T R A N S P O RT AT I O N

ENGINEERING
QUEUE
 QUEUE
A queue is formed when arrivals wait for a service or an opportunity such as
the arrival of an accepted gap in a main traffic stream, the collection of tolls at a
tollbooth or of parking fees at a parking garage.
 QUEUE
Formation of traffic
queues in congested
periods

source of considerable
time delay
results in the loss of extreme condition
highway performance

It is essential in traffic analysis to develop 90% of more of a

a clear understanding of the motorist's total trip
characteristics of queue formation and travel time
dissipation along with mathematical
formulations that can predict queuing -
related elements
 QUEUE

1. UNDER - SATURATED QUEUE

- those in which the arrival rate is less than the service rate.

2. OVERSATURATED QUEUE
- those which the arrival rate is greater than the service rate

Under - Saturated Infinite Queues

Under-saturated infinite queues when both arrivals and service times are
exponentially distributed and there is one channel (single - channel).

A single - channel
queue
 Under - Saturated Infinite Queues
1. Traffic Intensity

arrival rate
P
service rate

P

- This ratio tends to 1 ( that is,
approaching saturation), the expected
number of vehicles in the system
tends to infinity.
- queuing is of no nignificance when
P is less than 0.50.
- average queue len gt h s t e n d t o
increase rapidly when P at values of
0.75 and above
Expected number of vehicles in the
system E(n) versus Traffic Intensity P.
 Under - Saturated Infinite Queues
2. Expected number of units in 4. Average waiting time in the
the system, E(n) queue, E(w)

 
E (n )  E ( w) 
   (   )
E (n) = expected number of units in
5. Total delay (average waiting
the system
time of an arrival, including
λ = arrival rate
queue and service)
μ = service rate
1
3. Expected number of units E (v ) 
waiting to be served (that is,  
the mean queue length) in the
system, E (m) 6. Average length of queue

2 P2
E (m )  Q
 (   ) 1 P
 Probabilities of a Queue
(Under - Saturated, infinite queue)
1. Probability of n units in the 3. Percentage of time the
system, P(n) operator of a toll booth will be
n
free, P(0)
  
P(n)    1   
   P (0 )  1 


2. Probability of more than N

vehicles being in the system,
P(n>N)

N 1

P (n  N )   

 Probabilities of a Queue
(Under - Saturated, finite queue)
1. Probability of n units in the
system, P(n)

 1 P  n
P (n)   N 1 
P
1  P 
2. Expected number of units in
the system, E(n)

 P 1  ( N  1) P  NP 
N N 1
E (n)    N 1 
 1  P  1 P 
 (Under - Saturated, infinite queue)

Example 1
An off-ramp traffic must stop at a single toll booth at the etrance of the
Highway 78. The arrival rate at the tollbooth is 80 vehicles per hour. If the
service rate is 86 vehicles per hour, determine the number of vehicles
waiting to be served.

Expected number of units Or Average length of queue

waiting to be served (that is,
P2 
the mean queue length) in the Q P
system, E (m) 1 P 
80
2 P   0.9302
E (m )  86
 (   ) 0.9302 2
80 2 Q
E (m )  1  0.9302
86 ( 86  80 )
E(m) = 12.4 or 13 vehicles Q = 12.4 or 13 vehicles
 (Under - Saturated, infinite queue)

Example 2
Vehicle arrived at the entrance of San Juanico Bridge in Tacloban at a rate of
180 vehicles per hour. Vehicles must stop at the tollgate where vehicles will
have to pay a toll fee upon entering the bridge. It would take 15 sec per
vehicle for the attendant to issue a trip ticket. Compute the traffic intensity
at the bridge.
Traffic Intensity
λ = 180/60 = 3 veh/min

P  3
 P 
 4
P = 0.75
 (Under - Saturated, infinite queue)

Example 3
On a given day, 425 vehicles per hour arrive at a toll booth located at the
end of an off-ramp of the South Super Highway. If the vehicles can be
serviced by only a single channel at the service rate of 625 vehicles per hour,
determine the average number of vehicles in the system.
Expected number of units in the
system, E(n)


E (n ) 
 

425
E(n) 
625 425
E (n)= 2.125 or 3vehicles
 (Under - Saturated, infinite queue)

Example 4
The number of vehicles that can enter the on-ramp of Subic - Clark
Exressway is controlled by a metering system. If the vehicles can enter the
expressway at a rate of 500 vehicles per hour, and the rate of arrival of the
vehicles at the on-ramp is 400 vehicles per hour during the peak hour.
Determine the expected number of units waiting to be served in the system.

