Perception of Waiting Time at Signalized Intersections

Journal of the Transportation Research Board No. 2135, pp. 52-59, 2009

8 Pages Posted: 7 Jan 2011 Last revised: 22 Jan 2011

See all articles by xinkai wu

xinkai wu

affiliation not provided to SSRN

David Matthew Levinson

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Henry Liu

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Date Written: 2009

Abstract

Perceived waiting time at signalized intersections differs from the actual waiting time and varies with signal design. The onerousness of delay depends on the conditions under which it is experienced. Using weighted travel time may contribute to optimal signal control if it can improve on the assumption that all time is weighted equally by users. This research explores the perception of waiting time at signalized intersections on the basis of the results of an online virtual experience stated preference survey. This survey directly collected the perceived waiting times and the user ratings of the signal designs of each intersection on an arterial that included three intersections. Statistically analyzing the survey data suggests that the perception of waiting time is a function of the actual time, and a quadratic model describes the relationship. The survey also indicates that there exists a trade-off between total waiting time and individual waiting time at each intersection. Drivers prefer to split the total waiting time across multiple intersections at the price of a longer total wait if the difference in the total waiting time of two signal designs is within 30 s. Survey data show that the perceived waiting time, instead of the actual waiting time, better explains how users rate the individual signal designs for intersections and arterials, including multiple intersections.

Keywords: waiting time, intersection, signalized intersection, transportation

JEL Classification: R40, R41

Suggested Citation

wu, xinkai and Levinson, David Matthew and Liu, Henry, Perception of Waiting Time at Signalized Intersections (2009). Journal of the Transportation Research Board No. 2135, pp. 52-59, 2009, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1735554

Xinkai Wu

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

David Matthew Levinson (Contact Author)

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Henry Liu

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

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