TRAN3003

Transportation Engineering Lecture 9

Sustainable Traffic Management in

Developing Countries
 Sustainable Traffic Management in
Developing Countries
Definitions
Traffic Management is the means by which the
existing road system is adjusted or adapted to
meet specified objectives, without significant
new road construction.
Sustainable Development as defined in the
United Nations World Commission report on
Environment and Development, is development
that “meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations
to meet their own needs.”
 Sustainable Traffic Management in
Developing Countries (Cont’d)
Definitions (Cont’d)
For development to be sustainable it must
balance economic, social and environmental
goals. This will generate long-term benefits in all
three (3) areas.
There is no generally accepted definition for a
Developing Country and the basis for assessing a
country’s development is often a comparison
between that country and a developed country
like Germany or the United States.
 Sustainable Traffic Management in
Developing Countries (Cont’d)
Definitions (Cont’d)
When compared to a developed country, people
in developing countries tend to have lower life
expectancy, less education and a lower GNP
(Gross National Product) per capita (less money).
Also significant is the lack of diversity in the
economy, which makes it difficult for a
developing country to deal with changes in the
commodity price of a predominant export
product.
 Sustainable Traffic Management in
Developing Countries (Cont’d)
Sustainable Transportation System
A sustainable transportation system is one that
allows individuals and communities to meet their
basic needs for access in a manner that is:
• safe
• healthy for people and the environment
(minimizes emissions, waste and consumption
of non-renewable resources)
• equitable both within and between generations
 Sustainable Traffic Management in
Developing Countries (Cont’d
Sustainable Transportation System (Cont’d)
• affordable
• operates efficiently
• offers a choice of transportation modes
• supports economic development
Economic considerations will lead to a transport
policy and resultant transport infrastructure for
which the country is able and willing to pay.
 Sustainable Traffic Management in
Developing Countries (Cont’d)
Sustainable Transportation System (Cont’d)
Meeting social needs mean that transportation
facilities must be accessible, safe and secure for all,
including people with disabilities and economically
disadvantaged.
To satisfy the environmental goal of sustainability,
transport solutions should be compatible with and
even enhance the natural environment. They also
need to reduce the resources required to support
transportation.
 Sustainable Traffic Management in
Developing Countries (Cont’d)
Green/Sustainable Development
Transport facilities should be located, designed,
constructed, operated and maintained so that
they are not only economical and fit for
purpose, but also environmentally friendly.
This means that resources (energy, materials,
etc.) should be used efficiently to produce
facilities that are aesthetically pleasing and that
any air, noise and/or water pollution resulting
from their construction and operation are kept
to the minimum.
 Sustainable Traffic Management in
Developing Countries (Cont’d)
Green/Sustainable Development
Car–Parks
Often forgotten/ignored in the design of ‘green’
or environmentally-friendly buildings are the
parking lots.
The concept of low (environmental) impact
development (LID) is key to the provision of
vehicle loading and parking facilities and should
include land–use planning, aesthetics, run-off
management and preserving the local ecology.
 Sustainable Traffic Management in
Developing Countries (Cont’d)
Green/Sustainable Development (Cont’d)
Car Parks (Cont’d)
Planning Requirements
It may be possible for car parks to be shared at
different times of the day by different users, for
example office workers in the daytime and
restaurant/casino staff and clientele at night.
This would reduce the overall requirement for
car parking spaces and should be favourably
considered by planning authorities.
 Sustainable Traffic Management in
Developing Countries (Cont’d)
Green/Sustainable Development (Cont’d)
Car Parks (Cont’d)
Planning Requirements (Cont’d)
Encouragement should also be given to projects
located near to public transport facilities which
reduce the demand for car parks.
Further, parking requirements can also be
reduced for those developments where owners
provide transport for employees, subsidies for
public transport and other means of reducing
parking demand.
 Sustainable Traffic Management in
Developing Countries (Cont’d)
Green/Sustainable Development (Cont’d)
Car Parks (Cont’d)
Run-off
The amount of impervious material in the parking
area which increases the run-off, can be reduced
by use of materials such as open-jointed pavers
filled with gravel or turf.