Expected number of units

waiting to be served (that is, 400 2
E (m) 
the mean queue length) in the 500 (500  400 )
system, E (m)

2 E (m)= 3.2 or 4 vehicles

E (m ) 
 (   )
 (Under - Saturated, infinite queue)

Example 5
The average queue length at the intersection of the two roads with a stop
sign is 4 vehicles. If the arrival rate of vehicles at the stop is 300 vehicles per
hour, determine the service rate of the road in vehicles per hour. Assume
both arrival and departure rates are exponentially distributed.

E x p e c t e d n u m b e r o f u n i t s Or Average length of queue

waiting to be served (that is, 
the mean queue length) in the P2 P
system, E (m)
Q 
1 P
300
2 P 2
0 .828 
E (m )  4 
 (   ) 1 P
2 μ = 362 veh/hr
300 P 2  4  4P
4
 (   300 ) 0  P 2  4P  4
μ = 362 veh/hr P  0 . 828
 (Under - Saturated, infinite queue)

Example 6
Cars have a long queue on a stop sign. If the total time delay of queuing is
one minute, compute the traffic intensity if the service rate of the road is
only 360 vehicles per hour.

t = 1 minute = 0.016667 hrs Traffic Intensity

Total delay (average waiting  300

time of an arrival, including
P  
 360
queue and service)
1 P = 0.833
E (v ) 
 
1
0.016667 
360  
λ = 300 veh/hr
 Probabilities of a Queue
(Under - Saturated, infinite queue)
Example 7
The arrival of vehicles at a toll gate of Marcelo Fernand Bridge connecting
Mandaue City and Lapu - Lapu City is 40 vehiles per hour. Average service rate
is 1.2 min per vehicles.
(a) Determine the length of queue excluding the vehicle being served.
(b) Determine the probability that no more than 5 cars (including vehicles being
served) in the system.
(c) Determine the average waiting time in the queue in minutes.
 Probabilities of a Queue
(Under - Saturated, infinite queue)
Example 7
The arrival of vehicles at a toll gate of Marcelo Fernand Bridge connecting
Mandaue City and Lapu - Lapu City is 40 vehiles per hour. Average service rate
is 1.2 min per vehicles.
(a) Determine the length of queue excluding the vehicle being served.

λ = 40 veh/hr (arrival rate)

μ = 60/1.2 = 50 veh/hr (service rate)
Expected number of units waiting to be served (that is, the mean
queue length) in the system, E (m)

2
E (m ) 
 (   )
40 2
E (m ) 
50 ( 50  40 )
E(m) = 3.2 or 4 veh
 Probabilities of a Queue
(Under - Saturated, infinite queue)
Example 7
The arrival of vehicles at a toll gate of Marcelo Fernand Bridge connecting
Mandaue City and Lapu - Lapu City is 40 vehiles per hour. Average service rate
is 1.2 min per vehicles.
(b) Determine the probability that no more than 5 cars (including vehicles being
served) in the system.
λ = 40 veh/hr (arrival rate)
μ = 60/1.2 = 50 veh/hr (service rate) P = 1 - 0.262
Probability of more than 5 vehicles
P = 0.738
being in the system , P(n>N)
N 1
(probability that NO more than 5
   cars are waiting)
P ( n  N )   
  
5 1
 40 
P (n  N )   
 50 
P ( n  N )  0 . 262
(probability that more than 5 cars are waiting)
 Probabilities of a Queue
(Under - Saturated, infinite queue)
Example 7
The arrival of vehicles at a toll gate of Marcelo Fernand Bridge connecting
Mandaue City and Lapu - Lapu City is 40 vehiles per hour. Average service rate
is 1.2 min per vehicles.
(c) Determine the average waiting time in the queue in minutes.

λ = 40 veh/hr (arrival rate)

μ = 60/1.2 = 50 veh/hr (service rate)

Average waiting time in the queue, E(w)


E ( w) 
 (   )
40
E ( w) 
50(50  40)
E(w) = 0.08 hrs
E(w) = 4.8 minutes
 Probabilities of a Queue
(Under - Saturated, infinite queue)
Example 8
In a tollbooth at the end of an off-ramp of the TPLEX, 400 vehicles/hr arrive
and the service rate of the tollbooth is 600 vehicles per hr.
(a) Determine the percentage of time that the operator of the toll booth will
be free
(b) Determine the expected number of vehicles in the system.
 Probabilities of a Queue
(Under - Saturated, infinite queue)
Example 8
In a tollbooth at the end of an off-ramp of the TPLEX, 400 vehicles/hr arrive
and the service rate of the tollbooth is 600 vehicles per hr.
(a) Determine the percentage of time that the operator of the toll booth will
be free

λ = 400 veh/hr (arrival rate) Percentage of time the operator

μ = 600 veh/hr (service rate) of a toll booth will be free, P(0)


P (0)  1 

400
P (0)  1 
600
P(0) = 33.33% of the time
 Probabilities of a Queue
(Under - Saturated, infinite queue)
Example 8
In a tollbooth at the end of an off-ramp of the TPLEX, 400 vehicles/hr arrive
and the service rate of the tollbooth is 600 vehicles per hr.
(b) Determine the expected number of vehicles in the system.

