TRAFFIC SIGNAL DESIGN
[IRC 93-1985]
A traffic control device whether manually,
electrically or mechanically operated, by which traffic is
alternately directed to stop and proceed in a specified
direction
▫ Fixed time signals
▫ Vehicle actuated signals
▫ Semi-vehicle actuated signals
• Green signal – traffic except
pedestrians may cautiously enter the
intersection to make movement
indicated by GREEN ARROWS
• Steady Amber Signal – warn that
green movement is being terminated
or red indication will be immediately
exhibited
• Steady Red Signal – traffic shall
stop at a clearly marked stop line
• Flashing Red (STOP signal)
▫ Driver shall stop vehicle at STOP line to have a view of
approaching traffic on intersecting roadway prior to
entering the intersection
▫ Right to proceed is subjected to availability of safe gap
• Flashing Amber (CAUTION signal)
▫ Drivers may proceed through the intersection with caution
• Pedestrian Signal
(1) Steady Green (2) Flashing Red (3) Steady Red
(1) Proceed across roadway on the cross-walk
(2) Pedestrians already on the carriageway shall quickly proceed to nearest
refuge island or footpath and those on footpath or island shall not enter
the roadway
(3) Pedestrians shall not enter roadway
Size & Design Signal Lenses
• Circular
• Diameter - 200 or 300 mm
• 300 mm diameter is used in intersections such as :-
▫ Suburban area with 85th percentile speed > 70kmph
▫ Busy urban area with 85th percentile speed > 50kmph
▫ 3 lane approaches & locations with conflicting or competing
background lighting in urban areas
• Lens of same colour arranged horizontally to each other
at right angles to basic straight line
• Should be clearly visible to drivers, from atleast 400m
under normal atmospheric condition
• Influence of curves, grades, obstructions and distance
required to stop the vehicle from an average approach
speed should be considered in directing and locating
signals
Location & number of signal faces
• Minimum of two signal faces for through traffic shall
be provided
▫ One of them shall be erected on near side of intersection
(primary) & other on far side (secondary)
• If visibility is obstructed, a suitable sign, supplemented
by a flashing amber shall be erected in advance to
warn driver about approaching traffic
• Atleast one signal face over the travelled roadway for
each approach
• Supports for post-mounted signal heads at the side of
street with kerbs shall have a horizontal clearance of
not less than 60 cm
Height of signal face
• Bottom of signal face shall be 2.5m above footpath or
crown of the roadway
• For signals suspended over a roadway, height shall be
5.5m above crown
• Maximum height of bottom of post-mounted signal face
shall not exceed 4.6m & in case of over-head signal face,
it shall not exceed 5.8m
Maintenance
• Provide alternate operation of signal during failure
• Properly skilled maintenance staff shall be available
without undue delay for emergency (lamp failures)
• Maintain appearance of signal installation
• If controller fails, it shall automatically change over to
flashing amber or turn off all signals
• Paint signal post & housing with yellow for best contrast
with background
• Provide auxiliary signs (turn restrictions)
• Remove unauthorized sign, advertisement, signal,
marking or devices
Traffic and engineering data required
• Number of motorized vehicles entering the intersection
in each hour from each approach containing greatest
percentage of 24 hours traffic
• Classified vehicular volume for each traffic movement
from each approach for atleast 2 hours morning &
evening peak periods
• Pedestrian volume count on each cross walk during the
same period
• 85th percentile speed of all vehicles on uncontrolled
approaches
• Condition diagram showing physical features such as
▫ Intersection geometrics
▫ Channelization
▫ Grades
▫ Sight distance restrictions
▫ Bus stops and parking conditions
▫ Pavement markings, street lightings
▫ Driveways
▫ Nearby rail-road crossings
▫ Utility poles & fixtures
▫ Adjacent land use
• Collision diagram showing
▫ Location & direction of movement
▫ Severity & time of occurrence
• For more precise understanding following data are also
desirable:-
i. Delay for each approach
ii. 85th percentile speed near to intersection but unaffected by
control
iii. Pedestrian delay for atleast two 30 minutes peak pedestrian
delay period
• Desirable to have adequate roadway capacity at
signalized intersection
• Widening of main highway and intersecting roadway is
warranted:-
▫ To reduce delay
▫ To reduce signal time assigned to side street traffic
▫ Additional width is necessary on leaving and approach side
to clear traffic through intersection effectively
▫ Desirable to have atleast two lanes on each approach
▫ Effect of widening can be achieved by elimination of
parking
• Before widening, additional green time required for
pedestrian to cross widened road should be checked
Warrants for Signal Installation
• Any one or more of following warrants should
be met for signal installation
▫ Warrant 1 – Minimum vehicular volume
▫ Warrant 2 – Interruption of continuous traffic
▫ Warrant 3 – Minimum pedestrian volume
▫ Warrant 4 – Accident experience
▫ Warrant 5 – Combination of warrants
Warrant 1 – Min. Vehicular Volume
• Traffic volume on the major street & the higher volume
minor street for each of any 8 hours of an average
day should be equal to as follows
• Major street & minor street volume are for same 8 hours
• Each traffic lane at intersection shall be minimum 2.8 m
wide
• If 85th percentile speed of major street exceeds
50kmph or when intersection lies in built-up area of
population less than 2.5 lakhs, then minimum
vehicular volume warrant is 70% of the requirements
stated in the table
Warrant 2 – Interruption of continuous
traffic
• Traffic volume on the major street & the higher volume
minor street for each of any 8 hours of an average day
should be equal to as follows
• This warrant is applied if operating conditions or traffic
volume on major street is so heavy that traffic on minor
street suffers excessive delay or hazard in entering
or crossing major street
• If 85th percentile speed of major street exceeds 60kmph
or when intersection lies in built-up area of population
less than 2.5 lakhs, then the warrant is 70% of the
requirements stated in the table
Warrant 3 – Min. pedestrian volume
• For each of any 8 hours of an average day, following
traffic volumes exist
i. On the major street, 600 or more vehicles per hour
enter the intersection (both approaches) or where there is
a raised median island 1.5 m or more in width, 1000
vehicles per hour enter the intersection on major
street
ii. During the same 8 hours, there are 150 or more
pedestrians per hour on the highest volume cross-
walk crossing the major street
• If 85th percentile speed of major street exceeds 60kmph
or when intersection lies in built-up area of population
less than 2.5 lakhs, then the warrant is 70% of the
requirements stated
• Under this warrant, it is desirable to have a traffic
actuated signal with push buttons for pedestrians
crossing the street, at isolated intersections or mid-
blocks
• Kerb parking prohibited for 75 m before and beyond
the cross-walk
• Cross-walk should not be closer than 300 m to
another established cross-walk
Warrant 4 – Accident experience
i. Adequate trial of less restrictive remedies with
satisfactory observance & enforcement have failed to
reduce accident frequency
ii. Five or more reported accidents in 1 year that
can be corrected by traffic signals, each accident
involving personal injury or property damage to an
apparent extent of Rs. 2000 or more
iii. Signal installation does not seriously disrupt traffic
flow
Warrant 5 – Combination of warrants
• In exceptional cases, signals may be justified
occasionally where no signal warrant is satisfied,
but there where two or more of warrants 1, 2 and
3 are satisfied 80% or more
• Standard controller shall provide for 6 phases with
green, amber and red in each phase. Green interval shall
be adjustable in steps of 2 seconds from 10 to 60 sec
• Amber interval shall be adjustable to either 2,3,4 or 5 sec
• Vehicle signal sequence Red-Amber-Green-Amber or
Red-Green-Amber
▫ Initial amber
▫ Clearance amber
• Facility shall be provided with flickering of left turn
arrows
• Facilities shall be provided for pedestrian crossing
• Shall have provision for 3 cycles with different intervals
in each cycle to cater morning, evening & off-peak traffic.