Depending on the characteristics of the facility,
such as the volume of traffic and the climate, the
use of open-jointed pavers may be limited to the
parking stalls.
 Sustainable Traffic Management in
Developing Countries (Cont’d)
Green/Sustainable Development (Cont’d)
Car Parks (Cont’d)
Run-off (Cont’d)
The benefits of preserving as much of a site’s natural
vegetation as possible or planting native trees, which
are best suited to the climate, include reduced run-off.
Ecology and Aesthetics
Conserving the natural environment by designing car
parks so that as much of the natural vegetation as
possible is maintained, helps to protect the ecology, i.e.
the relationships between living organisms, including
humans, and their physical environment.
 Sustainable Traffic Management in
Developing Countries (Cont’d)
Green/Sustainable Development (Cont’d)
Car Parks (Cont’d)
Ecology and Aesthetics (Cont’d)
Vegetation reduces the amount of the
greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, (CO2), present in
the environment as this gas is used by plants
during the day for photosynthesis.
Trees, hedges and grassed mounds are examples
of the landscaping included in car parks for
aesthetic reasons, as vegetation provides relief
from stark expanses of paving, which is
particularly obvious when the car park is empty.
 Sustainable Traffic Management in
Developing Countries (Cont’d)
Green/Sustainable Development (Cont’d)
Highways and Traffic (Cont’d)
Air Pollution (Cont’d)
One method of reducing harmful emissions
associated with road transportation is the use of
cleaner fuel.
Lead has been removed from gasoline sold locally.
Petrotrin has constructed an Ultra–low Sulphur (8
ppm) diesel plant which was expected to be
commissioned in 2017.
 Sustainable Traffic Management in
Developing Countries (Cont’d)
Green/Sustainable Development (Cont’d)
Highways and Traffic (Cont’d)
Air Pollution (Cont’d)
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is an
environmentally friendlier fuel that offers
reduced harmful (Green House Gas) Carbon
Dioxide and Nitrogen Oxides emissions as much
as 20% and 30% respectively when compared to
the traditional liquid fuels gasoline and diesel.
 Sustainable Traffic Management in
Developing Countries (Cont’d)
Green/Sustainable Development (Cont’d)
Highways and Traffic (Cont’d)
Air Pollution (Cont’d)
Congestion, which results in stop-and-start
traffic, with vehicles idling on the roads, causes
increased air pollution.
Technology, such as intelligent transport systems,
can be used to facilitate the smooth flow of
traffic, for example by better co-ordination of
traffic signals and disseminating information to
motorists about existing traffic conditions.
 Sustainable Traffic Management in
Developing Countries (Cont’d)
Green/Sustainable Development (Cont’d)
Highways and Traffic (Cont’d)
Air Pollution (Cont’d)
Enforcement of on-street parking and other road
regulations reduce the congestion caused by
reducing street capacity, blocking intersections, etc.
Stricter enforcement of existing parking regulations
in urban areas can make public transport a more
attractive option, with the benefit of reduced air
pollution from less vehicles on the road.
 Sustainable Traffic Management in
Developing Countries (Cont’d)
Green/Sustainable Development (Cont’d)
Highways and Traffic (Cont’d)
Air Pollution (Cont’d)
Providing better public transport infrastructure,
like park and ride facilities, is a relatively
inexpensive way of promoting the use of this
mode of transport.
Facilitating onward travel from ferry and other
modes of transport will also increase the use of
public transportation.
 Sustainable Traffic Management in
Developing Countries (Cont’d)
Green/Sustainable Development (Cont’d)
Highways and Traffic (Cont’d)
Air Pollution (Cont’d)
The use of vegetation in medians and verges, as
opposed to paved surfaces offers the advantage
of reducing the greenhouse effect of carbon
dioxide (CO2), in the atmosphere as this gas is
used by the plants in the presence of sunlight to
make their food (photosynthesis).
