Abstract: To fully utilize the time-space resources of an intersection with reversible approach lanes, an optimization model was developed for pretimed signals. The objective of this model is to minimize the total delay for all vehicles. The decision variables are the function of each reversible approach lane and the effective green time per signal phase. This model was validated by a case using the traffic simulation software VISSIM.The results indicate that there is an optimal combination of the two variables by which the average delay per vehicle for each movement, the average queue length and the maximum queue length on each approach can be minimized. To further consider the multi-period signal control, the procedure of the multi-period pretimed signal timing design for an intersection with reversible approach lanes was proposed. The research achievement can reasonably allocate the function of each reversible approach lane and the signal timing scheme during any time period for a signalized intersection, effectively improving the operation efficiency of traffic flow and providing a theoretical basis and method for the control of reversible approach lanes.

Key words: engineering of communications and transportation system, reversible approach lane, pretimed signal, signal timing, optimization model