Queens Midtown Tunnel Traffic Engineering

Optimizing the complex operation of the Queens-Midtown Tunnel entrance area—fed by four distinct approaches—and addressing the Triborough Bridges and Tunnel Authority’s (TBTA) traffic safety concerns was the focus of TYLin’s traffic engineering services on this project.

TYLin used two analysis tools, Synchro/SimTraffic and VISSIM, to model and simulate the entrance area and surrounding signalized corridors, which process the traffic that ultimately feeds the tunnel. Synchro/SimTraffic was used for traffic signal timing optimization and coordination, and VISSIM was used for a more realistic analysis of ramp, merge, and weaving movements. These analysis tools evaluated the existing roadway capacity and produced important measures of effectiveness (MOEs) on which our short- and long-term recommendations were based. TYLin also provided recommendations for the development of traffic management and detour plans for weekend tunnel tube closures related to ongoing post-Sandy repairs.