Dynamic Vehicular Capacity Allocations Using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) for Managed Lanes

Urban transportation is identified with traffic congestion especially during the peak periods. As demand approaches the designed capacity of a road or an intersection along the road, the result is traffic congestion. Saturation of a road takes place when the volume of traffic demand for road space is greater than the designed (available) road capacity. This results in overstretching the use of the road space, delay on the road and other forms of losses such as time.

To curtail congestion on a road, two controlling mechanisms have always been employed: (1) increasing road capacity through adding a lane or additional roads; or (2) introducing some traffic restriction measures or strategies such as rationing, road pricing, etc. The first approach will later introduce “induced traffic” resulting in congestion while the second approach limits commuter's free access to the road. Usually in urban centres; the second approach is usually more acceptable as it ensures movement of traffic at higher speeds.

This paper discusses the relationship between various vehicular speeds and the corresponding capacities. Each Dynamic Saturation or Preset Volume is in-turn allocated to different strategies on a Managed Lane using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP).