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TRAFFIC SIGNAL MANAGEMENT. TSM. 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:
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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
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?
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.
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
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:
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Traffic Signal System Improvement Program • Traffic Signal Retiming • Signal Maintenance Strategies • Utilize New Technologies
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
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
: 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
LED SIGNAL LAMPS • SAVINGS • Signal maintenance costs • Energy costs
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
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
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
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
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