A periodical highlights findings from a Maine DOT study.
City of Portland, Maine, United States
Portland Reduces Delays by 20% at Maine’s Busiest Traffic Intersection After Surtrac Deployment
Summary Information
According to a 2016 report from the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) the Morrill’s Corner intersection system sees 33,000 vehicles pass through it each day. Using real-time data and artificial intelligence (AI) a Surtrac real-time adaptive signal control strategy was implemented to coordinate traffic control depending on actual traffic demands in the area. The system was designed to optimize signal timing every second, allowing the system to adapt quickly to changes in traffic patterns. Because the system was decentralized, latency was not an issue.
FINDINGS
An assessment conducted at three intersections in Morrill's Corner found that the system decreased delay by 20 percent saving each traveler an average of 17 seconds. Equivalent commuter travel time savings were estimated at of 9,350 minutes, or approximately 156 hours each business day.