 Sustainable Traffic Management in
Developing Countries (Cont’d)
Green/Sustainable Development (Cont’d)
Highways and Traffic (Cont’d)
Air Pollution (Cont’d)
Dust generated by road construction can be
controlled by keeping subgrade and pavement
materials moist and sealing the roadbase, which is
the finished layer of natural pavement material,
with a bitumen prime coat as soon as possible.
Appropriate technology in quarries will allow dust
(fines) to be efficiently collected and recycled in
accordance with environmental standards for control
of this pollutant.
 Sustainable Traffic Management in
Developing Countries (Cont’d)
Green/Sustainable Development (Cont’d)
Highways and Traffic (Cont’d)
Flooding and Water Pollution
The smooth riding surface required for road
transport means that adequate drainage must
be provided to prevent the flooding that can
occur from the volume and velocity of flow,
which contains gasoline and other pollutants.
The same is true for the flow and pollutants
from the paved surfaces of car parks.
 Sustainable Traffic Management in
Developing Countries (Cont’d)
Green/Sustainable Development (Cont’d)
Highways and Traffic (Cont’d)
Flooding and Water Pollution
Stormwater basins are effective in the control of
flooding as stormwater is collected and
released at a controlled rate so that downstream
areas are not flooded or eroded.
A detention basin remains dry between floods
as the opening which releases the water is at
the bottom of the basin.
 Sustainable Traffic Management in
Developing Countries (Cont’d)
Green/Sustainable Development (Cont’d)
Highways and Traffic (Cont’d)
Flooding and Water Pollution (Cont’d)
A retention (wet) basin retains a permanent pool
of water as the opening for release of water is
higher than the bottom of the basin.
A retention basin can also provide water quality
benefits by reducing sediments and attached
pollutants before the water is discharged.
 Sustainable Traffic Management in
Developing Countries (Cont’d)
Green/Sustainable Development (Cont’d)
Highways and Traffic (Cont’d)
Flooding and Water Pollution (Cont’d)
Adequate (temporary/permanent) drainage and
protection of cut and fill slopes during
construction help to safeguard against flooding
and contamination of watercourses by sediments
and pollutants due to erosion and landslides.
Replanting of slopes after construction helps to
stabilise the soil and control stormwater.
 Sustainable Traffic Management in
Developing Countries (Cont’d)
Green/Sustainable Development (Cont’d)
Highways and Traffic (Cont’d)
Noise Pollution
Highway construction increases the risk of noise
pollution, on site and with ancillary activities like
quarrying.
This can be mitigated by restricting the hours of
operation, using equipment in good working
condition and where necessary using
attenuators.
 Sustainable Traffic Management in
Developing Countries (Cont’d)
Green/Sustainable Development (Cont’d)
Highways and Traffic (Cont’d)
Noise Pollution (Cont’d)
Residential development typically occurs near
highways because of the ease of travelling to
work, school, shopping and leisure activities.
Avoiding a noise problem is more effective than
trying to correct it.
 Sustainable Traffic Management in
Developing Countries (Cont’d)
Green/Sustainable Development (Cont’d)
Highways and Traffic (Cont’d)
Noise Pollution (Cont’d)
Consequently new development projects and
roadways should be planned, designed and
constructed so that the adverse effects of noise from
highway traffic can be minimized.
Noise-compatible land-use planning encourages the
location of less noise-sensitive land uses, like
commercial and industrial developments, near the
highway.
Open space, which can be used as parks, separating
roads from housing developments should also be
promoted.
 Sustainable Traffic Management in
Developing Countries (Cont’d)
Green/Sustainable Development (Cont’d)
Highways and Traffic (Cont’d)
Noise Pollution (Cont’d)
During operation of the highway, increased traffic
volumes result in higher levels of traffic noise.
Measures to reduce highway traffic noise include
restricting access of trucks and other noisy
vehicles and enforcement of regulations, like
sounding of horns at certain locations and times
of the day.
 Sustainable Traffic Management in
Developing Countries (Cont’d)
Traffic Management
Peak Traffic Flow
Measures to handle the increased demand for
transport in a particular direction at certain times of
the day include staggered working hours and provision
of more public transport.
