SCoPTO: signalized corridor management with vehicle platooning and trajectory control under connected and automated traffic environment

This paper proposes a framework of signalized corridor management with vehicle platooning and trajectory control (SCoPTO) using connected automated vehicle (CAV) technologies. In this framework, the major road platoons can request green time extensions when arriving at the downstream intersections to reduce unnecessary stops. The vehicular trajectories of CAVs can also be optimized to maximize the utilization of the green time and reduce the start-up lost time. CAV platooning operation is implemented such that CAVs can pass the intersection efficiently to potentially increase green time utilization and improve traffic stability. Simulations are performed in a realistic signalized corridor with three intersections, and the results show that the proposed SCoPTO framework can significantly improve the throughput and reduce the average delay across different CAV penetration rates. This study provides insights for traffic management centers to use SCoPTO for future urban signalized corridor management.