Development of V2I Enable MultiModal Intelligent Traffic Operations Research Plan Under Vehicle to Infrastructure (V2I) Program

Research plan vision • Expand the current research performed under the project of Multi-Modal Intelligent Traffic Safety System (MMITSS) into a research program that recognizes the value of developing a comprehensive systematic approach to traffic operations. • The proposed Multi-Modal Intelligent Traffic Operations System (MMITOS) is a high priority research area of the V2I Program designed to focus on the complexity and interaction of traffic as it moves between arterials and freeways to optimize operations so as to provide reliable travel.

Research Plan • MMITOS research will seek to enhance current MMITSS applications by pursuing coordinated and adaptive traffic signal control, pursue interchange and ramp metering operations and incorporate arterial traffic control operations with other connected vehicle applications such as Integrated Network Flow Optimization (INFLO).

MMITOS Goal • The goal of the MMITOS Program is to extend the existing MMITSS to develop a comprehensive traffic signal and transportation operations system/framework that services multiple modes of transportation to optimize system performance on both arterials and freeways. The transportation modes include passenger vehicles, transit, emergency vehicles, freight fleets (e.g. Trucks) and pedestrians/bicyclists.

MMITSS • Multi-Modal Intelligent Traffic Signal System attempts to optimize all modes of traffic in a single system; whereas previous systems have only been able to target individual modes of travel. Connected vehicles at MMITSS-equipped intersections are entitled to Intelligent Signal Control features, including signal actuation, gap out, green extension, dilemma zone protection, signal coordination, and congestion control. MMITSS’ priority control function caters to multiple modes including emergency vehicles, transit, trucks and other special classes of vehicles and travelers – including pedestrians.

MMITSS Cont. • MMITSS project is within the USDOT Dynamic Mobility Application (DMA) Program funded through the Connected Vehicle Pool Fund Study (PFS) Program. MMITSS applications are the next generation of traffic signal systems. They seek to provide a comprehensive traffic signal system that services multiple modes of transportation. • The purpose is to prioritize entry for emergency vehicles, transit and freight vehicles, and pedestrian movements.

Current focus • A current priority is to work towards the inclusion of ramp metering signal actuation. This idea was supported in both the stakeholder meeting and in the stakeholder interviews. It was suggested that ramp metering spillback and ramp metering priority be considered at least as a future or phased-in offering of a multi-modal system. Inclusion of this topic area would permit future accommodation of alternative routes for emergency vehicle priority and incident mitigation, which supports the congestion control scenarios.

Base research • In order to pursue additional research concepts, a search for existing ITS and connected vehicle research related to traffic signals, ramp metering, and freeway interchange controls was conducted. Existing research, simulation and modeling of potential traffic signal technologies and applications are summarized below and links to sources are provided in Section 5 Reference

Base Research Intelligent Traffic Signal Control Intelligent Traffic Signal Control provides the underlying functionality of MMITSS. This subsection consists of related research in this area. – Microscopic Estimation of Arterial Vehicle Positions in a Low-Penetration-Rate Connected Vehicle Environment – Traffic Signal Control with Connected Vehicles – A Signal Control Strategy Using Connected Vehicles and Loop Detector Information – Multi-Modal Traffic Signal Control with Priority, Signal Actuation and Coordination – Heuristic Algorithm for Priority Traffic Signal Control – Using Connected Vehicle Technology to Improve the Efficiency of Intersections – A Real-Time Adaptive Signal Control in a Connected Vehicle Environment – Enhanced Adaptive Signal Control Using Dedicated Short-Range Communications

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Emergency Vehicle Preemption – Active Traffic Management for Arterials, NCHRP Synthesis 447 – Improving Travel Times for Emergency Response Vehicles: Traffic Control Strategies Based on Connected

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Base Research Transit Vehicle Priority – – – – –

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Freight Signal Priority – – –

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Intelligent Intersection Control U05: Improved Truck Safety at Traffic Signals (Phase A) Reducing Truck Stops at High-Speed Isolated Traffic Signals

Pedestrian Mobility – – – – –

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VIA Primo - Shaping the future of Bus Rapid Transit, San Antonio, TX King County Metro Transit ITS Architecture Deployment Transit Signal Priority for Poplar Avenue and Elvis Presley Blvd/Bellevue Blvd Coordination of Connected Vehicle and Transit Signal Priority in Transit Evacuations Bus Signal Priority – University of Minnesota

Advanced Pedestrian Control System Connected-Vehicle Beacon for At-Risk Pedestrians WiFi-Honk: Smartphone-based Beacon Stuffed WiFi Car2X-Communication System for Vulnerable Road User Safety Safer-Sim Projects Improving Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety A Mobile-Cloud Pedestrian Crossing Guide for the Blind

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Bicycle Mobility – “Intersector” Bicycle Detection Device Helps Improve Safety for Cyclists

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Queue Spillback – Arterial Queue Spillback Detection and Signal Control Based on Connected Vehicle Technology

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Dilemma Zone Protection: – An Integrated Dilemma Zone Protection System Using Connected Vehicle Technology

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Arterial-Freeway Interchange Control – California PATH program’s testing of the Coordinated Ramp Metering (CRM) algorithm that was developed by the FHWA Exploratory Advanced Research (EAR) Program.

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Coordination of Freeway Ramp Meters and Arterial Traffic Signals – Coordination of Freeway Ramp Meters and Arterial Traffic Signals Field Operational Test (FOT) – Real-Time Prediction of Vehicle Locations in a Connected Vehicle Environment •

Comparative Analysis of Probe‐Based Ramp Metering with Detector‐Based And Pretimed Ramp Metering

– Connected Vehicle Enabled Freeway Merge Management – Field Test – Advanced Freeway Merge Assistance: Harnessing the Potential of Connected Vehicles – Microscopic Estimation of Freeway Vehicle Positions from the Behavior of Connected Vehicles

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Signal Coordination at Interchange – Signal coordination at interchanges can prevent queue spill back to freeway off-ramp segments. The traffic data from a freeway off-ramp segment will be incorporated into computations that predict the off-ramp demand. The system will then provide optimized traffic signal timings for the interchange and the downstream intersections.

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Ramp Metering – There are several control algorithms/approaches on ramp metering, such as pre-timed, actuated, and system-wide optimization. Ramp metering serves both safety purpose, e.g., to ensure a sufficient gap to merge, and mobility purpose, e.g., to increase freeway mainline speed. Leveraging connected vehicle technology to better predict and optimize ramp metering timing and control strategies is one of the system expansion targets that this proposed research aims to augment.

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Freeway Signal Control and Traffic Operation – One of the objectives of the MMITOS program is to extend the program to freeway control, which could include lane usage control and variable speed limit (VSL) control. Similar to the interchange and ramp traffic control and operation, a depth assessment of current research will be conducted to determine what messages/message sets and control strategies are needed for non-signalized traffic flow on freeway segments under various operational conditions. The analysis will consider the need for messages to convey information for lane control, regulatory speeds, and roadway signage for example. The analysis will consider unique signage implemented by local DOTs.