7: The Oversaturated Isolated Intersection

We evaluate here the consequences of a strategy to minimize the total delay to all vehicles at an oversaturated isolated intersection. The conclusion is that such a strategy will almost always lead to cycle times during the period of over saturation which is unacceptably long. Any socially acceptable efficient strategy would impose some rather arbitrary maximum phase time on a vehicle actuated controller.

My mentor and colleague, Gordon Newell, prepared a hand-written draft of this paper for the symposium. Because his untimely death prevented him from polishing it, a few minor changes have been included in this published version to enhance clarity. For the sake of accountability, the modified passages are enclosed in square brackets; none of the footnotes are Gordon’s. Carlos F. Daganzo.