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Category Archives: Traffic Signals
Pedestrian Safety on the Roads
Vehicles need to accommodate the pedestrians especially in areas that are multi-modal with public transit, bike routes, sidewalks and neighbourhoods with heavy foot traffic. What strategies are currently being utilized to improve pedestrian safety on the roads and what type of results are being achieved?
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The Importance of Signal Optimization and Signal Retiming
The US has about 300,000 traffic signals and Canada has about 50,000. Many of the signals could improve their operations simply by adjusting the timing. Signal optimization is one of the most cost effective measures that can significantly reduce congestion and help with traffic flow on arterial roads.
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Extending Intersection Counts to 24 Hours
Cities, counties and states are already completing intersection counts and annual average daily traffic (AADT) counts on a regular basis. Why not expand an intersection study to 24 hours to get your AADT data for four approaches? Combining these studies into one deployment will simplify traffic data collection, provide more data and save on resources. Read this week's blog article to understand the benefits of a 24 hour intersection count.
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Roundabout Safety Improvements
Roundabouts are becoming more common in urban areas and with good reason. They are known to improve traffic flow and safety in comparison to other forms of intersection control such as traffic signals. However, problems can arise from using roundabouts since traffic signals and signs have been the standard for so long. Understanding how to best optimize roundabouts and prevent accidents will ensure that traffic flow is being optimized.
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Traffic Signals: NTOC Asks, “Have You Assessed Yours Lately?”
It has been shown time and time again that investment in traffic signal operations is one of the most cost effective means to improve transportation system operations, yet it continues to be one of the most under funded. What the NTOC has done is put together a way for those in the traffic signal timing world to come together and use their data in such a way which will be mutually beneficial to them in the future.
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Crosstown Traffic, All You Do is Slow Me Down: Final Installment
To close out this Signal Optimization Blog Series, I'll be presenting a case study about a recent signal optimization study that URS Corporation completed in Michigan. A lot of the resources cited in this blog series seem to paint an exaggerated picture of just how effective investment into signal optimization can be, but this case study is a great real-world example of how a signal optimization can benefit a community. The benefit:cost for the citizens in Western Ottawa Count was 12.5:1!
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Crosstown Traffic, All You Do is Slow Me Down: Installment Five
In part five of this blog series, I'll be rounding out the discussion with a commentary on public awareness and funding. To get support behind transportation improvements and money spent on signals, we need public support. When citizens are made aware of the possible benefits behind signal optimization, the small amount of money per household seems much more manageable than a line-item on a budget. When public support just isn't enough, there are options to get funding, too. With some creative thinking and public support, more signals could be optimized across our communities.
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Crosstown Traffic, All You Do is Slow Me Down: Installment Four
In part four of the signal optimization series, I'm opening up the dialogue to include all users of the road. Cars, trucks, buses, pedestrians and cyclists all share the road and should have equal priority. At first, optimizing signals to accommodate all these different modes of transportation may seem daunting or nearly impossible, however, research points out that creating viable alternative routes for transportation helps to get people out of their cars and onto buses, bikes or the sidewalk. With less cars on the road, congestion gets eased and the entire street is optimized instead of just the signals.
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Crosstown Traffic, All You Do is Slow Me Down: Installment Three
In part three of the seven part series about Signal Optimization, I'm writing about the signal retiming process. There's a lot of work that goes into collecting data, simulating conditions with software, and then testing timings to ensure the network is operating as planned. This post dives into each of these elements to explain all the work dedicated to getting drivers where they're going in the most efficient way.
Top 3 Traffic Data Projects to Start Off Your Spring Count Season