Improving Urban Mobility Using Traffic Signal Priority Systems

Traffic Signal Priority (TSP) helps leverage a vehicle's current location and wireless communications technology to extend the green light of a traffic signal and allow a Pace or CTA bus to help reduce travel times and ensure on-time arrival and proceeding at an intersection when a bus is severely behind schedule.

When looking at Transit Signal Priority, the basic reality is that using traffic signal priority and preemption settings can change signal timing and give priority to certain types of vehicles such as emergency vehicles, trucks, buses, or trains. This system aims to speed up travel times, help improve safety, and provide a way for priority vehicles to get to their next destination.

More than 50 percent of area transit users can take advantage of faster, more reliable bus service. On buses equipped with signal priority, passengers will see significantly fewer delays at traffic signals, allowing them to reach their destinations on time, with less disruption to the overall traffic flow. Traffic signal timing will be significantly improved along these corridors as part of the Traffic Signal Priority Program (TSP).

The main objectives of signal priority are: -

• It helps reduce the time to pass through the intersection area. In some urban areas, buses and trams may pass through several signalized intersections. Longer delays at all intersections can add several minutes to the total trip time, resulting in increased resource needs and operating costs.

• It also reduces the discrepancy in the time taken to pass through the intersection area. The collective impact at all signalized intersections can last up to several minutes ahead. The effect can be more extreme if signal cycle times are lengthened. This variability can affect reliability and timing and can cause congestion. Therefore, reducing variability is often the primary goal when giving traffic signal priority to public transit vehicles.

• It also helps buses and streetcars safely make movements not permitted to general traffic. This is usually done in combination with other traffic management attempts, such as entering bus lanes, bus-only streets, roundabout shortcuts, or contraflow bus lanes.

For further information, contact EMTRAC Systems visit https://www.emtracsystems.com/

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Enhancing Road Safety and Efficiency with Emergency Vehicle Preemption Systems

Image
In the realm of traffic management, ensuring the quick and safe passage of emergency vehicles is a top priority. When every second counts, traffic lights need to respond dynamically, allowing first responders to navigate roads without delays. Emtrac’s Emergency Vehicle Preemption system is designed to address this exact need, equipping intersections with smart controllers that grant priority access to emergency vehicles. This state-of-the-art solution not only improves response times but also minimizes potential accidents, making roads safer for everyone involved. Emergency vehicle preemption works by detecting approaching emergency vehicles and adjusting traffic lights accordingly. Emtrac’s system is particularly advanced, utilizing a combination of GPS technology, cellular communication, and signal priority algorithms to create a reliable and responsive preemption network. When emergency vehicles, such as ambulances or fire trucks, are en route to an incident, the system seamlessly ...
Read more

Enabling Emergency Vehicle Preemption for Safer and Faster Responses

Image
Emergency Vehicle Preemption (EVP) is a cutting-edge traffic management solution designed to enhance the safety and efficiency of emergency vehicles navigating through intersections. By overriding standard traffic signal timings, EVP ensures that emergency vehicles are granted a green light, allowing them to reach critical destinations quickly and securely. Key Benefits of Emergency Vehicle Preemption Enhanced Safety: EVP reduces the risk of collisions involving emergency vehicles at busy intersections by providing them with a clear and prioritized path. Improved Response Times: By minimizing delays, emergency vehicles can reach incident scenes more rapidly, supporting faster incident response and management. How Emergency Vehicle Preemption Works EVP systems combine advanced hardware and software to seamlessly manage traffic signals and clear the path for emergency vehicles. The system temporarily interrupts normal traffic signal patterns to prioritize the movement of emergency vehic...
Read more

Traffic Cabinet Monitor: The Backbone for Efficient Traffic Management with EMTRAC System

Image
A robust traffic management system is essential for modern cities, where rapid, safe passage through intersections can mean the difference between life and death. At the core of this infrastructure lies the Traffic Cabinet Monitor, a key tool that ensures all traffic lights and signals operate efficiently, especially during critical situations like emergencies. EMTRAC System’s Traffic Cabinet Monitor solution provides an integrated approach to managing signal controllers within traffic cabinets, which makes it possible for emergency vehicles to pass through intersections more quickly and safely. The Traffic Cabinet Monitor works by continuously assessing traffic signal controllers within cabinets, ensuring they are always aligned with real-time traffic conditions. This advanced monitoring system detects any malfunctions, enabling quick interventions to avoid disruptions. By keeping controllers in sync and ensuring they operate smoothly, the Traffic Cabinet Monitor can effectively adju...
Read more