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Designing a traffic signal is a relatively simple task for a traffic engineer.
But traffic-responsive signal system management is a highly specialized
field requiring in-depth experience and training that not all traffic
consultants have! CDS's traffic services staff manages 11 traffic responsive
systems for four communities on a daily basis. The systems are located
on highly traveled corridors such as Reed Hartman Highway in Blue Ash,
Montgomery Road in the City of Montgomery, Route 42 in Sharonville and
Winton Road in Forest Park.
Our services include a daily review of each system’s operation,
as well as close interaction with maintenance agencies to keep systems
operating correctly and efficiently. We also maintain a variety of data
logs on each system, allowing us to quickly recall traffic volume data,
system events and traffic-responsive performance measures of efficiency
(MOE).
If you aren't familiar with the benefits of traffic-responsive signal
system management, please read on!
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What are the benefits
of a traffic-responsive signal system?
The most obvious is a reduction in travel time for motorists, which results
in several other advantages:
• Reduced gasoline usage (a car stopped in traffic gets zero miles
per gallon!),
• Improved air quality since vehicles spend less time burning fuel
in the area,
• Improved safety by reducing accidents due to relieved congestion,
• Less motorist frustration.
If cost was not a concern, describe the ultimate system.
If cost was not a consideration, a full-featured system could include
incident management cameras (real time video monitoring with pan tilt
zoom controls) to allow quick response to abnormal traffic conditions,
complete traffic data collection for determining system timing parameters,
a central-based computer system that enables coordinated signal control
over a wide area (an entire city or a region comprised of parts of several
cities), uninterruptable power supplies for controllers that will permit
the signals to continue operating even if the utility power fails, siren-activated
emergency vehicle pre-emption to aid in the safe passage of emergency
vehicles through signalized intersections, fiber optic interconnect systems
that allow both very high speed signal controls and the ability to carry
additional signals of value to a municipality (i.e., real time video signals,
municipal computer data networks, etc.).
How affordable can a system be?
Traffic-responsive systems can be tailored to fit the needs of a community
within its budgetary constraints. The system described above is a "wish
list" for many communities. However, using technologies such as radio
interconnect (which does not require the cost of installing cable between
intersections), simpler systems can be installed for little more than
the cost of a typical signal installation. Traffic responsive systems
can also make effective use of existing technology (such as traffic loops
used for signal actuation).
What kind of funding is available to assist communities?
The most common funding source available for traffic-responsive system
installations is the Federal Highway Administration's CMAQ (Congestion
Management/Air Quality) grant. This source is intended specifically for
traffic projects that improve traffic flow and air quality in an area.
The funding covers the construction of the system and requires a 20% local
match, which means a $500,000 system could cost the local municipality
only $100,000 (plus engineering costs). In some situations, traffic-responsive
equipment can be included with STP or MRF funding applications.
For more information, please contact
Jay A. Korros, P.E., PTOE, Project Manager
at 513.791.1700 or jkorros@cds-assoc.com
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