Route-choice and signal control: the stability and instability of traffic signal controlled networks

Abstract

Traffic signal controls, along with road pricing, are considered effective tools to manage traffic congestions in cities. There have been recent interests in the potential for traffic signals to influence traffic pattern and route choice, particularly when there is high congestion: using signals to discourage congestion-causing route-flows and encourage congestion-reducing route switches.

This paper studies the stability of the interaction between traffic control and route choice under several different control policies and investigate their performance benefits.