Georgia’s Regional TrafficOperations Program
Christopher Barrow, E.I.T.Traffic Engineer II
Overview
• Background Information• Maintaining Agencies of
Traffic Signals in Georgia• Regional Traffic Operations
Program (RTOP)• Future Funding
Background on Georgia• Population over 9.5 million
– 18.3% population growth between 2000 to 2010
– 7th fastest growing state• Atlanta is the largest city
– 55% of population lives in the Atlanta Region
• ≈ 8500 Traffic Signals– Over 50% located in the
Atlanta Region – 47% located on State Routes
Who Operates the Traffic Signals?• Maintaining Agencies:• 7 GDOT Districts• 54 Counties• 36 Cities
• Top 5 maintaining agencies:• GDOT: 1536 signals• City of Atlanta: 975 signals• Gwinnett County: 674 signals• DeKalb County: 661 signals• Cobb County: 543 signals
Atlanta Region’s Signal Operators• In most major
metropolitan areas:• State DOT
manages the freeway network
• Local agencies manage arterials
• In Atlanta:• 4 GDOT Districts• 15 Counties• 22 Cities
•Traffic Signal Maintenance and Repair Issues• Regional Focus Mainline Priority Cross-Jurisdictional• Actively Manage Traffic Flow
Mission: To increase travel throughput by minimizing congestion and reducing delays along regional commuter corridors through improved signal operations.
RTOP’s Role
Regionally Significant Corridors RTOP 1
Regionally Significant Corridors RTOP 2
What have we been doing?• Preventative/Routine maintenance• Repair of equipment• Communications to traffic signals• Surveillance at key locations• Active signal timing adjustments
Preventative Maintenance
Before After
Aug-10Sep-10
Oct-10Nov-10
Dec-10Jan-11
Feb-11Mar-1
1Apr-1
1May-11
Jun-11Jul-11
Aug-11Sep-11
Oct-11Nov-11
Dec-11Jan-12
Feb-12Mar-1
2Apr-1
2May-12
Jun-12Jul-12
70%
75%
80%
85%
90%
95%
100%
Operational Detection
Vehicle Detection
Pedestrian Detection
SR 6 Vehicle De-tection
SR 6 Pedestrian De-tection
Perc
ent O
pera
tiona
l
Equipment Repair
Program Goal
(770) 547-2984
(678) 215-2486
(770) 500-2027
(404) 406-8791
(770) 715-7554
(404) 357-6631
(678) 521-3393
(770) 608-6071
(678) 559-4556
(404) 275-5745
(770) 596-3147
(404) 293-7868
Corridor Managers
Remote Communications• 196 Currently accessible
from the TMC
Accessible from TCC
Accessible from TMC
No remote communications
Surveillance• Cameras on GDOT
network• Delcan to include
local agency cameras
Under Construction
Online
Planned
Active Management• Control from a
single location• AM Peak• 6 AM to 10 AM
• PM Peak• 3 PM to 7 PM
Real Time Traffic Signal Adjustments
Support of Construction Activities
• RTOP Does Not Go Away When Construction Projects Start
Use of Technology
• Travel Time Pilot Project• Ethernet Over Copper –
City of Atlanta• Ethernet Wireless• Non Intrusive Detection• Alternative Detection• IVDS Over Ethernet• IP Cameras• Regional Video Sharing
Traffic Responsive Operation
Communications Plan
Communications Plan
Award Winning Program• 2010 Outside the Box Award – ITS
Georgia
• 2010 ITS America Smart Solution Spotlight – ITS America
• 2012 Outstanding Public Agency Award – ITS Georgia
Spring 2012 Comparison to Baseline
• During the AM/PM peaks:• Reduced number of stops by 8.3%• Reduced stopped time delay by 12%• Traffic Volume increased by 9%
Project Benefit• Over the last year during AM/PM peaks:
• Eliminated 1.2 million hours of delay
• Saved 700,000 gallons of fuel
RTOP Funding
$3MPI 0009543
$8MPI 0009544
$10MPI 0009545
$12.75MPI 0009546
$16.25MPI 0009547
$16.25MPI 0009548
$16.25MPI 0009549
• Late start the first year – funding cut• Success in 2011 and 2012 lead to increased funding• Program now in expansion phase
Thank you
Christopher Barrow E.I.T.Traffic Engineer II
