Abstract: To better carry out the planning and control of urban transport， a more effective mathematical model describing traffic flow was given. The new model is based on both the driver’s carfollowing behavior and general linkage between microscopic and macroscopic parameters. Since the model includes the effects of both the relative speeds and the relative distance with linear weighted method， it is more realistic. Meanwhile， some wellknow continuum models are contained in this new model as special cases， such as Payne model， Wiltham model， and Zhang model. The characteristic velocity and linear stability of the new model were studied. The new model is inherently stable and controls the extent of nonanisotropic and diffusive influences through a dimensionless parameter called anisotropic factor.

Key words: carfollowing model, macroscopic traffic flow model, Payne model, Wiltham model, Zhang model, linear stability