Performance Evaluation of AALRT Level Crossings along North- South Line Case study on Adey Ababa and Sebategna Level Crossings
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Date
2023-04
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Railway grade crossings are the intersection of two modes of transportation with very different
physical and operational characteristics. There are many variables factors that influence a
motorist’s ability to react appropriately at grade crossings. These factors include the
information available as the driver approaches, the crossing and human factors such as
competing decisions, distractions, and impaired driving.
This paper is intended to study the performance evaluation of AALRT Level crossings where
road traffic (Road Vehicles), Pedestrians and LRT vehicles (Trains) are computing for crossing
each other along the North –south line. This area is one of the important places that belongs to
both the rail line and the road as well the bottle neck for the operation of trains. Performance
evaluation using Average control delay and Level of service of level crossings were the main
topic covered with in the paper.
Primary data (Traffic Volume data at crossings) have been collected using Video camera for
Six hours at each level crossings. Based on the collected Traffic volume, the traffic distribution
to each direction has been counted carefully to minimize the error including pedestrian’s
volume.
Sidra Intersection 8 software along with Highway capacity manual 2010 (HCM 2010) have
been used to evaluate the Performance of theses Level Crossings at 3, 6, 10,15- and 20-minutes’
headway of Addis Ababa Light Rail Transit (AALRT) operation.
Intersection models with different Conditions have been considered to see the effects of the
presence of pedestrians, Light rail Vehicle (LRV) Frequencies and the type of Traffic Control
(Signaling and Yield Sign control).
According to the results the presence of pedestrian is sounder in Yield control methods than
the Signal control for the same Intersection geometry, LRV frequency and Traffic Flows.
Comparison of the Signaling and Yield Control results at the existing traffic condition and
Level Crossings geometry conditions shows that Signaling control will perform better than the
Yield control.
According the result of both from Signaling and Yield control models, both level crossings will
not perform at LOS D (Target LOS) at the existing Geometric and Traffic Flow conditions. Finally, the Level crossings were modelled with traffic movement and Geometric
modifications under signaling control and the result shows that these level crossings will
perform at least at LOS D if the recommended modifications have been set accordingly.
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Keywords
Level Crossing, Pedestrian Crossing, Addis Ababa Light Rail Transit, Intersection Performance, LOS.