Evaluating impacts on freeway capacity using VISSIM: accounting for truck lane restrictions, driver behavior, and interchange density

On the national roadway system, the volume of trucks is constantly increasing, making their presence more prevalent. Providing special infrastructure treatments is increasingly important to keep highways safe for passenger cars. Several different strategies are geared towards managing truck routes and operations, but all have the same idea of intending to separate trucks from the main traffic stream. The purpose of this research is to determine the effects of specific factors on the capacity of freeways containing high heavy vehicle volumes using VISSIM simulation software. The factors analyzed are: 1) lane restrictions; 2) driver behavior parameters; and 3) entrance/exit ramp density. Numerical results from VISSIM simulations are presented and discussed in detail. Future research directions are also given.