Investigating the Applicability of Upstream Detection Strategy at Pedestrian Signalised Crossings

Sitti A Hassan
Department of Geotechnics and Transportation, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor, Malaysia.

Nick B Hounsell
Transportation Research Group Civil, Maritime and Environmental Engineering and Science, Faculty of Engineering and the Environment, Room 4059, Building 176, Boldrewood Innovation Campus, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 7QF

Birendra P Shrestha
Transportation Research Group Civil, Maritime and Environmental Engineering and Science, Faculty of Engineering and the Environment, Room 4059, Building 176, Boldrewood Innovation Campus, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 7QF

Abstract

In the UK, the Puffin crossing has provision to extend pedestrian green time for those who take longer to cross. However, even at such a pedestrian friendly facility, the traffic signal control is usually designed to minimise vehicle delay while providing the crossing facility. This situation is rather contrary to the current policies to encourage walking. It is this inequity that has prompted the need to re-examine the traffic control of signalised crossings to provide more benefit to both pedestrians and vehicles. In this context, this paper explores the possibility of implementing an Upstream Detection strategy at a Puffin crossing to provide a user friendly crossing. The study has been carried out by simulating a mid-block Puffin crossing for various detector distances and a number of combinations of pedestrian and traffic flows. This paper presents the simulation results and recommends the situations at which Upstream Detection would be suitable.