optimized signal timing plans vs. insync ® adaptive traffic signals

Optimized Signal Timing Plans vs. InSync® Adaptive Traffic Signals

The Results of a New Microsimulation Study by Aleksandar Stevanovic, Ph.D, PE

RhythmTraffic.com

About the Microsimulation Study

Watch the recorded webinar and download the full study at RhythmTraffic.com/StevanvoicReport

Aleks Stevanovic, Ph.D, PEFlorida Atlantic University

Improving Signal Performance

• “It’s easy to improve on a suboptimal timing plan.”• But what about optimized TOD timing plans?• How much better are adaptive signals?• Several field studies of InSync vs. optimized TOD

Why Microsimulation?

• Comprehensive evaluation of performance• Tightly controlled experiments• Abundance of data outputs• Repeatability• Comparability

The Real Corridor Simulated

• Volusia County, Florida• SR-421• 12 intersections• ADT: 25,000-35,000 vehicles

The Real Corridor Simulated• Typical suburban corridor• Difficult to retime• Seasonal and annual variations in traffic flow

• Evacuation route• Divided 4-6 lane facility• Left turns• RR crossing & school zones• 35-50 mph

Direct Comparison in 5 ConditionsRegular traffic conditions

Freeway incident

Inclement weather

Shock trafficFrequent rail preemption

Conducting the Microsimulation

• Collect data • Build model in VISSIM• Calibrate and validate the model• Finally, TEST IT under hundreds and hundreds

of hours of microsimulation using different signal timing strategies

Three sets of TOD plans

1. SS – Single Section method2. MS – Multiple Sections method3. Actual signal timings in field

Direct Comparison

Optimized TOD Timing Plans

Results

Results• Very consistent results – InSync nearly always

better than optimized TOD plans• Significant improvements – stops reduced up

to 33%, delay reduced up to 32%• Confident conclusion that InSync is better than

TOD plans

Results“The results are representative—

and the fact that they are representative will help traffic signal engineers to confidently

make the decision to move toward adaptive traffic control

systems in the future.”- Dr. Stevanovic

Who’s using InSync?80+ public agencies at 991 intersections in 25 states

Learn more about these results

Watch the recorded webinar and download the full study at

RhythmTraffic.com/StevanvoicReport

Questions, comments, more information?Eric Gannaway, Great Lakes Regional Manager

Rhythm Engineeringeric.gannaway@rhythmtraffic.com

(586) 612-8660