The Effects of the “White Phase” on Intersection Performance with Mixed-Autonomy Traffic Stream

This study investigates the effects of the “white phase” on the performance of isolated signalized intersections. During the white phase, connected automated vehicles (CAV) control traffic flow through an intersection, and connected human-driven vehicles (CHV) follow their front vehicle (either CAV or CHV). Traffic controller ensures collision-free movement of vehicles through the intersection by determining 1) the sequence and duration of phases (green and white) and 2) trajectory of CAVs during white phases. White phases can be assigned to conflicting movements simultaneously. We have formulated this problem as a mixed-integer non-linear program (MINLP) and solved it using a receding horizon algorithm. Two demand patterns with five different CAV market penetration rates are used to evaluate the effects of the white phase on mobility and safety in an isolated intersection. Each case study is tested with three different control scenarios: 1) No-white-phase, 2) white-phase-only, and 3) optimal-white-phase activation (combination of white, green, and red phases). The results indicate that the white phase yields significant improvement in intersection performance while maintaining the same safety level.