Microsimulation approach for evaluation of reversible lane operation on urban undivided roads in mixed traffic

Most of the urban cities in emerging countries consist of a large proportion of undivided roads which carry mixed traffic with non-lane discipline. Vehicular maneuvers on such roads are complex and also, traffic flow in a particular direction is predominant compared to other direction which increases the congestion. Possible ways to reduce congestion are to improve the operation of existing road systems through better traffic management measures. The objective of this research work is to evaluate reversible lane (tidal flow) operation using a microscopic simulation model developed specifically for urban undivided roads in mixed traffic. The concept of influence area is introduced in the model to identify the most influencing leader vehicle. The impact of reversible lane operation on road capacity is studied using different vehicular compositions commonly observed on urban arterials in Indian cities. Results shows that there is an improvement in capacity during peak hours after implementing reversible lanes.