Expansion of Traffic Signal Optimization in Oakland County
(FOX 2) – A pilot initiative aimed at enhancing traffic flow through improved signal timing is poised for expansion in Oakland County.
Currently operational at thirteen intersections in Farmington Hills and Royal Oak, this cutting-edge traffic management system will soon be implemented at an additional 40 locations over the ensuing six months.
Overview
Research has indicated that traffic congestion, exacerbated by inefficient signal timings, imposes immense costs—amounting to billions annually. Traditionally, traffic signals operate on preset schedules that attempt to predict vehicular patterns at varying times throughout the day.
A solution has emerged from the collaborative efforts of engineers at the University of Michigan, the Road Commission for Oakland County, and a nascent enterprise known as Connected Traffic Intelligence, focusing on dynamic, real-time adjustments.
This innovative system recalibrates traffic signals periodically by utilizing GPS data from vehicles traversing the roads. The adjustments are specifically designed to mitigate unnecessary halts.
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Stop us if you’ve heard this before: traffic is notoriously congested in Metro Detroit, and ongoing construction on I-696 is expected to exacerbate conditions for the coming week.
The initiative is currently operational across two primary thoroughfares in southern Oakland County:
- Four signals along 8 Mile Road, stretching from Orchard Lake to Brentwood Street in Farmington Hills.
- Nine signals along 12 Mile Road, from Vinsetta Boulevard to North Connecticut Avenue in Royal Oak.
In-Depth Analysis
Recalibrations at these signalized intersections have yielded a 20% reduction in delays and stops within Royal Oak. Notably, Farmington Hills has experienced even more significant improvements, reporting a 30% decrease in delays and a remarkable 40% decline in stops.
“Vehicle telematics data offers an unprecedented opportunity to analyze traffic signal performance across extensive networks,” stated Zachary Jerome, a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute.
“This capability allows for proactive identification of inefficiencies, eliminating the need for extensive roadside detection systems at each intersection.”
The project has received a considerable boost through a $1.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, facilitating its expansion to numerous additional intersections.
The technology capitalizes on data sourced from 6-10% of all U.S. vehicles, leveraging vehicular movements to infer traffic conditions.
For instance, if a vehicle halts 100 feet before a signal, the system can estimate that three to four vehicles are queued ahead.
This modern initiative follows an 18-month observational period in Birmingham, where similar procedures resulted in a 20–30% decrease in stopping instances.
Enhanced Safety Through Reduced Signal Time
The Road Commission emphasizes that improved timing will aid in pinpointing congested intersections and correlating such data with accident-prone zones.
“With this information, we can optimize traffic light timings, potentially reducing crash occurrences,” remarked Danielle Deneau, head of the commission’s traffic safety division.
Source link: Fox2detroit.com.
