Optimizing Lane Configuration and ETC Adoption to Minimize Congestion and Costs at Toll Plazas
摘要
At toll plazas, congestion frequently occurs during peak hours due to inadequate lane management and misalignment of toll payment lanes with traffic volume and payment patterns. This study proposes a model to determine the optimal number of Manual Toll Collection (MTC) lanes to open or close and to optimize the proportion of Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) lanes. The objective is to minimize average queue lengths while striving to meet secondary-level service requirements. The current system often exceeds these standards, and this study aims to simulate the effects of increasing ETC usage and ETC lanes to improve queue management. The analysis shows that ETC lanes are more efficient and can handle a higher traffic volume than MTC lanes, leading to shorter average queue lengths based on queueing theory. It was observed that lane adjustments are only feasible during off-peak periods, optimizing queue lengths to meet standards. During peak hours, simulations show significant reductions in average queue lengths for various ETC usage scenarios, with reductions of up to 91.96% depending on lane configuration. Additionally, converting one MTC lane to ETC reduces hourly operating costs per lane from 73.17 Baht to 5.42 Baht, a cost reduction of approximately 92.59%. These results emphasize the importance of strategic planning and scheduling for dynamic lane adjustments and advocate for increased ETC adoption through targeted policies and incentives to enhance overall toll plaza efficiency.