Method for utilizing the reserved lane capacity: Formation of the mixed traffic flow

As the surge in demand for the motor travel continues, the lane capacity is becoming increasingly ineffective in matching the operation of the traffic flow. A method that can utilize the reserved lane capacity and thereby effectively increase the lane capacity is urgently needed for this problem. It is considered in this paper that the formation of a mixed traffic flow which includes both the human-driven vehicles (HDVs) and the connected autonomous vehicles (CAVs) is one such method. Relying on the exploration of the following rules between the HDVs and the CAVs, a heterogeneous vehicle following model (HVFM) can be established as a guide for the formation of the mixed traffic flow. Under the guidance of the HVFM, the effects of different following mode types on the formation characteristics of the mixed traffic flow can be defined, determined and evaluated. At the same time, with the applicability of the three-phase traffic theory in mind, a three-phase traffic flow model under the mixed traffic flow condition (M-TTFM) is established for providing guidance on the operating mechanism of the mixed traffic flow, the determining method of the lane capacity and the utilizing method of the reserved lane capacity at the micro-theoretical level. The maximum lane capacity under the mixed traffic flow conditions can be up to 205.94 % of the lane capacity under HDV traffic flow conditions with the formation of the mixed traffic flow, which indicates that the reserved lane capacity can be greatly utilized by forming the mixed traffic flow. In particular, by mixing the CAV fleets platooned by the CAVs into the HDV traffic flow, the utilizing effect for the reserved lane capacity can be improved with a maximum level of 194.25 %, which is called the in-depth utilization of the reserved lane capacity. What is more, the fundamental diagrams expressing the relationship between the traffic flow rate and the density under the mixed traffic flow condition can be obtained and the recommended value of the lane capacity under the mixed traffic flow can be measured. In summary, the utilizing method for the reserved lane capacity in this paper is expected to further enhance the lane capacity and contribute to solving the problems caused by the lack of the lane capacity.