PacTrans-Sponsored Transportation Seminar: Signal Control and Operational Analysis for Diverging Diamond Interchanges

Friday, Nov. 1, 2013, 1:30 – 3 p.m., More 116

Speaker: Zong Tian, Ph.D., P.E., Associate Professor, University of Nevada, Reno

Abstract: Diverging diamond interchange (DDI) is an emerging interchange type. More than 20 DDIs are in operation in the United States, the majority of which are converted from conventional diamond interchanges. While research and field studies have demonstrated proven efficiency compared to conventional diamond interchanges, there is a lack of analytical tools for analyzing DDI operations. There are also many different signal phasing options to operate a DDI, but yet no best practice on signal control has been identified. This presentation starts with some signal control basics and what control strategies are used for conventional diamond interchanges. Built upon this knowledge, DDI is introduced for its analytical procedure and signal phasing schemes. A case study based on a DDI location in Reno, NV will be used to demonstrate the analytical procedure and the signal control scheme.