California Partners for Advanced Transportation Technology

The economics of roadways, and their variability in demand, favor construction of multi-layered and inter-connected networks. Different network layers are designed to different standards and to perform somewhat different functions, though all provide the common function of mobility for a reasonably homogeneous class of vehicles. Yet interfaces have been constructed to provide a smooth transition between network layers, with little delay and inconvenience to travelers. This project has investigated interfaces between an automated highway network layer and city streets. The report investigates two aspects of AHS entrance and exit: (1) organization of vehicles into platoons, with the objective of facilitating exits, and (2) physical design of highways to enable entrance and exit. With respect to the former, analyses were completed for sorting vehicles into platoons according to destination, first when sorting occurs at the entrance, and second when sorting also occurs on the highway. With respect to the latter, analyses were completed for the effects of entrance/exit separation, and case studies were examined for the design of entrances and exits.