Análisis de alternativas para la mejora de la movilidad urbana mediante la evaluación del nivel de servicio: Comparación entre rotonda y semáforo en la intersección de la Av. Fray Vicente Solano y Av. 10 de Agosto, Cuenca.

Abstract

The city of Cuenca has experienced an accelerated growth of its vehicle fleet, resulting in increasing levels of congestion at urban intersections. This research evaluates alternative traffic control strategies at the intersection of Avenida Fray Vicente Solano and Avenida 10 de Agosto through a comparative analysis of operational performance and Level of Service (LOS) under the criteria established by the Highway Capacity Manual (HCM). The study combines analytical modeling using SIDRA INTERSECTION and microsimulation with the open-source software Simulation of Urban Mobility (SUMO). The geometric characteristics of the intersection were assessed, and traffic volumes were obtained through manual counts during the selected peak hour and representative day. Additionally, the Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) was estimated using adjustment factors, and traffic demand was projected over a 10- year horizon. Five analysis scenarios were defined: previous roundabout, current reduced roundabout, signalized intersection, widening to three lanes on Avenida Solano, and a grade- separated interchange. The results indicate that, under current conditions, most alternatives exhibit deficient performance (LOS F), whereas the grade-separated option presents the lowest delays and queue lengths, with a degree of saturation closest to unity and LOS C, making it the most efficient alternative. Under future traffic conditions, although all alternatives tend toward LOS F, the grade-separated option maintains LOS E, demonstrating the best relative performance and the greatest adaptability to traffic demand growth.