Chapter 13: Weaving, Merging, and Diverging Movements on Freeways and Multilane Highways Chapter objectives: By the end of these chapters the student will be able to: Describe the three weaving area configurations Describe the merge and diverge influence areas Become familiar with the steps of conducting weaving area analysis Become familiar with the steps of conducting merge/diverge area analysis Conduct these analyses manually and by HCS+ Know the limitations of these models Chapter 13

I-215 and 21st South, SLC Chapter 13

13.1 Turbulence areas on freeways and multilane highways Turbulence as characterized by the additional lane-changing these maneuvers cause: i.e. you must make at least one lane change. Other elements: the need for greater vigilance on the part of the driver, more frequent changes in speed, and average speeds that may be somewhat lower than on similar basic sections. The maximum length over which weaving movements are defined is 2,500 ft. Beyond that, analyze as separate ramps. The maximum length over which merging and diverging movements are defined is 1,500 ft. Chapter 13

13.2 Level-of-service criteria Just like the basic section, density is used as MOE. For weaving areas, the density reflects an average for all vehicles across all lanes of the segment between the entry and exit points of the segment. For merge and diverge areas, densities reflect the “merge/diverge influence area which consists of lanes 1 and 2 (right & next-to-right lane) and the acceleration or deceleration lane 1,500 ft upstream of a diverge or downstream of a merge. Chapter 13

Compare the upper boundaries of the LOSs between Basic Freeway Segments and Weaving/Merging/Diverging Segments. Chapter 13 LOS Basic Fwy Segment

13.3 A common point: converting demand volumes to flow rates Both procedures rely on algorithms stated in terms of demand flow rates in passenger car units for base conditions. We have seen the definitions of these terms in Chapter 12. Heavy vehicle and driver population factors are the same ones used for basic freeway and multilane highway segments in Chapter 12. Make sure you read the introductory section of 13.4 for the history of the weaving analysis method. Chapter 13

13.4 Analysis of weaving areas 13.4.1 Flows in a weaving area Weaving flows (pc/hr) vs. Non-weaving flows (pc/hr) Subscript 1 means the larger flow; subscript 2 means the smaller flow of the two. w is weaving flow, o is outer non-weaving flow. VR = Volume Ratio R = Weaving Ratio Chapter 13

13.4.2 Critical geometric variables Three influential variables Lane configuration Length of the weaving area, ft Width (number of lanes) in the weaving area Lane balance: entry lanes n, exit lanes n+1 Configuration No. of required lane-changes for: Primary weaving movement Secondary weaving movement Type A Type B Type C 1 >= 2 Read the top paragraph of the left column of p.343 about the number of lane changes that must be made.. The HCM models for these were calibrated. The others are approximate. Chapter 13

Length of the weaving area & Width of a weaving area and type of operation The intensity of lane change is affected by the length of the weaving area. Shorter length – more lane changes occur in a more crammed situation. Nw = number of lanes weaving vehicles must occupy to achieve balanced equilibrium operation with non-weaving vehicles Nw(max) = Max number of lanes that can be occupied by weaving vehicles in a given configuration Unconstrained operation when Nw <= Nw(max) Constrained operation when Nw > Nw(max) Chapter 13

13.4.3 Computational procedures for weaving area analysis Specify all traffic and geometric conditions for the site Convert all component demand volumes to peak flow rates in pc/h under equivalent base conditions (eq. 13-1) Assume that operations are unconstrained, and estimate the resulting speed of weaving and non-weaving vehicles in the weaving area (eq. 13-2 and 13-3) Using the results of Step 3, determine whether actual operations are unconstrained or constrained. If they are constrained, re-estimate the speed of weaving and non-weaving vehicles assuming the constrained result. (see Table 13.4) Compute the weighted average speed and density for all vehicles in the weaving area (eq. 13-5) Determine level of service from the estimated density in the weaving area (eq. 13-6) Check input variables against limitations of the methodology (Table 13.5) Determine the capacity of the weaving section (Appendix I) Chapter 13 See Fig 13.7.

