Georgia’s Regional Traffic Operations 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 – 7 th 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

Equipment Repair Program Goal

(770) (678) (770) (404) (770) (404) (678) (770) (678) (404) (770) (404) 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

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 $3M PI $8M PI $10M PI $12.75M PI $16.25M PI $16.25M PI $16.25M PI 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