λ = 400 veh/hr (arrival rate) Expected number of units in the

μ = 600 veh/hr (service rate) system, E(n)

E (n) 
 
400
E (n) 
600  400

E(n) = 2 vehicles
 Probabilities of a Queue
(Under - Saturated, finite queue)
Example 9
The toll booth on the on-ramp of SCTEX controls the number of vehicles
that can enter on the ramp at any one time. It allows only a maximum of 10
vehicles to be on the ramp at any one time. If the vehicles can enter the
SCTEX at a rate of 750 vehicles/hr and the rate of arrival of vehicles at the
on-ramp is 600/hr,
(a) Determine the probability of 6 cars being on the ramp.
(b) Determine the percent of time that the ramp is full.
(c) Determine the expected number of vehicles on the ramp during the peak
hour.
 Probabilities of a Queue
(Under - Saturated, finite queue)
Example 9
The toll booth on the on-ramp of SCTEX controls the number of vehicles
that can enter on the ramp at any one time. It allows only a maximum of 10
vehicles to be on the ramp at any one time. If the vehicles can enter the
SCTEX at a rate of 750 vehicles/hr and the rate of arrival of vehicles at the
on-ramp is 600/hr,
(a) Determine the probability of 6 cars being on the ramp.
n = 6 ; N = 10 Probability of n units in the system, P(n)
λ = 600 veh/hr (arrival rate)
 1 P  n
μ = 750 veh/hr (service rate) P (n)   N 1 
P
P = 600/750 = 0.80 1  P 
 1  0 . 80  6
P (6)   10  1 
P
 1  0 . 80 
P(6) = 0.057
 Probabilities of a Queue
(Under - Saturated, finite queue)
Example 9
The toll booth on the on-ramp of SCTEX controls the number of vehicles
that can enter on the ramp at any one time. It allows only a maximum of 10
vehicles to be on the ramp at any one time. If the vehicles can enter the
SCTEX at a rate of 750 vehicles/hr and the rate of arrival of vehicles at the
on-ramp is 600/hr,
(b) Determine the percent of time that the ramp is full.
n = 10 ; N = 10 Probability of n units in the system, P(n)
λ = 600 veh/hr (arrival rate)
 1 P  n
μ = 750 veh/hr (service rate) P (n)   N 1 
P
P = 600/750 = 0.80 1  P 
 1  0 . 80  10
P (10 )   10  1 
P
 1  0 . 80 
P(10) = 0.023
 Probabilities of a Queue
(Under - Saturated, finite queue)
Example 9
The toll booth on the on-ramp of SCTEX controls the number of vehicles
that can enter on the ramp at any one time. It allows only a maximum of 10
vehicles to be on the ramp at any one time. If the vehicles can enter the
SCTEX at a rate of 750 vehicles/hr and the rate of arrival of vehicles at the
on-ramp is 600/hr,
(c) Determine the expected number of vehicles on the ramp during the peak
hour.
Expected number of units in the system, E(n)
N = 10
λ = 600 veh/hr (arrival rate)
 P 1 (N 1)P  NP 
N N 1
μ = 750 veh/hr (service rate) E(n)    N 1 
P = 600/750 = 0.80  1  P  1  P 
 0.80 1 (101)(0.80) 10(0.80) 
10 101
E(n)    
 1 0.80 1 0.80101 
E(n) = 2.966 or 3 vehicles
 Probabilities of a Queue
(Under - Saturated, finite queue)
Example 10
The maximum number of vehicles that can enter the on-ramp of SCTEX is
controlled by the metering system which allows 8 vehicles to be on the
ramp at any one time due to heavy traffic in the expressway. The rate of
arrival of the vehicles at the on-ramp is 420 vehicles/hr and the rate that the
vehicles can enter the expressway is 525 vehicles/hr.
(a) Determine the probability of 4 cars being on the ramp. n = 4 ; N = 8
(b) Determine the percent of time that the ramp is full. n = 8 ; N = 8
(c) Determine the expected number of vehicles on the ramp during the peak
hour. N = 8
(a)
P(4) = 0.0946

(b)
P(8) = 0.0388 or 3.88% of the time

(c)
E(n) = 2.605 or 3 vehicles