Abstract

Starting from assumptions regarding the arrival process of circulating streams and according to models based on the gap-acceptance theory, the paper is aimed at comparing operational performances between basic turbo-roundabouts and double-lane roundabouts. The paper proposes applications of the Hagring model for entry capacity estimations at double-lane roundabouts and turbo-roundabouts, these latter, in particular, featured by movements with only one or two conflicting traffic streams. This model allows to use, in fact, a bunched exponential distribution to quantify the distribution of major vehicle headways; it also considers specific values different by each lane for behavioural parameters, minimum headway and conflicting traffic flow on circulating lanes.

The results obtained for the two cases examined, although influenced by the underlying assumptions, especially with regard to user behaviour at turbo-roundabouts, can give information about the convenience in choosing, at a design level, a basic turbo-roundabout rather than a double-lane roundabout. The comparison developed in this paper, indeed, can be helpful in selecting the type of roundabout and in particular in evaluating performance benefits that are obtainable from the conversion of an existing double-lane roundabout to a turbo-roundabout with similar footprint of space.

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