In addition, one cycle of amber flashing on main roads &
red flashing on minor road to cater to night conditions
• Optional facility for manual control of signal
Need for coordinated signal
• Progressive movement to traffic in specified direction at
predetermined speed
• To reduce delays and avoid main traffic from having to
stop at every junction
• Objectives:-
i. To pass maximum amount of traffic without enforced
halts
ii. To have minimum overall delay both in main & side road
iii. To prevent the queue of vehicles at one intersection
extending & reaching next intersection
• Signals within 1 km of one another along major route
should be operated in co-ordination
• Offset
▫ Difference between start of green time at successive
upstream & downstream signals
▫ Offset of downstream signal shall be such that platoon has
an unhindered movement
• Time & Distance Diagram
▫ Time & signal settings are plotted horizontally & distance
travelled along major road vertically
Time & distance diagram for one-way street with linked signals
Distance (ft)
Time
(Cycles)
Intersections
1000’
2200
’
Distance (ft)
Time
(Cycles)
Intersections
Distance (ft)
Time
(Cycles)
Intersections
Distance (ft)
Time
(Cycles)
Intersections
Distance (ft)
Time
(Cycles)
Intersections
Time & distance diagram for two-way street with linked signals
Time & distance diagram for two-way street with linked signals
Types
1. Simultaneous/Synchronized System
2. Alternate/Limited progressive system
3. Simple progressive system
4. Flexible progressive system
1. Simultaneous System
▫ All signals along a given street always display same
indication at same time
▫ Cycle time is same at all intersections
▫ Disadvantages:-
 Not conducive to give continuous movement of all vehicles
 Encourage speeding of drivers between stops
 Reduce overall speed
 Inefficient at some intersection due to same cycle time provided for
all intersections
2. Alternate System
▫ Consecutive signals display contrary indications at same
time
▫ Permit vehicles to travel one block in half cycle time
▫ Efficient if blocks are of equal lengths
▫ Speeding of drivers are stopped at each signal
▫ Disadvantages:-
 Green times for both main & side streets have to be substantially
equal, resulting in inefficiency at most of the intersections
 Not well suited where block lengths are unequal
 Adjustments are difficult for changing traffic conditions
3. Simple Progressive System
▫ Various signals display green aspects in accordance with a time
schedule
▫ Permit continuous operation of platoon of vehicles at a planned
rate of motion, which vary in different parts of system
▫ Offsets are fixed & cannot be altered
▫ Cycle time is different at each signal installations, but fixed
4. Flexible Progressive System
▫ Improvement over simple progressive system
▫ Possible to introduce flashing or shut down during off-peak hour
▫ It is possible to vary the offsets
▫ Cycle time & division vary at each signal depending on traffic
• Assumptions
i. Vehicles arriving on an approach distribute equally on
different lanes meant for a particular direction
ii. Number of vehicles arriving on an approach is equal in all
cycles, having identical cycle lengths
iii. Reaction time to start from stop for first vehicle is 6 sec &
subsequent vehicles follow a uniform headway of 2 sec
• Pedestrian Green
▫ Green time = (Width of carriageway to be crossed
in metre divided by assumed walking speed of
1.2m/s)+ (Reaction time of 7 sec)
• Optimum cycle length shall be designed such that delay
at all approaches will be minimized
• Cycle length should be rounded to multiple of five
• Max recommended cycle time = 120 sec
• More than 4 phases in any given cycle is less preferred
Optimum Cycle Time
• Depend on traffic conditions
• Cycle time is longer when heavily trafficked
• Cycle time short  starting delays & lost time high
• Degree of trafficking (y) =
• Webster’s optimum cycle time,
▫ L – total lost time per cycle
▫ Y – sum of maximum y-values for all phases of the cycle
Select design hour traffic flows
Consider traffic flows to determine number of
phases
Determine suitable inter-green periods, lost
times & saturation flows
Convert traffic flows to PCUs
Determine ymax values for each phase
Calculate optimum cycle time
• Example
2 phase, 4-arm intersection, equal flows on all arms,
equal saturation flow of 1800 veh/hr, equal green times,
total lost time per cycle = 10 sec
n = number of phases
Total
Flow
(veh/h)
(1)
Flow per
approach
(2)
y –value
(2)/1800
(3)
L
(4)
Y
n x (3)
(5)
C0
3000 750 0.42 10 0.84 125
2800 700 0.39 10 0.78 91
2400 600 0.33 10 0.66 59
1600 400 0.22 10 0.44 36
Effect on delay of variation of cycle length
• Example
Webster’s Delay Equation
Average delay per vehicle (d) on a particular
intersection leg is given by,
C = correction factor
Therefore,
• Example
IRC Method of Signal Design
IRC Method of Signal Design
IRC Method of Signal Design
IRC Method of Signal Design
IRC Method of Signal Design

IRC Method of Signal Design

  • 1.
