Tri-level programming model for combined urban traffic signal control and traffic flow guidance

In order to balance the temporal-spatial distribution of urban traffic flow, a model is established for combined urban traffic signal control and traffic flow guidance. With consideration of the wide use of fixed signal control at intersections, traffic assignment under traffic flow guidance, and dynamic characteristics of urban traffic management, a tri-level programming model is presented. To reflect the impact of intersection delay on traffic assignment, the lower level model is set as a modified user equilibrium model. The middle level model, which contains several definitional constraints for different phase modes, is built for the traffic signal control optimization. To solve the problem of tide lane management, the upper level model is built up based on nonlinear 0-1 integer programming. A heuristic iterative optimization algorithm (HIOA) is set up to solve the tri-level programming model. The lower level model is solved by method of successive averages (MSA), the middle level model is solved by non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA II), and the upper level model is solved by genetic algorithm (GA). A case study is raised to show the efficiency and applicability of the proposed modelling and computing method.