Impact of Freight Signal Priority on Left Turning Movements in Urban Movements in Urban Arterial Roads

The increase in freight movements significantly contributes to congestion on urban arterial roads. The limited left-turn lane length and available green phase for left-turning vehicles highlight the need for closer attention to these movements. This study aims to evaluate the operational impact of using the traffic signal priority technique to enhance left-turn movements for freight vehicles, thus aiming for more efficient left turn traffic flow. This study used PTV VISSIM and developed a micro-simulation model encompassing 32 signalized intersections along a 19.2 km study corridor, Brampton, in Region of Peel. The study compares two scenarios: a baseline “do-nothing” condition and one implementing freight signal priority (FSP) for left-turning freight vehicles. The performance measures include the travel time of different vehicle types, such as passenger cars and trucks. Results show an overall travel time reduction by 1.3% with FSP application limited to left-turn movements. Specifically, the average travel times for passenger cars improved by about 2.97 min (1.2%) per vehicle, while freight travel times improved by 1.3% per vehicle, saving 3.02 min per truck. The study demonstrates that the FSP implementation for left turns effectively reduced overall freight vehicles travel times and positively impacts passenger vehicle travel times. It suggests that strategical integration of FSP for left turns can significantly enhance overall road network performance.