Microscopic Traffic Simulation as a Decision Support System for Road Diet and Tactical Urbanism Strategies

Bernice Liu, Amirarsalan Mehrara Molan, Anurag Pande, Jonathan Howard, Serena Alexander and Zhiliang Luo
Additional contact information
Bernice Liu: Civil and Environmental Engineering, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407, USA
Amirarsalan Mehrara Molan: Department of Civil Engineering, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS 38677, USA
Anurag Pande: Civil and Environmental Engineering, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407, USA
Jonathan Howard: Civil and Environmental Engineering, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407, USA
Serena Alexander: Urban and Regional Planning, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA 95192, USA
Zhiliang Luo: Civil and Environmental Engineering, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407, USA

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 14, 1-14

Abstract: Urban street networks in the United States have been primarily designed for automobile traffic with negligible considerations to non-motorized transportation users. Due to environmental issues and quality of life concerns, communities are reclaiming street spaces for active modes and slowing the speeds in their downtown. Moreover, tactical urbanism, i.e., the use of street space for innovative purposes other than moving automobile traffic, is becoming attractive due to reduced automobile travel demand and the need for outdoor activities in the age of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study provides details of the modeling of an urban downtown network (in the City of San Jose) using microscopic traffic simulation. The model is then applied to evaluate the effectiveness of street design changes at varying demand scenarios. The microsimulation approach was chosen because it allows for the detailed modeling and visualization of the transportation networks, including movements of individual vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians. The street design change demonstrated here involves one-way to two-way street conversion, but the framework of network-wide impact evaluation may also be used for complete street conversions. The base conditions network was also tested under different travel demand reduction scenarios (10%, 20%, and 30%) to identify the corridors in the city network in which the tactical urbanism strategies (e.g., open-air dining) may be best accommodated. The study provides framework for the use of a microscopic model as part of a decision support system to evaluate and effectively implement complete streets/tactical urbanism strategies.

Keywords: complete streets; tactical urbanism; VISSIM; multimodal network; COVID-19; decision making; street conversion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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