TRAFFIC SIGNAL MANAGEMENT

1. TRAFFIC SIGNAL MANAGEMENT TSM

2. PURPOSE • Purpose: Foster understanding through development of educational outreach materials • Illustrate benefits and basic techniques • Share information on new technologies • Highlight need for multi-municipal cooperation • Target Audience: • Municipal Officials, Planning Commission Members, Municipal Staff Members

3. The use of current tools, techniques and equipment to manage streets and signal systems more efficiently and in a cost-effective manner in order to improve safety, economic vitality and quality of life. WHAT IS TRAFFIC SIGNAL MANAGEMENT?

4. WHAT IS TRAFFIC SIGNAL MANAGEMENT? • The #1 investment we can make for immediate positive impact. • Cost-effective way to improve traffic flow. • Maximizes the benefits of the existing infrastructure.

5. WHY TRAFFIC SIGNAL MANAGEMENT? • 2/3 of all miles driven are on signalized roads • Over 300,000 signals in U.S. • 75% of the signals could easily be upgraded • Congestion affects everyone’s mobility • Adding capacity • Expensive • Long implementation timeframe • Potentially controversial • Environmental and social impacts

6. WHY TRAFFIC SIGNAL MANAGEMENT? Less Congestion Improved Fuel Consumption Vehicle Emissions Reduced Improved Air Quality Properly designed, operated and maintained traffic signal systems yield significant benefits:

7. WHY TRAFFIC SIGNAL MANAGEMENT? • Cost effective: cost ratios of 40:1 • Low-cost alternative to physical reconstruction • Arterial management • Saves time for commercial vehicles, emergency vehicles, buses and the public • Reduces aggressive driving behavior, red light running

8. WHY TRAFFIC SIGNAL MANAGEMENT? • Postpone or eliminate need for additional capacity • Safety – reduce accidents by providing smoother traffic flow with fewer stops • Maintenance and training streamlined • Improved pedestrian flow, side-street movements • Municipal cost and energy savings

9. HOW CAN BENEFITS BE ACHIEVED?

10. STRATEGIES • Standardization of equipment • Remove unwarranted signals • Install and maintain equipment properly • Traffic signal retiming • Implement additional signal plans based on time of day/day of week • Turn lanes and minor intersection improvements

11. STRATEGIES • Traffic Signal Equipment Enhancements: • Isolated or independent signals • Arterial Interconnected Signals • Time based coordination • Closed Loop Systems • Centrally Interconnected & Controlled Systems • Personal computer (PC) based • Traffic Operations Centers

12. Detection & Actuation Strategies • Fixed Time Operations • High traffic and pedestrian volume areas, • Not flexible for changing traffic patterns • Central Business Districts hours • Semi Actuated Operations • Applicable to corridors • No detectors or actuation on main streets • Fully Actuated Operations • Most flexible • Best for isolated signals

13. GOALS • Centralized coordination of signals • Coordinate signal operations over jurisdictional boundaries • Integrate traffic flow over larger areas • Corridor Administrator to set up and implement • Municipal Training • Dedicated funding stream • Administrative hierarchy

14. MULTI - MUNICIPAL COOPERATION Procurement Methods: • Department of General Services (DGS) COSTAR program • Purchase equipment as public procurement unit = economies of scale lower costs • Cost Sharing concept allows municipalities with smaller budgets to benefit too

15. MULTI - MUNICIPAL COOPERATION • Equipment better maintained • Reduced liability • Maintenance streamlined with standardization • Funding for larger projects • Municipality retains basic timing parameters • Costly reconstruction postponed by utilizing existing facilities more efficiently • Repairs made more quickly

16. Traffic Signal System Improvement Program • Traffic Signal Retiming • Signal Maintenance Strategies • Utilize New Technologies

17. Traffic Signal System Improvement Program Traffic Signal Retiming: • Interconnect signals • Wireless technology • Hardwire interconnectivity • Coordinate signal controllers • Reassign green time • General cost range $760 - $2,700 per intersection • 20-25hours per intersection

18. Traffic Signal System Improvement Program Signal Maintenance Strategies: • Preventive Maintenance • Remedial Maintenance • Staffing Rules-of Thumb • One traffic engineer per 75-100 signals • One signal technician per 40-50 signals • Consultants often supplement staff • Eligible for Federal Aid Funds

19. : Traffic Signal System Improvement Program Utilize new technologies: • ACS Lite (Adaptive Control Software) allows older software to communicate • Interconnecting signals • Spread Spectrum (wireless) • Actuating Signals • Develop emergency priority corridors • Use of LED signal lamps

20. LED SIGNAL LAMPS • SAVINGS • Signal maintenance costs • Energy costs

21. TESTIMONIALS A statewide traffic signal retiming program in California found the following benefits: • 7% reduction in travel time • 14% reduction in delay • 9% saving in fuel • Benefit/cost ratio 58:1

22. TESTIMONIALS A new signal system and improved signal timing conducted in Abilene, Texas (a mid-sized urban area) achieved: • 13% reduction in travel time • 37% reduction in delay • 6% fuel saving

23. TESTIMONIALS An advanced traffic control system in Oakland County, Michigan (a large suburban area) achieved: • 30% reduction in delay • 19% increase in peak hour speeds • 6% reduction in accidents • 33% reduction in stops

24. Route 51 Corridor

26. SYNCHRO/SIMTRAFFIC MODEL – MOE’s

27. TRAFFIC SIGNAL OPERATIONS SELF ASSESSMENT TOOL Help agencies understand opportunities for improving their own policies and practices • Designed for any agency responsible for operation and maintenance of traffic signals • One hour to complete • No data collection required • Results used anonymously in the 2007 National Traffic Signal Report Card • To use tool: http://www.zoomerang.com/recipient/survey-intro.zgi?p=WEB225U6FTB7YM

28. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: • FHWA Operations web site:http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov • Traffic Signal Operation Self Assessment:www.ite.org/selfassessment • MARC – Operation “Green Light”:www.marc.org/transportation/ogl/ • ACS Lite Software:raj.ghaman@fhwa.dot.gov • PennDOT:http://www.paits.org/tsop/index.htm • SPC:http://www.spcregion.org/trans.shtml