Performance Measures for Local Agency Traffic Signals

This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the Indiana LTAP Center at Purdue University in the interest of information exchange. Purdue University and the Indiana LTAP Center assume no liability for its contents or use thereof. Purdue University and the Indiana LTAP Center do not endorse products or manufacturers. Trademarks or manufacturers names may appear herein only because they are considered essential to the objective of this document. The contents of this report reflect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the facts and accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official policy of Purdue University or the Indiana LTAP Center. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. Abstract: The project focused on accelerating implementation of research recommendations emerging from traffic signal research projects conducted by the National Cooperative Research Program and Indiana Department of Transportation. This project developed specification language that was subsequently used in procurements in Elkhart County, IN; Lafayette, IN; and Morgantown, WV. The performance measures specified in Appendix A and subsequently deployed in Elkhart County, IN, and Lafayette, IN, were the first commercial deployment of real-time traffic signal performance measures recommended by NCHRP 3-79a. The deployment in Lafayette, IN, received an ACEC award in March 2012. In addition to accelerating implementation, this research project examined the feasibility of deploying adaptive traffic signal control in the near term (next 12-18 months). The authors of this report believe the detection requirements and the level of engineering staff support required to operate the current generation of adaptive control systems do not warrant implementation without careful assessment of detector placement, detection quality, and a commitment by the agency for substantial recurring engineering support to operate those systems. Instead, the authors recommend pursuing a hybrid approach of scheduled review of traffic signal performance measures to identify performance improvement opportunities and the use of the link-pivot algorithm developed by Purdue. 15. Supplementary Notes: Should an agency wish to pursue adaptive control, we strongly recommend both agency and consultants involved in that decision participate in one of USDOT's webinars most recently entitled " Keeping Risks in Check: Applying the Updated FHWA Model Systems Engineering Document to Adaptive Signal Control Technology Systems (ASCT) Implementation. " These webinars are regularly held, the most recent one conducted on December 20, 2012. 17.