  • 2.
    A traffic controldevice whether manually, electrically or mechanically operated, by which traffic is alternately directed to stop and proceed in a specified direction ▫ Fixed time signals ▫ Vehicle actuated signals ▫ Semi-vehicle actuated signals
  • 3.
    • Green signal– traffic except pedestrians may cautiously enter the intersection to make movement indicated by GREEN ARROWS • Steady Amber Signal – warn that green movement is being terminated or red indication will be immediately exhibited • Steady Red Signal – traffic shall stop at a clearly marked stop line
  • 4.
    • Flashing Red(STOP signal) ▫ Driver shall stop vehicle at STOP line to have a view of approaching traffic on intersecting roadway prior to entering the intersection ▫ Right to proceed is subjected to availability of safe gap • Flashing Amber (CAUTION signal) ▫ Drivers may proceed through the intersection with caution
  • 5.
    • Pedestrian Signal (1)Steady Green (2) Flashing Red (3) Steady Red (1) Proceed across roadway on the cross-walk (2) Pedestrians already on the carriageway shall quickly proceed to nearest refuge island or footpath and those on footpath or island shall not enter the roadway (3) Pedestrians shall not enter roadway
  • 6.
    Size & DesignSignal Lenses • Circular • Diameter - 200 or 300 mm • 300 mm diameter is used in intersections such as :- ▫ Suburban area with 85th percentile speed > 70kmph ▫ Busy urban area with 85th percentile speed > 50kmph ▫ 3 lane approaches & locations with conflicting or competing background lighting in urban areas
  • 7.
    • Lens ofsame colour arranged horizontally to each other at right angles to basic straight line • Should be clearly visible to drivers, from atleast 400m under normal atmospheric condition • Influence of curves, grades, obstructions and distance required to stop the vehicle from an average approach speed should be considered in directing and locating signals
  • 8.
    Location & numberof signal faces • Minimum of two signal faces for through traffic shall be provided ▫ One of them shall be erected on near side of intersection (primary) & other on far side (secondary) • If visibility is obstructed, a suitable sign, supplemented by a flashing amber shall be erected in advance to warn driver about approaching traffic
  • 9.
    • Atleast onesignal face over the travelled roadway for each approach • Supports for post-mounted signal heads at the side of street with kerbs shall have a horizontal clearance of not less than 60 cm
  • 11.
    Height of signalface • Bottom of signal face shall be 2.5m above footpath or crown of the roadway • For signals suspended over a roadway, height shall be 5.5m above crown • Maximum height of bottom of post-mounted signal face shall not exceed 4.6m & in case of over-head signal face, it shall not exceed 5.8m
  • 12.
    Maintenance • Provide alternateoperation of signal during failure • Properly skilled maintenance staff shall be available without undue delay for emergency (lamp failures) • Maintain appearance of signal installation • If controller fails, it shall automatically change over to flashing amber or turn off all signals • Paint signal post & housing with yellow for best contrast with background • Provide auxiliary signs (turn restrictions) • Remove unauthorized sign, advertisement, signal, marking or devices
  • 14.
    Traffic and engineeringdata required • Number of motorized vehicles entering the intersection in each hour from each approach containing greatest percentage of 24 hours traffic • Classified vehicular volume for each traffic movement from each approach for atleast 2 hours morning & evening peak periods • Pedestrian volume count on each cross walk during the same period • 85th percentile speed of all vehicles on uncontrolled approaches
  • 15.
    • Condition diagramshowing physical features such as ▫ Intersection geometrics ▫ Channelization ▫ Grades ▫ Sight distance restrictions ▫ Bus stops and parking conditions ▫ Pavement markings, street lightings ▫ Driveways ▫ Nearby rail-road crossings ▫ Utility poles & fixtures ▫ Adjacent land use • Collision diagram showing ▫ Location & direction of movement ▫ Severity & time of occurrence
  • 16.
    • For moreprecise understanding following data are also desirable:- i. Delay for each approach ii. 85th percentile speed near to intersection but unaffected by control iii. Pedestrian delay for atleast two 30 minutes peak pedestrian delay period
  • 17.
