International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET)
e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 10 Issue: 06 | Jun 2023
p-ISSN: 2395-0072
www.irjet.net
IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN AUSTIN THROUGH THE REDUCTION OF TRAFFIC CONGESTION Tijani Mohammed, Precious Aduwenye, and Han Gao --------------------------------------------------------------------------***----------------------------------------------------------------------ABSTRACT The assessment of traffic congestion in Austin, Texas prompted the development of a comprehensive solution aimed at addressing the issue. Commuters often face prolonged travel times and uncertainty surrounding bus or car arrival schedules, leading to passenger discomfort. In order to enhance the quality of public transportation services and tackle these challenges, this research proposes the implementation of an innovative design encompassing various key components, including customer and system requirements. Furthermore, this novel design incorporates the capability to monitor potential passenger and pedestrian patterns that could contribute to unexpected traffic congestion or accidents. The effectiveness of this model design was compared favorably with the Austin Core Transportation (ACT) and Austin Strategic Mobility Plan (ASMP), both of which are slated for implementation in Texas. Additionally, a case study was presented to demonstrate a sample implementation of the proposed model, showcasing its accuracy and indicating its potential for high user ratings, thereby confirming its efficacy in improving the quality of public transportation services
1. INTRODUCTION Poor transport infrastructures, rising road accidents, traffic congestions, and increased emissions are some of the problems facing the transportation sector in recent times [1, 2]. Ensuring a sustainable, efficient, and functional public transport system is crucial for mitigating congestion and pollution in urban areas worldwide. Transportation plays a pivotal role in the economy of the United States, significantly contributing to its overall productivity and growth. According to data from the U.S. Department of Transportation, the transportation sector accounted for 5.4 % of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2020, reaching a staggering $1.2 trillion [3]. This sector employs millions of Americans, supporting over 11.5 million jobs in various transportation-related industries. Efficient transportation networks facilitate the movement of goods, enabling businesses to reach domestic and international markets. Due to the importance of this sector, there is always the need for transportation modes to compete and complement each other. The road transportation system in Texas largely needs improvement yet the purchase of cars is increasing [4]. This will ultimately lead to an increase in traffic congestion especially in the urban areas. Ensuring the sustainability of cities amidst ongoing urbanization is of utmost importance [5]. Several cities have seen the need to create more road networks and delineate more spaces for future road plans. Nonetheless, an increase in population and car demands often lead to more car trips and unintended consequences such as traffic congestion. Traffic congestion will not only lead to the decline of various economic and social functions but also lead to the continuous deterioration of the urban living environment, becoming a "stubborn urban disease" hindering the development of the city. The direct impacts of traffic congestion on social life include travel time, gas cost increase, and accidents which sometimes cause inestimable loss. In addition, heavy traffic also leads to an increase in accidents, which in turn worsens traffic congestion. The increased cost of travel not only affects work efficiency but also inhibits people's daily activities, reducing the vitality of the city and the quality of life of residents. The influence of urban traffic on the natural environment includes automobile exhaust pollution, noise, and vibration. The urban transportation system has become a major source of air pollution, and in some cities, motor vehicles have even accounted for the entire pollution source. In addition, the impact of traffic noise and vibration on the living environment of residents and sensitive facilities such as hospitals and schools in the surrounding areas of the road has become a prominent social problem. Gas exhaustion from vehicles is the main pollution source of the urban atmosphere. The main harmful emissions from automobiles are carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides, odors, particles, photochemical fumes, etc. According to the detection data of large and medium-sized cities in developed countries in Europe and America, all kinds of major pollutants in cities, such as carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons, and motor vehicle exhaust accounts for about 40% to 90% of the total amount of formaldehyde, nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, copper particulates, and suspended particulates. In addition, according to the survey of 11 urban areas in the United States, more than 67% of the CO in the atmosphere, and more than 92% of the hydrocarbons are vehicle emissions [6].
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