Date of Award
8-2015
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Legacy Department
Civil Engineering
Committee Chair/Advisor
Chowdhury, Mashrur
Committee Member
Sarasua, Wayne
Committee Member
Morris, Eric
Abstract
This research evaluated a mixed vehicle environment that included connected and non-connected vehicles in which connected vehicles (CV) were allowed to pay a small fee to request priority at a signalized intersection, similar to a transit signal priority system. Connected vehicles with signal priority were simulated with penetration levels ranging from 10% to 100% as well as with various priority directions (all directions, major street movements in both directions, and major street movements in the direction of highest flow) being allowed to request priority. These scenarios were compared to optimized signal timings to determine the effectiveness of the technology in terms of average delay and benefit-cost analysis was performed to assess the viability of this strategy that allows connected vehicles to receive signal priority for a fee. It was discovered that connected vehicles with signal priority experience less delay than non-connected vehicles for all priority direction scenarios studied up to a certain point. When all directions and major street movements in both directions are allowed to request priority, the advantage for CV was statistically significant up to 20% CV penetration. When priority was only allowed to be requested in the direction of highest flow, CVs experienced lower delay at a statistically significant level up to 40% CV penetration levels. Above these thresholds connected and non-connected vehicles experience similar delay. Average delay for all vehicles on the network, including connected and non-connected vehicle types, was also analyzed and revealed that average delay tended to increase as the CV penetration levels increased. When priority was permitted in only the major direction of travel the average delay for all vehicles on the network was significantly less than the base scenario for up to 50% CV penetration levels. Delay for all vehicles types was higher than the base scenario when priority was permitted in all directions and in both directions on the main corridors. A benefit-cost analysis was performed for the major flow direction priority scenario because it was the only scenario that outperformed the optimized signal timing scenario with no CV. A benefit-cost analysis based solely on revenue generated from CV requesting priority at intersections and the system cost resulted in a benefit-cost ratio greater than 1 at as low as 20% CV penetration levels. When the benefit-cost analysis added the benefit of decreased network delay for all vehicles, benefit-cost ratios as high as 3 were observed at 10% CV penetration levels.
Recommended Citation
Gende, Melissa, "USING CONNECTED VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY TO IMPLEMENT A PAY FOR PRIORITY SYSTEM AT SIGNALIZED INTERSECTIONS" (2015). All Theses. 2235.
https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/all_theses/2235