Author

Philip Tarnoff
Director
Center for Advanced Transportation Technology (CATT)
E-mail: tarnoff@eng.umd.edu
Phone: (301) 403-4619

Description

This course gives the student an overview of the terms associated with signal timing; discusses the concepts of cycle length, split, offset, midblock friction, phase sequences, the signal timing process, and signal timing optimization; and looks at the types of actuated controllers, passage time, extension, and the coordination of actuated and pretimed controllers. It also discusses the development of timing plans, explores types of signal control (first generation control and advanced techniques, including Rhodes, RT-TRACS, SCAT, and SCOOT) and investigates the relationship of signal timing to ITS: regional and system/design considerations.

Objectives

Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:

• Discuss the fundamental concepts underlying traffic control signal timing.
• Identify the different types of traffic control signals and their operating characteristics.
• Define the terms used to evaluate the effectiveness of traffic signal control.
• Recognize the role of traffic signal control systems within the broader context of ITS.

Audience

Public-sector Transportation Professionals including US DOT engineers, planners, project managers, and field staff, FTA Regional staff, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Specialists, and others as appropriate. Transportation professionals from state, regional, and local agencies would also benefit from participation in the course.

Length

Approximately eight hours.

Prerequisites

Students should have a basic understanding of traffic flow principles and queueing, advanced traffic management systems, and the fundamentals of signal timing systems.

Course Outline

The course outline is as follows:
(numbers in parentheses refer to pages)

1. Lesson 1. Fundamental Terms and Concepts (3-33)
   1. Signal Timing Fundamentals
   2. Controller Fundamentals
      1. Pretimed Signals
      2. Semi-Actuated Signals
      3. Full-Actuated Signals
      4. Volume-Density Signals
      5. Knowledge Check: Controller Fundamentals
      6. Actuated Controller Interval
      7. Actuated Controller Green Phase
      8. Knowledge Check: Actuated Controller Intervals
   3. Measures of Effectiveness
   4. Other Important Definitions
   5. Knowledge Check: Important Terms & Definitions
   6. Time-Space Diagram
   7. Lesson 1 Summary
   8. Lesson 1 Quiz
      
2. Lesson 2. Signal Timing Concepts (34-72)
   1. Cycle Length
   2. Knowledge Check: Cycle Length
   3. Split
   4. Knowledge Check: Split
   5. Offset
   6. Knowledge Check: Offset
   7. Phase Sequences
   8. Signal Timing Optimization
   9. Signal Timing Process
   10. Lesson 2 Summary
   11. Lesson 2 Quiz
       
3. Lesson 3. Actuated Controllers (77-100)
   1. Fully Actuated Controllers
      1. Conventional Actuated Controllers
      2. Volume Density Controllers
      3. Knowledge Check: Fully Actuated Controllers
   2. Passage Time
   3. Extension
      1. Knowledge Check: Extension & Passage Time (87)
   4. Coordination of Actuated and Pretimed Controllers
      1. Uncertain Start of Green
      2. Unused Phase Times
      3. Maximum Green Time
      4. Actuated Main Street Phase
      5. Lesson 3 Quiz
4. Lesson 4. Developing Timing Plans (101-173)
   1. Sections
   2. Data Collection
   3. Measures of Effectiveness
   4. Times of Day
   5. Saturation
   6. Vehicle and Pedestrian Clearance Interval Timing
   7. Many Tools Available
      1. Passer II
      2. TRANSYT-7F
      3. Synchro
      4. Trafficware
   8. Congestion
   9. Simulation
   10. Field Evaluation Techniques
   11. Lesson 4 Summary
   12. Lesson 4 Quiz
       
5. Lesson 5. Types of Signal Control (174-253)
   1. First Generation Control
      1. Time of Day (TOD)
      2. Manual
      3. Traffic Responsive (TRSP)
         • TRSP Quiz
   2. Advanced Techniques
      1. Rhodes
      2. RT-TRACS
      3. SCAT
      4. Scoot
   3. Lesson 5 Summary
   4. Lesson 5 Quiz
      
6. Lesson 6. Relationship to ITS (254-274)
   1. Regional Considerations
   2. System/Design Considerations
   3. Lesson 6 Summary
   4. Lesson 6 Quiz
      
7. Signal Timing Terms Review
   
8. Signal Timing Terms Review Solution
   
9. Session Exam (Web CT)