CITY-WIDE TRAFFIC SIGNAL OPTIMIZATION
Boston Transportation Department
Under a task order contract with varying assignments, HSH worked with the Boston Transportation Department (BTD) to modify existing traffic signal timings throughout the City of Boston with the goal of retiming the existing coordinated traffic signal systems in various Boston neighborhoods.
The overall goals and objectives included:
- Improve air quality through decreased motor vehicle emissions and fuel consumption by using signal coordination plans that reduce frequent stops and promote uniform travel speeds.
- Improve reliability and predictability of travel along arterial routes by developing and implementing signal coordination plans that reduce travel time and delay.
- Enhance the safety of motorists and pedestrians with an emphasis in intersection data and use of signal coordination plans that promote uniform travel speeds, thereby reducing rear-end collisions.
After HSH performed traffic counts and set up an existing conditions model, the staff proposed changes to splits, offsets, cycle length, phasing, curb use, lane use, and/or pedestrian recall operations at existing signalized intersections, analyzing all scenarios in the traffic model for each peak period. HSH then developed a Traffic Signal Operation Schedule to be implemented by BTD staff at the Transportation Management Center (TMC) and in the signal’s controller cabinet. HSH has retimed approximately 250 traffic signals across the City. HSH retimed signals along Melnea Cass Boulevard creating safer, “greener”, and more efficient traffic operations along the corridor.
| < Back to Traffic Engineering | < Previous | Next > |
|---|