A Multi-Resolution Approach in Investigating The Impacts of Pre-Planned Roadcapacity Reduction Based on Smartphone Trajectory Data - A Case Study of Lane Closure Event on Mopac Expressway, Austin TX
Corresponding Author: Xianbiao Hu, Metropia, Inc
Presented By: Ye Tian, Metropia
Abstract
Pre-planned events such as constructions or special events lead to road capacity reductions and create bottlenecks in the traffic network. The traffic impact of such events goes beyond local, as informed drivers may detour to alternative corridors for faster travel speed and subsequently the traffic congestion may propagate to region wide. Traditional traffic impact analyses are typically based on simulation models, fixed-location sensor data or survey data, which have various shortcomings respectively. In this research, we propose to use the real trajectory data collected via smartphone GPS module that is capable of keeping track of individual driver’s behavior change before and after road capacity reduction, combined with system-wide dynamic traffic condition and roadway geometry network to investigate the impacts of pre-planned events in a multi-resolution manner. First, the traffic impact of such events at network level is analyzed, indicating how traffic may propagate to alternative corridors from the system perspective. Second, at individual driver level, behavior changes and corresponding outcomes are examined by the comparison of before and after travel behavior. Last but not the least, two logistic regression models and a LASSO regression model are used to explain drivers’ detour behavior choice with spatial and temporal features of interest. A case study based on a lane closure event on Mopac expressway in Austin TX is used as an example in this research, which shows a local freeway capacity reduction has a significant impact on other freeways in Austin, and that driver’s detour behavior exhibits three major patterns and highly depends on spatial features such as trip length, distance to freeway entrance and to other alternative freeways, in addition to the time of the day this trip happens.