Adaptive traffic signal system reduces travel times by 1 to 4 percent on a congested arterial.

Deployment of an adaptive traffic control system in Boca Raton, Florida .

Date Posted
09/12/2016
Identifier
2016-B01062
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'Smart' traffic control to help relieve traffic jams on Glades Road

Summary Information

Congestion is a problem on Glades Road in Boca Raton, Florida. In an attempt to mitigate the effects of congestion, the city installed smart traffic signals between St. Andrews Boulevard and Northwest 13th Street and plan to expand the system to six intersections between Jog/Powerline Road and Golf Course Road, including a very busy intersection with Florida’s Turnpike. The smart traffic control system adjusts signal timing based on traffic flow and is also able to detect gaps in traffic and immediately adjust timing cycles to adapt.

Benefits

  • Initial results from the existing smart traffic signal system in Boca Raton find a 23 second reduction in travel time for eastbound travel and a 3 second reduction in travel time for westbound travel.
  • That is a reduction of 4 percent eastbound and 1 percent westbound.
  • The modest improvement is attributed to the high traffic on Glades Road, it is expected that the benefits would be greater on a road with lower volumes.