Mission Street Project Update Voyage 2070 Advance Operation Systems

1. Mission Street Project Update Voyage 2070 Advance Operation Systems Using ASTRO Proactive Plan Selection Average and Split Variant operations Prepared By: Roger W. Boettcher ODOT Traffic Signal Control Specialist February 7, 2013

2. Presentation Outline • Existing conditions prior to project. • History of how this project came about. • Goals of this project. • Project steps and installations. • Results and observations through out the project. • Conclusions. • Questions and Answers.

3. Presentation OutlineKey Concept for ASTROFunctions • SVO uses the same cycle length and off-set for the guest plans as that of the hosts. This means no transitions between plans and results in a smooth re-allocation of cycle time to serve higher demand phases! • In other words, having the same Cycle length and offset means, seamless transitions within the plan triads. This is a very important concept to note. No transition means the system stays in coordination even while making “on the fly adjustments” within the system. Voyage ASTRO reviews the V+ko data every 4 minutes and can make a plans selection every 5 minutes.

4. Existing Conditions Site History InboundAM Problem Intersections Problem intersection Problem intersection Critical Intersection OutboundPM

5. Existing Conditions Site History • Mission street travel times were found to be 8 to 11 minutes each direction during peak periods. • After installation of Voyage 2070 controllers travel times reduced to 4 to 4.5 minutes. • A reduction between 50-60%.

6. The Project • The Mission Street project was originally conceived as a proof of product test facility for NWS Voyage Advanced Features firmware and as a 2070 controller training grounds. • Beginning in January of 2010. ODOT installed 7 new 2070 controllers on Mission Street.

7. The Project • Our improvements and test facilities are located at 7 intersections along Highway 22 from I-5 Northbound off-ramp west to 17th street. • Project goals were to improve existing failed timing operations and resolve traffic flow issues at 3 major intersections.

8. The Project • Step 1 replace 170 controllers and revise existing timing for 2070 operations. • Step 2 revise coordination off-set reference to start of main street green. • Step 3 revise Pedestrian and Red, Yellow clearance times to current standards.

9. Step 1 replace 170 controllers and revise existing timing for 2070 operations. • We found that steps 1 through 3 yielded nearly 20% improvement on the street. • Through put volumes were increased and the travel time delays, for the entire system, were reduced.

10. Step 2 revise coordination off-set reference to start of main street green. • These reductions are believed to be due to the inclusion of POM and the use of “Fast-way mode” for transition recovery. • Offset coordination reference points were adjusted to “Start of Main Street Green.

11. Step 3 revise Pedestrian and Red, Yellow clearance times to current standards. • 2070’s get into step from transitions quicker than the 170’s and do not have to go into dwell. • Additional minor revisions were made to the red, yellow and pedestrian transition times to bring timing plans to current standards.

12. Step 4 gather background volume, occupancy and MOE data for analysis. • Master System Detectors were determined for optimal flows. • What are Master System Detectors?

13. Step 4 gather background volume, occupancy and MOE data for analysis. • Master System Detectors. • Require free flow for operations. • Are Part of local system detection at intersections. • Determine control thresholds for PPS, PPA and SVO operations.

14. Step 4 gather background volume, occupancy and MOE data for analysis. • This process was not difficult as it sounds. However, due to the existing queues on Mission Free Flowing Volumes were not easily found. • As mentioned previously Three alternative configurations were assessed before finding the best fit.

15. Step 4 gather background volume, occupancy and MOE data for analysis. • Best Fit Layout Two inbound master system detectors  Inbound flow Three outbound master system detectors Outbound flow Two inbound master system detectors

16. Step 5 generate basic ‘Host’ timing plans optimized using Synchro. • A 16 plan library was populated with ‘host’ and ‘guest’ plans, designed to cover the various traffic conditions. • This allowed us to collect appropriate v+ko data from the background without activating the advanced features on the street. • These values lead to an appropriate TOD operations Table.

17. Step 5 generate basic ‘Host’ timing plans optimized using Synchro.

18. Step 5 generate basic ‘Host’ timing plans optimized using Synchro.

19. Step 6 observe operations of host timing plans using standard TOD operations.

20. Step 6 observe operations of host timing plans using standard TOD operations.

21. Step 7 continue to collect background volume, occupancy and MOE data for analysis. • We can capture fluctuations that occur in the morning rush and can make appropriate adjustments to the normal operational splits that the host plan is using. • As you will see in the following slide at 7:45 there is a significant rise in the v+ko values. • The system responds nearly as quickly as the rise in the values and selects an appropriate plan. • Once the event passes the system makes a quick adjustment to the lower host plan and then to the low volume guest plan.

22. Step 7 continue to collect background volume, occupancy and MOE data for analysis. AM Event @ 07:55 AM event captured and plan selection made by SVO operations

23. Step 8 develop additional ‘Guest’ plans for SVO operations. In this slide you can see that the v+ko values for the morning operations have levels that will keep the system operational in host plan 8 until such time as the v+ko values drop or rise above the operational parameters of this host plan.

