Solution
David answered on
Dec 23 2021
Transportation 1
Running Head: TRANSPORTATION
Transportation
Transportation 2
Introduction
On the basis of traffic signal timing plan, crash records and collision
diagram are also provided by Louisiana Deparhnent of Transportation and
Development (LADOTD) provides the recommendation for improvement of (level of services)
LOS. On the basis of information provided by LADOTD, analyzes the existing layout, signal
timing, cu
ent LOS and traffic problems in this paper. This paper also pointed out the crossing
of LA 931 and LA 44. At the same time, in this paper also provides suggestions to improve the
level of services according to requirement such additional lanes.
Cu
ent Traffic Condition of Intersection
On the basis of LA 931 (Germany Rd.) and LA 44 (Worthy Rd.) is signalized that by
Louisiana Deparhnent of Transportation and Development (LADOTD), it assess that both
highway have three lane road. In the highway, the center lane is a turning lane that means left or
ight lane vehicles have the right to pass through this lane. On the other hand, in three-lane,
center lane is reserved lane that provides the traffic right to travel in both directions on certain
conditions. Broadly speaking, the center lane is turning lane for faster traffic or low weight
vehicles to improve traffic flow during rush time through overhead traffic lights and lighted
street signs that provides direction of vehicles to driving or turning (Nesci, 2009). In addition,
intersection layout and traffic signal inventory indicate that LA 931 and LA 44 have three lane
oads according to the below diagram but have not proper overhead traffic lights and lighted
street signs that increased the probabilities of the accident in the city.
Transportation 3
(Source: newzealand.govt.nz, 2012).
On the other hand, due to lack of proper overhead traffic lights and lighted street signs
oth lanes traffics have rights to use revisable lane but if both left or right lane vehicles wanted
to crossing at same time the accident happen chances is increase. It is the main causes of the
major accident cases in the Gonzales city. Lanes changing or over crossing increased the crash
isk especially in traffic or waster speed of vehicles. On the basis of past studies, all car accident
in major cities more than 15% is happened during the lane change crashes that shows in the
elow diagram (Russell & Rys, 2005). Below image also indicates that if driver have running
vehicle very fast and able to watching at a 3 second distance and in this situation if someone cuts
driver and
akes hard then it may be loosed the control of its vehicle. In context of three lanes,
center lane vehicle driver required to looking of both center and right lane vehicles, so lacking of
attention also increased accident risk.
Transportation 4
(Sources: Smet, 2008)
On the other hand, LADOTD crash list also supports the above view that accidents at LA
931 and LA 44 was increased in the past years. LADOTD crash list indicates that route LA 931
intersection crashes was increased and reached at 4841644 in 2007 that is almost double of the
crash number of 2483377 in 2002. During the five years, the crashes number was double at route
LA 931 that represents the higher risks of accident or losses. In addition, in 2002 only on major
accident was happened without any injury while in 2007, the total major accident was reached at
6 included the 3 number of injuries. So, it can say that due to the three lane roads of LA 931 and
LA 44 the lane change crashes risks enhanced that impacted n the level of service (LOS) of the
people (Longhurst & Bre
ia, 2012).
At the same time, LADOTD traffic signal inventory also indicates the week position of
LA 931 and LA 44 routes. The max green score is 40 of both LA 44 route and LA 931 routes
while the red clearance score is 1.5 of both lanes. On the other hand, yellow clearance score is
5.0 for both lanes route in between 0-99.9 range. In addition, low score out of 99.9 of all three
traffic signal color indicates that weakness of city traffic plan. The high range of max green in
compare to yellow clearance and red clearance indicates that weakness of Gonzales city traffic
signal timing plan (Chang, Zhao & Bahar, 2012). LADOTD traffic signal inventory shows that
max green score is more than double of sum of red and yellow clearance.
Green signal allows traffic to go forward in the direction denoted while the yellow light
allows vehicles to prepare for self to stop after shot time and go forward if it safe. On the other
hand, red signal stop traffic from going on. In addition, more than two-third ratio of traffic signal
timing is green that represents weakness of traffic time plan of the Gonzales. Low ratio of red
signal indicates that traffic of the both lane is continued going on that also important reason of
Transportation 5
the crash and accident. Major time green signal would appropriate in the case of low flow of
traffic but the LADOTD traffic report and crash report indicates the high traffic position of the
city (Russell & Rys, 2005). Major time green light in compare to red or yellow in the situation of
high traffic flow in both lanes indicates the lacking of the authorities to control traffic of the
lanes. It also expresses that the level o9f services would also not good and required to
improvement.
On the other hand, time before reduce and time to reduce gap scale was 15.0 of both
lanes out of 0-99.9 range also obtained low rating that shows the weakness of traffic plan of city.
At the same time, min initial and added initial score is also very low for high range that
expresses lacking of Gonzales traffic signal plan. Variable initial is used to measure the time
taken between the stop line and the nearest upstream signal are served or time differences
etween the changes in lights as red, yellow and green (United States Department of
Transportation, 2009).
Added initial is an interval time that is taken by each vehicle during the yellow and red
interval at average. Low initials score describes that signal light was changed at more time that
epresents the weakness of LA 44 route LA 931 routes...