Challenge
The Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) expanded the project performance evaluation component of its Traffic Signal Optimization Program (TSOP) to conduct performance evaluations in all TSOP projects.
Solution
Kittelson partnered with MAG to develop two methodologies to evaluate traffic signal optimization performance before and after implementing new traffic signal timing plans. One method uses TranSync software to conduct travel time runs using a mobile application to record vehicle trajectories and calculate performance measures (travel time, average speed, number of stops, and stop time ) at the corridor level. The second method uses Global Positioning System (GPS) probe data from the INRIX Probe Data Analytics Suite, combined with an Excel spreadsheet tool designed by Kittelson to evaluate travel time data in terms of travel time savings, corridor reliability, and benefit/cost ratios associated with the signal optimization efforts.
The Outcome
A New Way to Evaluate Traffic Signal Optimization Performance
Now MAG has a methodology that allows the agency to calculate the benefits of all signal optimization projects the agency is implementing in the Phoenix metro region. This is a significant enhancement to the MAG ITS TSOP program that incorporates performance evaluations of signal optimization projects and has the potential to increase available funding to optimize more corridor and reduce congestion and pollution in the Phoenix area.
