Traffic platoons created by traffic signals may have impacts on the operations of downstream intersections because they change the arrival pattern and gap distribution of upstream traffic. There’s been a lot of research dealing with platoon effects on operations at signalized intersections, while very limited research has been done for that of unsignalized intersections. This research aims to develop a methodology for analyzing the platoon impacts on major-street left-turn (MSLT) delay at two-way stop-controlled (TWSC) intersections. The main idea is using a microscopic simulation tool to simulate different platoon scenarios in opposing through traffic, then applying regression models to capture the impacts of platoons on the delay of MSLT. Two platoon variables were adopted as a simplification of the complex platoon scenarios, making it practical to analyze the platoon effects on MSLT delay. The first two steps were to build simulation models for real-world unsignalized intersections and simulate scenarios with a combination of various factors related to platoons in VISSIM simulation. Calibrations of these simulation models based on field data were performed before simulation started. The next step was to define, derive and calibrate two platoon variables for describing the duration and intensity of platoon arrivals in the opposing through traffic, which effectively simplified the large combination of various factors. At last, the two platoon variables and their relationship with MSLT delay change factor were modeled with regression tools. A relationship between the two variables and the delay change factor was established, which indicated a positive effect by upstream platoons on MSLT delay and made it possible to quantify the impacts. The findings in this research could also be used for future research on left turn treatment regarding platoon or signal impacts.

According to documented statistics, intersections are among the most hazardous locations on roadway systems. Many studies have extensively analyzed safety of signalized intersections, but did not put their major focus on the most frequent type of intersections, unsignalized intersections. Unsignalized intersections are those intersections with stop control, yield control and no traffic control. Unsignalized intersections can be differentiated from their signalized counterparts in that their operational functions take place without the presence of a traffic signal. In this dissertation, multiple approaches of analyzing safety at unsignalized intersections were conducted. This was investigated in this study by analyzing total crashes, the most frequent crash types at unsignalized intersections (rear-end as well as angle crashes) and crash injury severity. Additionally, an access management analysis was investigated with respect to the different median types identified in this study. Some of the developed methodological techniques in this study are considered recent, and have not been extensively applied. In this dissertation, the most extensive data collection effort for unsignalized intersections was conducted. There were 2500 unsignalized intersections collected from six counties in the state of Florida. These six counties were Orange, Seminole, Hillsborough, Brevard, Leon and Miami-Dade. These selected counties are major counties representing the central, western, eastern, northern and southern parts in Florida, respectively. Hence, a geographic representation of the state of Florida was achieved. Important intersections' geometric and roadway features, minor approach traffic control, major approach traffic flow and crashes were obtained. The traditional negative binomial (NB) regression model was used for modeling total crash frequency for two years at unsignalized intersections. This was considered since the NB technique is well accepted for modeling crash count data suffering from over-dispersion. The NB models showed several important variables affecting safety at unsignalized intersections. These include the traffic volume on the major road and the existence of stop signs, and among the geometric characteristics, the configuration of the intersection, number of right and/or left turn lanes, median type on the major road, and left and right shoulder widths. Afterwards, a new approach of applying the Bayesian updating concept for better crash prediction was introduced. Different non-informative and informative prior structures using the NB and log-gamma distributions were attempted. The log-gamma distribution showed the best prediction capability. Crash injury severity at unsignalized intersections was analyzed using the ordered probit, binary probit and nested logit frameworks. The binary probit method was considered the best approach based on its goodness-of-fit statistics. The common factors found in the fitted probit models were the logarithm of AADT on the major road, and the speed limit on the major road. It was found that higher severity (and fatality) probability is always associated with a reduction in AADT, as well as an increase in speed limit. A recently developed data mining technique, the multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS) technique, which is capable of yielding high prediction accuracy, was used to analyze rear-end as well as angle crashes. MARS yielded the best prediction performance while dealing with continuous responses. Additionally, screening the covariates using random forest before fitting MARS model was very encouraging. Finally, an access management analysis was performed with respect to six main median types associated with unsignalized intersections/access points. These six median types were open, closed, directional (allowing access from both sides), two-way left turn lane, undivided and mixed medians (e.g., directional median, but allowing access from one side only). Also, crash conflict patterns at each of these six medians were identified and applied to a dataset including median-related crashes. In this case, separating median-related and intersection-related crashes was deemed significant in the analysis. From the preliminary analysis, open medians were considered the most hazardous median type, and closed and undivided medians were the safest. The binomial logit and bivariate probit models showed significant median-related variables affecting median-related crashes, such as median width, speed limit on the major road, logarithm of AADT, logarithm of the upstream and downstream distances to the nearest signalized intersection and crash pattern. The results from the different methodological approaches introduced in this study could be applicable to diagnose safety deficiencies identified. For example, to reduce crash severity, prohibiting left turn maneuvers from minor intersection approaches is recommended. To reduce right-angle crashes, avoiding installing two-way left turn lanes at 4-legged intersections is essential. To reduce conflict points, closing median openings across from intersections is recommended. Since left-turn and angle crash patterns were the most dominant at undivided medians, it is recommended to avoid left turn maneuvers at unsignalized intersections having undivided medians at their approach. This could be enforced by installing a left-turn prohibition sign on both major and minor approaches.

