How to achieve fluid traffic

Transcription

1 Kanton Basel-Stadt How to achieve fluid traffic Objectives, instruments and limits of traffic management Alain Groff, Office for Mobility, Canton of Basel-Stadt

2 Overview Some figures about Basel Tools for measuring traffic and informing drivers Influencing factors: let s get down to the roots Situative traffic management: Benefits and tools Improving traffic conditions: a strategic approach Adaptive traffic lights: priority to high capacity modes Conclusion Moscow International Transport Expert Council Alain Groff, Basel 2

3 Some figures about canton Basel-Stadt Area: 37 km2 (city 24) Population: (city ) Persons employed: Commuters inbound : ( cross-border) Outbound commuters: Private cars: PT card owners: Modal split (trips made by inhabitants of the city): 18 % private car, 27 % public transport, 16 % bicycle, 37 % walking Moscow International Transport Expert Council Alain Groff, Basel 3

4 Tools used in Basel for counting / detecting Permanent traffic counting devices (long-term monitoring) Traffic flow modelling regional simulation model for traffic quantities local simulation tools for capacity evaluation Vehicle capturing at traffic lights (also used for ex post analyses) Privately generated and sold flow data (TomTom e.g.) Moscow International Transport Expert Council Alain Groff, Basel 4

5 Counting sites on the Swiss motorway Alain Groff, Basel

6 Inductive loops capturing and counting vehicles Moscow International Transport Expert Council Alain Groff, Basel 6

7 Counting by capturing loops: detailed results Moscow International Transport Expert Council Alain Groff, Basel 7

8 Integrated mobility planning also count pedestrians Moscow International Transport Expert Council Alain Groff, Basel 8

9 Traffic flow modelling software output Moscow International Transport Expert Council Alain Groff, Basel 9

10 Local flow modelling software output Moscow International Transport Expert Council Alain Groff, Basel 10

11 Tools used in Basel for information of drivers and riders Adaptive speed limits, dynamic warning signs and adaptive direction signs on the motorway for exceptional situations Real-time information displays for urban public transport Real-time route planners on the internet Routing and ticketing apps issued by PT companies Moscow International Transport Expert Council Alain Groff, Basel 11

12 Adaptive speed limits and warning signs Moscow International Transport Expert Council Alain Groff, Basel 12

13 Adaptive direction signs Moscow International Transport Expert Council Alain Groff, Basel 13

14 Dynamic information on PT Moscow International Transport Expert Council Alain Groff, Basel 14

15 Influencing factors: Getting down to the root Activities mostly need mobility Mobility mostly needs (motorized) transport Transport generates traffic Too much road traffic generates traffic jams My choice, my behaviour our mobility, our traffic (jam) The most efficient way to manage traffic problems: give people the freedom to reach their activities without using the car Reducing traffic jams by traffic management is like using the elevator because your legs hurt: The problem at the root is getting worse! Moscow International Transport Expert Council Alain Groff, Basel 15

16 Local mobility or motorized immobility? Moscow International Transport Expert Council Alain Groff, Basel 16

17 Getting down to the root Traffic volume is a direct product of spatial planning and density land-use in the different areas (housing, working, leisure, shops) urban design and quality of life, especially in residential quarters Shorter distances for accessing activities and a safe and efficient walking / cycling network are likely to raise the share of non motorized trips. Pedestrians and cyclists need very little space. Attractive and reliable public transport is essential to reduce the need for using private cars. PT is highly efficient in the use of road capacity, and doesn t waste public space in dense central areas for parking. Moscow International Transport Expert Council Alain Groff, Basel 17

18 Integrated spatial planning Moscow International Transport Expert Council Alain Groff, Basel 18

19 Intelligent allocation of scarce space Moscow International Transport Expert Council Alain Groff, Basel 19

20 Reliable public transport Moscow International Transport Expert Council Alain Groff, Basel 20

21 Situative re-routing: yes, for exceptions Information and redistribution of traffic flows in case of Exceptional events (concert, sport, fair, ) and traffic disruptions (accidents, road works, ) Exceptional, not daily peaks (holiday weekend, vacation, christmas ) Tools: website/app, variable message sign or changeable direction sign Limited benefits of re-routing during daily peak hours traffic jams Drivers rely on apps or navigation device rather than on official signs Many drivers cannot change travel time or route even if recommended During peak hours, alternative routes tend to be congested as well Secondary roads are no suitable overflow devices for congested main roads Moscow International Transport Expert Council Alain Groff, Basel 21

22 TM in Switzerland: further tools and their benefits Dropper traffic lights at motorway or tunnel Gatekeeper traffic lights on radials at the city entrance Lane closure signalling on motorway ahead of entrance Directing heavy trucks to parking zones ahead of tunnel / border when needed Temporary opening of emergency lane for running traffic Dynamic bus lane operated in both directions or in counterflow mode Benefits Keep traffic fluid Give drivers the most relevant information, avoid misrouting Give priority to PT where space for additional lane is not available Moscow International Transport Expert Council Alain Groff, Basel 22