24. Step 9 install and activate Guest plans. (SVO and SVI).

25. Step 9 install and activate Guest plans. (SVO and SVI). SVO off/ PPA on TOD Free SVI on/ TOD Host P8 TOD Host P15 SVI off/ SVO on Host P12 TOD Host P5 Inbound Heavy Triad Plans 7, 8 and 9 Outbound Heavy Triad Plans 14, 15 and 16 P9 P6 P16 P8 P8 P5 P13 P15 P4 P7 P7 P12 P2 P14 P11 P1 Free

26. Step 10 adjust activation thresholds for optimal operations. Master System Detectors 16 entries req’d. PPS not currently active PPA 2 entries required SVO 16 entries required

27. Step 11 activate PPA operations for shoulder times of day. PPA allows extension of Plan coordination beyond TOD events and is operational on the shoulder times in the evenings and early morning after mid-night. 19:00 call to Free operations Free operations start here +/-

28. Step 12 from observations, volumes, occupancy data and MOE’s adjust guest plan splits for optimal performance. • We are currently fully activated using Proactive Average, and Split Variant operations. • PPA, as described, is working 24/7 on shoulder times in the evenings and mornings after mid-night.

29. Step 12 from observations, volumes, occupancy data and MOE’s adjust guest plan splits for optimal performance. • With the data provide by Voyage MOE logs we can track the areas of concern. • Use these measures to determine the extent of improvement gained by the adjustments we make along the way. • Each intersection has a story to tell and areas that will either identify problems and/or optimal use of the green times for the intersection at a glance. • The following slides illustrate this concept and show the relative improvements gained with the activation of the advanced feature operations.

30. Step 12 (Cont.)MOE Graph (Before) Here we have a typical Monday on Mainline Mission Phase 2 has no periods that could leave the phase early

31. Step 12 (Cont.)MOE Graph (After) After PPA and SVO is operational we see a better use of the split times and a reduction in Mainline Max-out

32. Step 12 (Cont.)MOE Graph (After) After additional minor adjustments we see even better results

33. Step 12 (Cont.)MOE Graph (Before)

34. Step 12 (Cont.)MOE Graph (After)

35. Step 12 (Cont.)MOE Graph (Before) The consequence of better service at a critical intersection may be seen in this example

36. Step 12 (Cont.)MOE Graph (After) We may see a bit of an increase in the delay at a less critical intersection that can absorb the additional queuing

37. Step 13 add additional feature overlays to system operations. • Additional overlays of Auto-Max, Dynamic Phase Length, Dynamic Phase Reversal Actuated Coordinated Operations or Coordinated Late Left Turn. • These are all traffic adaptive overlays that may operated independently of coordination operations or as enhancements to ASTRO features.

38. Step 14 Traffic Responsive TransSuiteEquivalent to PPA Operations Data

39. Conclusions • Given the relative ease of this process. • Very good results with any or all of these features. • Proactive Average is probably the most useful out of the box feature. • Split Variant Operations can gain estimated 5 to 10 percent improvement for short term conditions through the day. • Other features can be added to these features as overlays. • Are there any questions?

40. Terms and Definitions • Locations of Master System Detection is one of the primary steps to operations of Voyage Proactive Plan Selection and Split Variant Operations. • This step is critical in the development and will require some sound judgment and observations for accurate results.

41. Terms and Definitions • Advanced Features – All traffic adaptive operations within Voyage. • Dynamic Phase Length (DPL) • Dynamic Phase Reversal (DPR) • Auto Max • Repeat Phase Service (RPS) • Late Left Turn (LLT)

42. Terms and Definitions • Advanced Features – All traffic adaptive operations within Voyage. (cont.) ‘ASTRO’ • Platoon Progression • Proactive Plan Selection (PPS) • Proactive Average Operation (PPA) • Split Variant Operation (SVO)

43. Terms and Definitions • Split Variant In-bound (SVI) • Split Variant Out-bound (SVO) • Host or Base plans (5, 8, 12, and 15) • Guest plans (4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, and 16) • Border Plans (3 and 10) • Proactive Average Plans (0, 1 and 2) • Ped. Override Mode (POM)

44. Terms and DefinitionsPlans Library Guest Plans are located above and below Host plans as shown with 4,6,7,9,11,13,14, and 16 Host Plans are 5,8,12, and 15 Plans are grouped in Triads

45. Terms and DefinitionsReference • Proactive Average Plans 0, 1 and 2. • Plan 0 = Free. • Border Crossing Plans 3 and 10. • V+Ko {volume + [K * % occupancy]} = {v+[40 * % occ]} = control threshold. • V+Ko in-bound or out-bound.

46. Terms and Definitions • The base plans or ‘Host’ plans serve as just that, hosts to their respective clones or ‘Guest’ plans. • Host plan 8 serves the morning heavy plan ‘Triad’ and has two ‘Guest’ plans. Plans 7 and 9 which are associated copies of the Host plan.

47. Terms and Definitions • SVO uses the same cycle length and off-set for the guest plans as that of the hosts. • This means no transitions between plans and a smooth re-allocation of cycle time to serve higher demand phases!