The implementation of effective traffic management strategies is crucial to minimize disruptions and inefficiencies caused by congestion in urban areas. To address this issue, we propose a novel algorithm that integrates the use of Variable Message Signs (VMSs), which serve as dynamic tools for traffic optimization. The system works by analyzing traffic patterns to identify road segments prone to congestion, modeling them according to the User Equilibrium framework. By treating VMSs as strategic control points, the algorithm redirects traffic to optimize the objective function, which is the minimization of the number of links that exceed a defined congestion threshold. Results from a real-world case study show that this approach effectively minimizes delays and improve traffic efficiency, bridging the system closer to the System Optimum.
Pala et al. (2026) studied this question.