ANALYSIS OF CALCULATION METHODS OF TRAFFIC CAPACITY OF INTERSECTIONS AT GRADE

Abstract

The paper studies the calculation methods of traffic capacity of intersections at grade using the method of comparative analysis. Determination of traffic capacity is needed for the identification of road sections where road conditions should be improved as well as for the assessment of traffic economy and convenience along the whole traffic route and selection of the most efficient means of traffic organization. Any road can operate at different workload intensity. In this case the intensity corresponding to the traffic capacity of a road will be limiting. The operation efficiency of a road can be defined by traffic capacity or intensity enabling the most economical and efficient traffic on the road in terms of driver’s operating conditions. The last few decades of market relations in the Russian Federation feature a steep increase in the number of motor transport in cities. It is assumed that the critical level of motorization in Russia will achieve the level of 550 automobiles per 1000 people by 2020-2025, which is one and a half times as much as the current level in the more developed European part of Russia. The increased motorization level has affected the structure of traffic flows where the percentage of personal passenger cars is 80-90%. An individual motor vehicle has caused a number of problems in urban development in the part of city and transport planning. The increased volume of traffic on public roads and city streets and highways raises the relevance of the problems of ensuring traffic capacity and reduction of delays and queues. One of the components of public road network and urban road and street network featuring queues and delays of transport flows is uncontrolled intersections.