A simulation study on the characteristics of right-turn-on-red operations at signalized intersections.

Abstract

Currently, Right-Turn-on-Red (RTOR) is a common practice of improving the performance of right-turn vehicles at signalized intersections in the United States. Issues related to RTOR maneuver are met extensively in the operational process of signalized intersections. However, under given traffic, signal conditions and geometric configuration, there have been no universal guidelines for describing major parameters of RTOR operations and estimating RTOR capacity. In this research, efforts were made to define the characteristics and major parameters of RTOR movement at signalized intersections. Based on the literature review of pertinent studies on RTOR, both mathematical modeling and simulation approach were employed to study the characteristics of RTOR maneuver, and the relations between RTOR vehicles and other variables of traffic, signal and intersection configuration. With applications of traffic flow theory, statistical methods and the TEXAS simulation model, values of the major RTOR parameters were identified in this study. Approaches for predicting RTOR capacity and assessing RTOR operations were proposed under various traffic, signal and geometric conditions. Applications of the key findings resulted from this study were demonstrated and recommendations for future work on RTOR were also presented in the dissertation.