Improving Traffic Progression on an Urban Arterial

Abstract

Pakistan has experienced a rapid motorization in last one decade as motorized vehicle population increased from about 5.3 million in year 2002 to 11 million vehicles of all type in year 2012. Also, the large scale migration of people into cities has resulted into urban sprawl and is incurring huge social cost in term of traffic congestion and higher housing prices. An unprecedented increase in vehicular traffic in Mardan City in last decade or so has resulted in severe traffic congestion causing excessive delays and higher travel time. A wellplanned, efficient and sensible transportation system is necessary to ensure the better traffic movement and operational condition of road system. Our study aims to identify the traffic congestion problems of Mardan N-45 (from Ring Road Interchange to College Chowk) using advanced traffic simulation software (PTV VISSIM) to mimic real time traffic conditions. In addition different infrastructure intervention options involving the reduction of ill-placed Uturns, lane addition, channelization and provision of grade separated facilities have been explored. Using economic efficiency analysis techniques to compare travel time and vehicle operation costs with their respective infrastructure construction and maintenance cost and to suggest suitable cost effective solution for relieving traffic congestion