An analytical delay model for multi-class and lane-free traffic condition.

Area of Science:

• Traffic Engineering
• Transportation Science

Background:

• Signalized intersections are critical infrastructure.
• Estimating traffic delay is vital for performance evaluation.
• Traditional models struggle with complex traffic conditions like multi-class and lane-free (MCLF) movement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel delay estimation model for signalized intersections.
• To address the limitations of existing models in MCLF traffic scenarios.
• To improve the accuracy of delay prediction in diverse traffic environments.

Main Methods:

• Developed a new delay equation based on queuing theory.
• Incorporated Passenger Car Equivalent (PCE) to account for different vehicle types.
• Introduced virtual lane concepts to model lane-free traffic flow.
• Assumed random arrival and departure patterns for traffic streams.

Main Results:

• The proposed model demonstrated superior performance compared to conventional delay models.
• The tailored approach significantly enhances the accuracy of delay estimation.
• The model effectively accounts for multi-class vehicles and lane-free movement.

Conclusions:

• A novel, accurate delay estimation model for MCLF traffic conditions has been developed.
• Accounting for specific traffic characteristics is essential for optimizing signal design.
• The findings are particularly relevant for Indian traffic conditions and similar environments.