    • Desirable tohave adequate roadway capacity at signalized intersection • Widening of main highway and intersecting roadway is warranted:- ▫ To reduce delay ▫ To reduce signal time assigned to side street traffic ▫ Additional width is necessary on leaving and approach side to clear traffic through intersection effectively ▫ Desirable to have atleast two lanes on each approach ▫ Effect of widening can be achieved by elimination of parking • Before widening, additional green time required for pedestrian to cross widened road should be checked
  • 18.
    Warrants for SignalInstallation • Any one or more of following warrants should be met for signal installation ▫ Warrant 1 – Minimum vehicular volume ▫ Warrant 2 – Interruption of continuous traffic ▫ Warrant 3 – Minimum pedestrian volume ▫ Warrant 4 – Accident experience ▫ Warrant 5 – Combination of warrants
  • 19.
    Warrant 1 –Min. Vehicular Volume • Traffic volume on the major street & the higher volume minor street for each of any 8 hours of an average day should be equal to as follows
  • 20.
    • Major street& minor street volume are for same 8 hours • Each traffic lane at intersection shall be minimum 2.8 m wide • If 85th percentile speed of major street exceeds 50kmph or when intersection lies in built-up area of population less than 2.5 lakhs, then minimum vehicular volume warrant is 70% of the requirements stated in the table
  • 21.
    Warrant 2 –Interruption of continuous traffic • Traffic volume on the major street & the higher volume minor street for each of any 8 hours of an average day should be equal to as follows
  • 22.
    • This warrantis applied if operating conditions or traffic volume on major street is so heavy that traffic on minor street suffers excessive delay or hazard in entering or crossing major street • If 85th percentile speed of major street exceeds 60kmph or when intersection lies in built-up area of population less than 2.5 lakhs, then the warrant is 70% of the requirements stated in the table
  • 23.
    Warrant 3 –Min. pedestrian volume • For each of any 8 hours of an average day, following traffic volumes exist i. On the major street, 600 or more vehicles per hour enter the intersection (both approaches) or where there is a raised median island 1.5 m or more in width, 1000 vehicles per hour enter the intersection on major street ii. During the same 8 hours, there are 150 or more pedestrians per hour on the highest volume cross- walk crossing the major street
  • 24.
    • If 85thpercentile speed of major street exceeds 60kmph or when intersection lies in built-up area of population less than 2.5 lakhs, then the warrant is 70% of the requirements stated • Under this warrant, it is desirable to have a traffic actuated signal with push buttons for pedestrians crossing the street, at isolated intersections or mid- blocks • Kerb parking prohibited for 75 m before and beyond the cross-walk • Cross-walk should not be closer than 300 m to another established cross-walk
  • 25.
    Warrant 4 –Accident experience i. Adequate trial of less restrictive remedies with satisfactory observance & enforcement have failed to reduce accident frequency ii. Five or more reported accidents in 1 year that can be corrected by traffic signals, each accident involving personal injury or property damage to an apparent extent of Rs. 2000 or more iii. Signal installation does not seriously disrupt traffic flow
  • 26.
    Warrant 5 –Combination of warrants • In exceptional cases, signals may be justified occasionally where no signal warrant is satisfied, but there where two or more of warrants 1, 2 and 3 are satisfied 80% or more
  • 28.
    • Standard controllershall provide for 6 phases with green, amber and red in each phase. Green interval shall be adjustable in steps of 2 seconds from 10 to 60 sec • Amber interval shall be adjustable to either 2,3,4 or 5 sec • Vehicle signal sequence Red-Amber-Green-Amber or Red-Green-Amber ▫ Initial amber ▫ Clearance amber • Facility shall be provided with flickering of left turn arrows • Facilities shall be provided for pedestrian crossing
  • 29.
    • Shall haveprovision for 3 cycles with different intervals in each cycle to cater morning, evening & off-peak traffic. In addition, one cycle of amber flashing on main roads & red flashing on minor road to cater to night conditions • Optional facility for manual control of signal
  • 31.
    Need for coordinatedsignal • Progressive movement to traffic in specified direction at predetermined speed • To reduce delays and avoid main traffic from having to stop at every junction • Objectives:- i. To pass maximum amount of traffic without enforced halts ii. To have minimum overall delay both in main & side road iii. To prevent the queue of vehicles at one intersection extending & reaching next intersection
  • 32.
