Traffic Equilibration: The Case of the Twin Cities Ramp Meter Shut Off

Proceedings of International Conference on Traffic and Transportation Studies, pp. 580-587, 2002

8 Pages Posted: 27 Jan 2011

See all articles by David Matthew Levinson

David Matthew Levinson

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Muhammad Atif Sheikh

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Date Written: 2002

Abstract

In Fall 2000, more than 430 ramp meters in the Twin Cities metropolitan area were shut down in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the metering system. This shutdown disturbed normal traffic patterns and thus traffic equilibrium. This paper examines how long it takes to establish a new equilibrium after a shock to the system, and thus establishes the basis for how long traffic studies should be carried out, as transportation analysts are generally concerned with comparing two equilibrium conditions. While traffic seems to be tending toward an equilibrium by the end of the 8 week shut-down, it has not yet converged to one. More research is needed to examine the question of whether and how equilibria form, and we need to examine longer time periods for analysis.

Keywords: ramp meters, shockwave, traffic, transportation

JEL Classification: R40, R41

Suggested Citation

Levinson, David Matthew and Sheikh, Muhammad Atif, Traffic Equilibration: The Case of the Twin Cities Ramp Meter Shut Off (2002). Proceedings of International Conference on Traffic and Transportation Studies, pp. 580-587, 2002, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1748617

David Matthew Levinson (Contact Author)

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Muhammad Atif Sheikh

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

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