TY - JOUR PY - 2020// TI - Optimal variable, lane group-based speed limits at freeway lane drops: a multiobjective approach JO - Journal of transportation engineering, Part A: Systems A1 - Seliman, Salaheldeen M. S. A1 - Sadek, Adel W. A1 - He, Qing SP - e04020074 EP - e04020074 VL - 146 IS - 8 N2 - This study develops optimal variable, lanegroup-based, speed limits for traffic control at freeway lane drop areas (e.g., work zones). The proposed approach adopts a simulation-optimization framework that utilizes a calibrated and validated macroscopic traffic flow model METANET, along with the microscopic traffic simulation model VISSIM, to develop the optimal speed limits. A multiobjective optimization framework is implemented whereby the model primarily seeks to improve traffic safety by reducing the average number of stops, while taking other objectives, such as the average travel time and throughput, into consideration. For optimization, the heuristic, biologically-inspired optimization technique known as particle swarm optimization (PSO), is utilized, and the LA - en SN - 2473-2907 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/JTEPBS.0000395 ID - ref1 ER -