    • Signals within1 km of one another along major route should be operated in co-ordination • Offset ▫ Difference between start of green time at successive upstream & downstream signals ▫ Offset of downstream signal shall be such that platoon has an unhindered movement • Time & Distance Diagram ▫ Time & signal settings are plotted horizontally & distance travelled along major road vertically
  • 34.
    Time & distancediagram for one-way street with linked signals
  • 35.
  • 36.
  • 37.
  • 38.
  • 39.
  • 40.
    Time & distancediagram for two-way street with linked signals
  • 41.
    Time & distancediagram for two-way street with linked signals
  • 42.
    Types 1. Simultaneous/Synchronized System 2.Alternate/Limited progressive system 3. Simple progressive system 4. Flexible progressive system
  • 43.
    1. Simultaneous System ▫All signals along a given street always display same indication at same time ▫ Cycle time is same at all intersections ▫ Disadvantages:-  Not conducive to give continuous movement of all vehicles  Encourage speeding of drivers between stops  Reduce overall speed  Inefficient at some intersection due to same cycle time provided for all intersections
  • 44.
    2. Alternate System ▫Consecutive signals display contrary indications at same time ▫ Permit vehicles to travel one block in half cycle time ▫ Efficient if blocks are of equal lengths ▫ Speeding of drivers are stopped at each signal ▫ Disadvantages:-  Green times for both main & side streets have to be substantially equal, resulting in inefficiency at most of the intersections  Not well suited where block lengths are unequal  Adjustments are difficult for changing traffic conditions
  • 45.
    3. Simple ProgressiveSystem ▫ Various signals display green aspects in accordance with a time schedule ▫ Permit continuous operation of platoon of vehicles at a planned rate of motion, which vary in different parts of system ▫ Offsets are fixed & cannot be altered ▫ Cycle time is different at each signal installations, but fixed 4. Flexible Progressive System ▫ Improvement over simple progressive system ▫ Possible to introduce flashing or shut down during off-peak hour ▫ It is possible to vary the offsets ▫ Cycle time & division vary at each signal depending on traffic
  • 47.
    • Assumptions i. Vehiclesarriving on an approach distribute equally on different lanes meant for a particular direction ii. Number of vehicles arriving on an approach is equal in all cycles, having identical cycle lengths iii. Reaction time to start from stop for first vehicle is 6 sec & subsequent vehicles follow a uniform headway of 2 sec
  • 48.
    • Pedestrian Green ▫Green time = (Width of carriageway to be crossed in metre divided by assumed walking speed of 1.2m/s)+ (Reaction time of 7 sec) • Optimum cycle length shall be designed such that delay at all approaches will be minimized • Cycle length should be rounded to multiple of five • Max recommended cycle time = 120 sec • More than 4 phases in any given cycle is less preferred
  • 49.
    Optimum Cycle Time •Depend on traffic conditions • Cycle time is longer when heavily trafficked • Cycle time short  starting delays & lost time high • Degree of trafficking (y) = • Webster’s optimum cycle time, ▫ L – total lost time per cycle ▫ Y – sum of maximum y-values for all phases of the cycle
  • 50.
    Select design hourtraffic flows Consider traffic flows to determine number of phases Determine suitable inter-green periods, lost times & saturation flows Convert traffic flows to PCUs Determine ymax values for each phase Calculate optimum cycle time
  • 51.
    • Example 2 phase,4-arm intersection, equal flows on all arms, equal saturation flow of 1800 veh/hr, equal green times, total lost time per cycle = 10 sec n = number of phases Total Flow (veh/h) (1) Flow per approach (2) y –value (2)/1800 (3) L (4) Y n x (3) (5) C0 3000 750 0.42 10 0.84 125 2800 700 0.39 10 0.78 91 2400 600 0.33 10 0.66 59 1600 400 0.22 10 0.44 36
  • 52.
    Effect on delayof variation of cycle length
  • 53.
  • 58.
    Webster’s Delay Equation Averagedelay per vehicle (d) on a particular intersection leg is given by, C = correction factor Therefore,
  • 60.