Priority Management for Urban Arterials. Transferability of Techniques: Otley/Kirkstall Road

This paper describes the background and methodology employed in research funded by EPSRC to assess the effect of individual traffic control measures, both in isolation and in combination upon urban arterials. The aim of the project was to test the transferability of the techniques developed in a DRIVE II project, PRIMAVERA, to a range of different types of urban corridor. Measures can be classed into three broad categories: Congestion Management, Public Transport Priority and Traffic Calming. The scope of these measures is wide, some operating at a junction level whilst others affect the whole network. Measures from these areas are applied to a sophisticated microsimulation model of four urban arterial corridors: three in Leeds and one in Leicester. The effects of the application of individual and integrated measures are assessed in terms of their efficiency, environmental and safety impacts using a form of Multi-Criteria Analysis. Travel time and other monetary costs are also taken into consideration. This paper describes the study of two neighbouring arterials to the west of Leeds, the Otley and Kirkstall Roads. These arterials have been considered together since they are geographically close to each other. The Otley Road is the main arterial to the north west of Leeds City Centre, linking the Outer Ring Road to the Centre and is approximately 5km in length. The Kirkstall Road is to the south of the Otley Road, running west to east. The section of Kirkstall Road chosen for inclusion in this combined corridor is 3.5 km in length. The land use surrounding each corridor is primarily residential although near the city centre on the Kirkstall Road there are light industrial units. A popular district shopping centre exists halfway along the Otley Road.