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<p>Istraživanje koje je sprovedeno u okviru disertacije poslužilo je za definisanje matematičkog modela koji se može primeniti u postupku određivanja nivoa usluge za nesignalisane pešačke prelaze. Formirani model za proračun stepena propuštanja pešaka u uslovima lokalnog odvijanja saobraćaja zavisi od protoka pešaka i vozila, strukture saobraćajnog toka (učešće autobusa i teretnih vozila) i smera kretanja vozila na lokaciji pešačkog prelaza. U okviru disertacije izvršena je analiza pešačkih intervala prilikom prelaska kolovoza. Uporednom analizom prihvatljivih i kritičnih intervala dobijen je model ponašanja pešaka u zavisnosti od karakteristika lokacije nesignalisanog pešačkog prelaza. Utvrđena je zavisnost između dužine prihvaćenih intervala pešaka prilikom prelaska kolovoza i uslova odvijanja saobraćaja, polnih karakteristika pešaka i broja pešaka koji prelaze kolovoz na nesignalisanom pešačkom prelazu.</p> / <p>The study, which was conducted within the thesis, has served to define a mathematical model that can be applied in the process of determining the level of service at unsignalized pedestrian crossings. The formed model for motorist yield rate, in terms of the local pedestrian traffic flow, depends on pedestrian and vehicular flow rate, traffic flow structure (the share of buses and freight vehicles), and vehicle moving at the location of a pedestrian crossing. The pedestrian gap acceptance behaviour has also been analysed. Comparative analysis of acceptable and critical pedestrian gap was conducted. Model of pedestrian behaviour, which depending on the site characteristics, was formed and it has been proven a correlation between the length of the accepted pedestrian gaps and the roadway and traffic conditions, gender characteristics and the number of pedestrians at unsignalized crossings.</p>

<p>Pre obavljanja levog manevra, sa prioritetnog prilaza TWSC nesignalisane raskrsnice, vozač procenjuje interval koji se javlja u konfliktnom toku i bira onaj interval koji mu je najviše prihvatljiv. Vreme koje je potrebno za procenu prihvatljivog intervala je predstavljeno u vidu vremena čekanja u opsluzi vozila na raskrsnici. Sa pojavom prihvatljivog intervala, vreme čekanja u opsluzi vozila se završava, i tada počinje vreme za izvođenje manevra levog skretanja. Odluka o momentu početka izvođenja manevra levog skretanja je subjektivna i zasniva se na proceni vozača. Ispravna subjektivna procena uvek rezerviše bezbednosno vreme. U ovoj disertaciji je predstavljen razvoj detaljnog matematičkog postupka za proračun bezbednosnog vremena. Merenja na nesignalisanim raskrsnicama su dokazala primenjivost predloženog modela, mogućnost proračuna subjektivnog bezbednosnog vremena i visoko učešće bezbednosnog vremena u kritičnom intervalu (oko jedne trećine). Dobijeni rezultati su visoko saglasni sa HCM.</p> / <p>Before the left turn manoeuvre, from priority approach at TWSC unsignalized intersection, the driver estimates the interval occurring in the conflict flow and chooses the one which is most acceptable for him. The time required for evaluation of acceptable interval is presented by the service waiting time of vehicles at an intersection. With the appearance of an acceptable interval, service waiting time for vehicle ends, and then starts a time for performance of left turn manoeuvre. A decision about the moment of starting left turn manoeuvre is subjective and based on a driver&rsquo;s estimate. Correct subjective evaluation always reserves the safety time. This dissertation presents development of a detailed mathematical procedure for calculation form of safety time. Measurements at unsignalized intersections are proven applicability of the proposed model, possibility of calculation subjective safety time and high participation of safety time in critical gap (about one-third). The obtained results are highly consistent with HCM.</p>