Multimodal Signal Control in Coordinated and Free Transit Priority Corridor: SmartPGH Case Study on Pedestrian Timing Strategies

This study supports the City of Pittsburgh’s SmartPGH initiative by evaluating advanced pedestrian signal strategies designed to enhance safety and multimodal mobility on high-demand urban corridors. The objective is to identify the best trade-offs between pedestrian timing treatments and signal control modes (actuated free versus coordinated) for varying pedestrian and vehicular demand throughout the day. While prior research has implemented clearance extension logic in simple midblock environments, this study advances the field by applying and testing pedestrian strategies in complex, multiphase intersections using real-world controller logic and time-of-day profiles. The evaluated strategies include pedestrian protection logic (PPL), passive pedestrian detection (PPD), dynamic pedestrian-exclusive phases (DEP), and pedestrian recall (PR). A novel contribution is the implementation of PPL within a fully actuated controller, which selectively delays conflicting vehicle phases to protect pedestrians still crossing, without interrupting concurrent vehicle movements. Evaluation is conducted through a software-in-the-loop simulation framework that integrates microsimulation with Maxtime signal controllers. Results demonstrate that PPD scenarios consistently offer the lowest person delay across a.m., midday, and p.m. periods while maintaining strong vehicle and bus performance. The addition of PPL and DEP further improves pedestrian service, particularly under high pedestrian volumes, with moderate trade-offs in vehicle delay. These findings provide actionable insights for transportation agencies seeking to implement intelligent pedestrian signal strategies as part of broader smart city goals to promote safety and efficiency.