An algorithm for the inflow control problem on urban freeway networks with user optimal flows

A successive linear optimization method is proposed to efficiently solve the on-ramp traffic control problem on urban freeway networks with user-optimal flows. A linear approximation of the implicit, nonlinear capacity constraint is formulated using the first-order derivatives of the link flows with respect to input on-ramp flows. The derivative information required for the algorithm is based on the theory of sensitivity analysis for network equilibrium problems. The performance of the algorithm is illustrated and compared with the previous iterative linear programming and assignment algorithm using numerical examples.