Lu Jia Zui Congestion Management

Orth-Rodgers & Associates, Inc. (ORA) was retained by the Tongji University Department of Civil Engineering at the request of the Government of the District of Pudong to research and develop a congestion management system for Lu Jia Zui, a fast growing section of the Pudong District of Shanghai, People’s Republic of China (PRC). Lu Jia Zui is fast becoming the financial capital of Shanghai as it is home to most of the world’s largest banking institutions and the corporate offices of some of the largest international corporations. It is also home to some 2,000,000 people.

The Congestion Management System (CMS) features a micro-simulation model, using VISSIM software, of the 55 intersections comprising the Lu Jia Zui area. Two models were developed – an existing calibration model based upon current day traffic volumes, roadway configurations and travel patterns. A series of measures of effectiveness were developed based upon the four components of congestion – duration (how long it lasts), extent (how many people are impacted by the congestion), intensity (how severe it is) and reliability (how much non-recurring congestion exists). The CMS automatically calculates the measures of effectiveness for the network as a whole, any corridor or street, or any link or block in the network. It also enables the user to observe the micro-simulation to see how traffic relates to the network.

The second VISSIM model is designed for the future. The Shanghai City Government is constructing two new tunnels and reconfiguring a third tunnel into the Lu Jia Zui area. These tunnels will radically change traffic patterns. Based upon a trip table developed by Tongji University, Orth-Rodgers constructed a second set of VISSIM models to assess traffic conditions in the future. This time, the dynamic assignment module of the VISSIM software package was used so that alternative street network patterns could be studied. As a result of this analysis, recommendations were made to add a street to the periphery of the study network and reconfigure intersections and roadway links at the tunnel portals.

The Lu Jia Zui CMS is a traffic management tool that Pudong Government will use as part of their on-going efforts to manage the ever-growing traffic demand on the street network.