Optimizing signal timing: An efficient way to handle traffic congestion in developing countries

Every year, millions of dollar are lost in the global economy due to traffic congestion. Long hours spent on congested roadways are draining away valuable time, energy and money from the economy. Thus delay should be reduced to increase productivity and to minimize environmental pollution. The most economical way of this delay reduction is to redesign the signal timing because this design is not associated with spending money as well as consuming longer time. Only readjustment of signal timing is sufficient for this purpose. Hence, to optimize the signal timing for reducing delay has been taken as the main objective of this study. An intersection in Dhaka city (the capital of Bangladesh) has been chosen to achieve the goal of this study. This study will suggest that the new timing of the signal reduces total delay for all movements than the existing one. Particularly it will reduce delay significantly for certain movements during peak hours. The result of the study will clearly justify the improvement of the junction performance by reducing delay in new signal timing.