emissions.
5. At present, the traffic lights at the junction are ‘fixed’. Consider whether there is a case for implementing adaptive (isolated or coordinated) traffic signals, taking into consideration possible benefits and costs of implementing other alternatives. You may use other datasets from the data collection exercise to calculate benefits such as potential reduced travel times.
Due to the nature of the data, you will only be able to do some of these tasks approximately. You should explain your methods and state clearly what assumptions and simplifications you have had to make.