Micro-simulation modelling of ITS measures on the Ben Schoeman highway

Abstract

Paper presented at the 26th Annual Southern African Transport Conference 9 - 12 July 2007 "The challenges of implementing policy?", CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa. ABSTRACT:The last couple of decades have brought about a paradigm shift in the way professionals view land transport. The original line of thought was to predict (Traffic flow) and provide (Infrastructure). The concern now is more about managing our existing road networks and infrastructure, but also ensuring that the effects of the newly constructed roads are appropriately forecasted. Intelligent Transport systems (ITS) are one of the measures applied to improve traffic conditions. It appears that the use of microscopic simulation models is needed to estimate the effects of ITS measures This study investigates the applicability of the micro-simulation software Paramics in the South African context by modelling the Ben Schoeman Highway between Pretoria and Johannesburg. ITS measures that have been investigated are: • Bus and High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes, • Variable Speed Limits (VSL) using variable Message Signs (VMS), and • Ramp metering.