23 Dropper traffic light at the motorway entrance Moscow International Transport Expert Council Alain Groff, Basel 23

24 Gatekeeper traffic lights on radials Moscow International Transport Expert Council Alain Groff, Basel 24

25 Opening of emergency lane during peak hours Moscow International Transport Expert Council Alain Groff, Basel 25

26 Dynamic bus lanes Moscow International Transport Expert Council Alain Groff, Basel 26

27 Transport policy in Basel: an integrated approach Transport strategy based on seven pillars Developing public transport and intermodality Dosing road traffic and directing it to performant main roads Limiting public parking offer and managing on-street parking Influencing traffic demand by mobility management (services, campaigns etc.) Completing the walking and cycling networks to make them safe and comfortable Upgrading public space and allowing for short trips Making freight traffic more efficient and reducing its negative effects Moscow International Transport Expert Council Alain Groff, Basel 27

28 Transport policy in Basel: the results Less traffic jams than in smaller urban areas of Switzerland Slow decrease of motorized traffic within the city, while employment and population figures are rising High quality of life in residential areas taking advantage of calming measures Improved road safety based on the principle of mutual respect Moscow International Transport Expert Council Alain Groff, Basel 28

29 Transport policy in Basel: the graphs Accidents decreasing Car traffic decreasing Motorization low Air pollution stable Moscow International Transport Expert Council Alain Groff, Basel 29

30 Kanton Basel-Stadt Traffic evolution in Basel Bicycle PT Car traffic Moscow International Transport Expert Council Alain Groff, Basel 30

31 Basel: not more traffic jams than in a province town Moscow International Transport Expert Council Alain Groff, Basel 31

32 Kanton Basel-Stadt More and more commuters jobs inhabitants +200 private cars Moscow International Transport Expert Council Alain Groff, Basel 32

33 Traffic management: some pragmatic clues Reduce risk of disturbances (accidents, double-parking, ) Focus on intersections capacity, not on sections inbetween Avoid left-turns with separate trafffic light phases Short cycles mean short waiting times for everybody, good acceptance No wasted seconds detect waiting vehicles and vehicles queued up behind the intersection Our key issue is not to improve travel times for car drivers, but to provide optimum use of time and space Moscow International Transport Expert Council Alain Groff, Basel 33

34 Detecting traffic queues and avoiding gridlock Moscow International Transport Expert Council Alain Groff, Basel 34

35 Wasted public space sufficient road capacity Moscow International Transport Expert Council Alain Groff, Basel 35

36 Adaptive traffic lights: maximum local intelligence Features of traffic light control in Basel Optimization focussing on the single intersection, not the network «Green waves» for car traffic only on few sections, where it is really dominant Smaller overseeable intersections mean less complex phase sequences Short cycles, mostly of variable duration Phase sequence and duration adapted to momentary detection of vehicles / pedestrians High priority for tram and bus, green light only when asked for «free green» whenever possible, maximum waiting times applying Number of traffic lights at intersections and their operating times limited to the strictly necessary places and hours (safety of tram operation e.g.) Moscow International Transport Expert Council Alain Groff, Basel 36

37 Call point sequence for public transport Moscow International Transport Expert Council Alain Groff, Basel 37

38 Capturing car traffic at TL controlled intersections Moscow International Transport Expert Council Alain Groff, Basel 38

39 Green light for PT when required Moscow International Transport Expert Council Alain Groff, Basel 39

40 The most performant traffic lights: no traffic lights Moscow International Transport Expert Council Alain Groff, Basel 40

41 Traffic lights control strategy for Basel Targets (level of service) defined for all traffic streams at the intersection, based on objective criteria and general political strategy Programming of control software is taking the targets into account Technical waiting times captured and processed by an analysis software Daily documentation of the difference between actual and targetted LOS Target-oriented modification of programme possible Technical failures easily spotted Moscow International Transport Expert Council Alain Groff, Basel 41

42 TLCS: quality assessment and daily monitoring Moscow International Transport Expert Council Alain Groff, Basel 42

43 Planned traffic management concept for Basel Dosing traffic proves to be an effective tool to reduce traffic volume within an area (reduction goal established in cantonal law) Politically delicate: city gate effect, congestion transferred to neighbouring areas Beware risk of rat running and overload of secondary roads Planners are currently working on coherent «packages» of dosing crossroads Moscow International Transport Expert Council Alain Groff, Basel 43

44 Mobility pricing: a suitable tool to reduce peaks? Economical reasoning: Car driver is paying for his personal contribution to time lost by others PT rider s is paying a price proportional to the incremental cost of use Politically delicate, especially when applied to restricted areas The payers may be those who cannot chose hour of travel or place of living and working place; tricky social effects («commuters are punished») Complicated payment systems or complete electronic capture of movements (privacy issues) Risk of undesired modal shift towards private car thorough implementation required Replacing flat rate season tickets in public transport could reduce number of trips, but also give incentive for shorter commuting distance Moscow International Transport Expert Council Alain Groff, Basel 44

45 Less traffic peaks thanks to differentiated pricing? Moscow International Transport Expert Council Alain Groff, Basel 45

46 Conclusion A long-term policy aiming at a reduction of car traffic volume is more effective than trying to reroute car drivers within an overloaded network The most important traffic management tool is an intelligent and differentiated traffic lights control programming Maximum efficiency at the single intersection and PT priority implies less network co-ordination and «green waves» for cars Programme quality should be monitored in order to spot technical failures or potential for control optimization The traffic jam is now and here. The measures to sustainably reduce traffic jams are requiring long-term strategies and an approach which is rather regional than local. Moscow International Transport Expert Council Alain Groff, Basel 46

47 Thank you for your attention