Operation Regimes and Slower-is-Faster-Effect in the Control of Traffic Intersections

TL;DR

This paper explores various traffic signal control regimes, highlighting a 'slower-is-faster' effect where delaying signal switches can reduce overall travel times and improve urban traffic flow efficiency.

Contribution

It introduces different traffic operation regimes, including the benefits of optimizing multiple phases and considering stopping costs to enhance traffic flow and self-organization.

Findings

Delayed switching can reduce average travel times.

Optimizing multiple phases improves traffic flow.

Considering stopping costs supports green wave formation.

Abstract

The efficiency of traffic flows in urban areas is known to crucially depend on signal operation. Here, elements of signal control are discussed, based on the minimization of overall travel times or vehicle queues. Interestingly, we find different operation regimes, some of which involve a "slower-is-faster effect", where a delayed switching reduces the average travel times. These operation regimes characterize different ways of organizing traffic flows in urban road networks. Besides the optimize-one-phase approach, we discuss the procedure and advantages of optimizing multiple phases as well. To improve the service of vehicle platoons and support the self-organization of "green waves", it is proposed to consider the price of stopping newly arriving vehicles.