Microsimulation-based evaluation of a 30 km/h zone
Last modified: 2019-03-04
Abstract
Evaluating the impacts of traffic calming measures in the road network and in the environment is a difficult and complex work. Using microscopic simulation models for this task is a natural option since they can account both for small effects, such as speed variations along the roads, and large effects, related to traffic assignment.
This way, the main objective of this work was to understand the effects of implementing traffic calming measures in a residential area in Viseu, Portugal. The analysis was based on the Aimsun microsimulation software and was focused on delays to drivers, pollutant emissions and safety measures. Part of this work addressed the calibration of the Logit route choice model based on surveys.
It was concluded that the traffic calming measures and the 30 km/h speed limit contributes to transfer most of the through traffic and conflicts to the trunk roads that surround the neighborhood. The intervention causes a slight increase of global delays, emissions and conflicts, but creates conditions to improve the quality of life in the neighborhood.