Identifying Optimum Lane Configuration Using CMA

In Identifying Optimum Lane Configuration Using CMA, you'll learn ...

• What is Critical Movement Analysis (CMA)
• How to use CMA as a first step to quickly determine optimum lane configuration and associated signal phasing
• The three inputs needed to perform Simplified CMA
• Applications where CMA can and cannot be used

Overview

Credit: 2 PDH

Length: 19 pages

CMA is a planning-level analysis methodology that is simple enough to be performed by hand yet provides the analyst with an excellent feel for how a signalized intersection can be expected to perform under a given set of hourly traffic volumes.

It is a great tool for analyzing intersections under future conditions where traffic volumes may be approximate and where detailed signal timing information and traffic stream characteristics (such as percent trucks or the peak hour factor) may be unknown or known with little certainty. While going through the CMA procedure the traffic analyst develops an excellent feel for which lane additions will improve traffic operations and which will not. The procedure is also useful in determining which signal phasing pattern will produce optimum capacity results.

This traffic analysis course describes the process used for selecting optimum lane configuration and signal phasing using Critical Movement Analysis (CMA). Included in the course is a discussion of conflicting movements, effective lane volumes, and left turn impedance. Examples are used throughout the course to illustrate how to perform the analysis.