Experimental Measurement of Diversion Due to Ramp Meters

Abstract

The effectiveness of ramp meters relates to the availability of alternative freeway or arterial routes, drivers’ propensity to use these alternative routes, and drivers’ willingness to shift trips to alternative times of the day. Ramp metering, which is integral to Southeastern Wisconsin's regional traffic operations program, was evaluated for its effectiveness, including associated diversions of traffic. As part of this larger study, diversion was evaluated by performing a with-and-without meters experiment on a 15-mi corridor of US-45. This evaluation of diversion, primarily through statistical analysis of traffic counts on the freeway mainline, on parallel arterial streets, and at on-ramps along with analysis of origin–destination tables and a survey of Wisconsin drivers, indicates that ramp metering will divert traffic in complex ways. Spatial diversion from the freeway to the alternative routes and from substandard ramps to a more desirable entrance took place within the studied roadway network. Slightly significant temporal variation was found, but the results were difficult to interpret as temporal diversion. Analysis of origin–destination tables showed that there was a reduction in short trips. From the questionnaire responses, it was found that drivers knowledgeable about alternative routes were willing to divert to avoid delays.

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