Where roads are wide enough or a paved shoulder can
be used, a third lane can be added and put to alternate
use in favour of the direction of heavy traffic flow.
Some roads can also be made one way for certain
hours to accommodate the increased traffic.
 Sustainable Traffic Management in
Developing Countries (Cont’d)
Traffic Management (Cont’d)
Increased Seasonal Traffic
Significant increases in traffic at certain times of the
year, can be managed by making better use of the
existing infrastructure.
Keeping traffic flowing in town centres generally
involves improved enforcement of on-street parking
and other regulations, including wrecking of vehicles.
Vacant lots can also be used as temporary car parks.
lots.
Another solution is to keep traffic away from urban
areas that can become congested by establishing
temporary park and walk/ride facilities at strategic
locations.
 Sustainable Traffic Management in
Developing Countries (Cont’d)
Traffic Management (Cont’d)
Road Maintenance and Accident Control
Scheduled and emergency maintenance/repair
of roads and ancillary features like drainage and
utilities, along with accidents, can cause
significant disruptions to traffic.
Scheduled repair works should be carried out
outside of peak flow hours with personnel,
including police, present to direct and reroute
traffic as required.
 Sustainable Traffic Management in
Developing Countries (Cont’d)
Traffic Management (Cont’d)
Road Maintenance (Cont’d)
Appropriate measures need to be in place quickly,
such as temporary use of the shoulders and adequate
lighting and warning signs.
There is a need for contingency planning, particularly
for emergencies, including accidents, so that
responses are coordinated and consistent.
Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) technology is very
useful in this regard to disseminate information.
 Sustainable Traffic Management in
Developing Countries (Cont’d)
Traffic Management (Cont’d)
Special Events
While special events may be held on private
property, with private roads, because of the
link to the public road network, these events
can have a significant impact on traffic flow in
the environs and even beyond, particularly if
held during peak hours.
 Sustainable Traffic Management in
Developing Countries (Cont’d)
Special Events (Cont’d)
Agencies responsible for organizing such events
should have a plan for traffic flow in, out and
through the venue, for motorist and pedestrian
safety and convenience, whether statutorily
mandated or not.
The traffic management plan should include traffic
control mechanisms and procedures to facilitate
traffic flow inside and outside of the venue.
 Sustainable Traffic Management in
Developing Countries (Cont’d)
Local Traffic Management
The National Traffic Management Centre
(NTMC) was commissioned by the Ministry of
Works and Transport on May 23rd, 2011. The
centre became operational on July 2nd, 2012 to
manage what is known as the National Traffic
Management System (NTMS).
The NTMS serves as a central traffic monitoring
system and consists of the following subsystems:
 Sustainable Traffic Management in
Developing Countries (Cont’d)
Local Traffic Management (Cont’d)
Traffic Signal Control System (TSCS) - This system
will allow centralized traffic signal control and
monitoring. Signalised intersections will be
incorporated into the system every year until all
250 signals in Trinidad can be centrally controlled.
Corridor Traffic Management System (CTMS) - This
system involves the installation of Closed Circuit
Television (CCTV) cameras, vehicle detection
stations and Variable Message Signs (VMS), all
monitored from a central management system.
 Sustainable Traffic Management in
Developing Countries (Cont’d)
Local Traffic Management (Cont’d)
For the NTMS, other than CCTV, information is
also collected via Radar Traffic Monitoring
System (RTMS) and other sources/methods,
such as the media, police, public, etc.
The NTMC manages and disseminates
information to the public in a timely manner via
the VMS located along the roadway.
 Sustainable Traffic Management in
Developing Countries (Cont’d)
Local Traffic Management (Cont’d)
In 2017 the local Motor Vehicles and Road
Traffic Act, Chap. 48:50 was amended to provide
for the installation of spot speed cameras to
detect speeding violations and red light cameras
which capture drivers entering and driving
through an intersection when the traffic light is
red.
The cameras produce photographic images or
video recordings of the traffic offences.