Feasibility assessment for ramp metering in Northern Ireland

• Published in: 12th IEE International Conference on Road Transport Information & Control - RTIC 2004 pp. 137 - 144
• Main Authors: Maxwell, B, Day, P
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Stevenage IEE 2004
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Control engineering computing; Exact sciences and technology; Ground, air and sea transportation, marine construction; Public administration; Road transportation and traffic; Road-traffic system control; Traffic engineering computing; Transportation planning, management and economics; Europe; Ireland; road traffic; ramp metering; M3 motorway; Northern Ireland; traffic management tool; motorway flow; M27 motorway; route management strategy; motorway traffic management tools; metering; feasibility assessment; automated highways; M6 motorway; government data processing; Roads Service; intelligent transport systems; Highways Agency; Short term; Travel time; International conference; Long term; Implementation; Public transportation; Traffic meter; Traffic flow; System description; Traffic control; Feasibility; Road traffic; Data gathering
• DOI: 10.1049/cp:20040020
• ISBN: 0863413862; 9780863413865
• ISSN: 0537-9989

Ramp metering is a traffic management tool that has been widely adopted in continental Europe to improve motorway flow at times of peak congestion. Recently its use has also been the subject of a trial conducted by the Highways Agency in England on the M3 and M27 motorways and sites previously adopted on the M6 are being re-assessed to identify its benefit. Elsewhere in the UK it has been implemented as part of a complimentary route management strategy on an approach to Glasgow. Roads Service is the sole road authority in Northern Ireland, responsible for approx 25000 kms of all classes of road including approx 110 kms of motorway. The paper describes the consideration given to the use of intelligent transport systems (and ramp metering in particular); the scheme assessment process that was adopted; an overview of the results generated by the assessment; the reasons as to why public transport became a key scheme concern and a summary of the lessons learnt through an appraisal of emerging technology.