Equations Eq. 13-1 Eq. 13-2 &13-3 Eq. 13-4, read about the logic of the model, p.346 right column. Eq. 13-5 This is how Eq. 13-5 is derived; all terms show densities. Total density is a sum total of density of non-weaving and weaving vehicles. Eq. 13-6 Chapter 13

Example 13.1 Analysis of a ramp-weave area We will walk through this example to learn how the weaving analysis is done. (13.4.3) Chapter 13

13.5 Analysis of merge and diverge areas The analysis procedures focus on the merge or diverge influence area that encompasses lanes 1 and 2 (shoulder and adjacent) freeway lanes and the acceleration lane for a distance of 1,500 ft upstream of a diverge or 1,500 downstream of a merge area. Merge area: Diverge area: Chapter 13

Measuring the Length of Acceleration and Deceleration Lanes Chapter 13

Eq. 13-12 is for an isolated ramp. Eq. 13-13 and 13-14 reflect OFF-ramp effects. There is no model for ON-ramp effects. Chapter 13

Isolated ramp or not? for upstream off ramp If Lup ≥ LEQ, the subject ramp may be considered to be isolated. Use eq. 13-12. Otherwise, use eq. 13-13. for downstream off ramp If Ldn ≥ LEQ, the subject ramp may be considered to be isolated. Use eq. 13-112. Otherwise, use eq. 13-14. Chapter 13

Eq. 13-19 is for an isolated ramp. Eq. 13-20 reflects on-ramp effects and 13-21 reflects off-ramp effects. There is no algorithms for the effects of adjacent upstream off-ramps or adjacent downstream on-ramps on six-lane facilities. Chapter 13

Isolated ramp or not? for upstream on ramp If Lup ≥ LEQ, the subject ramp may be considered to be isolated. Use eq. 13-19. Otherwise, use eq. 13-20. for downstream off ramp If Ldn ≥ LEQ, the subject ramp may be considered to be isolated. Use eq. 13-19. Otherwise, use eq. 13-21. Chapter 13

13.5.1 Structure of the methodology for analysis of merge and diverge areas (See Figure 13.10) Specify all traffic and roadway data for the junction to be analyzed: peak-hour demands, PHF, traffic composition, driver population, and geometric details of the site, including the free-flow speed for the facility and for the ramp. Convert all demand volumes to flow rates in pc/h under equivalent base conditions. (Determine whether the equation for isolated analysis can be used.) i.e., compute vF, vR, and v12. Determine the demand flow in lanes 1 and 2 of the facility immediately upstream of the merge (V12) or diverge junction (V12) using the appropriate algorithm as specified. Table 13.6 (PFM) & Table 13.7 (PFD). Need to check whether the subject ramp is isolated or not first. Determine whether the demand flow exceeds the capacity of any critical element of the junction. (Table 13.8) Where demand exceeds capacity, level of service F is assigned and the analysis is complete. (See the right column of page 358.) If operation is determined to be stable, determine the density (eq. 13-24 for merge and eq. 13-25 for diverge areas) and speed of all vehicles within the ramp influence area. Table 13.9 and 13.10 Chapter 13

13.5.4 Determining Density and LOS in the Ramp Influence Area Merge influence area Diverge influence area Once Density is calculated, average speeds on ramp influence area, outer lanes, and all lanes will be estimated (section 13.5.5). Chapter 13

Example 13.3 Analysis of an isolated on-ramp We will walk through this example to learn how the merging analysis is done. (13.5.2 – 13.5.5) Chapter 13

Example 13.4 Analysis of a sequence of freeway ramps We will walk through this example to learn how a sequence of freeway ramps (mix of merging and diverging areas). (13.5.2 – 13.5.5) Read Appendix II for Special Cases in Merge and diverge Analysis. We do not cover this in this class but keep in mind this topic is discussed in this book as well as in HCM so that you know what to do when you encounter these cases. Chapter 13