1. Adaptive Signals & ALDOT
Lessons Learned from U.S. 280

2. ALDOT 280
Project Information

3. Roadway Characteristics
ALDOT 280
Roadway Characteristics
-Six-lane divided arterial
-Posted speed limit of 55 mph
-Daily Volume 60k-90k
-26 signals (9 mile segment)
-Recurring peak hour congestion
-Existing signals utilize time based coordination

4. ALDOT 280 Land Uses Residential Commercial
Single Family
Apartments/Condos
Commercial
Big Box Retail
High Turnover Sit Down and Fast Food Restaurants
Lodging
Office Space (East Central Region Office)

5. What is Adaptive Signal Control?
ALDOT 280
What is Adaptive Signal Control?
Adaptive signal control technologies adjust when green lights start and end to accommodate current traffic patterns to promote smooth flow and ease traffic congestion. - FHWA

6. ALDOT 280 Types of Adaptive Signal Control
SCOOT – Split Cycle Offset Optimization Technique
SCATS - Sydney Coordinated Adaptive Traffic System
RHODES - Real Time Hierarchical Optimized Distributed Effective System
ACS Lite
InSync

7. Adaptive Signal System
ALDOT 280
Adaptive Signal System
Sydney Coordinated Adaptive Traffic System (SCATS)
Chosen for all three deployments in Alabama
Birmingham (State Maintained)
Huntsville
Montgomery

8. SCATS ALDOT 280 Australian Uses SCATS firmware
Each intersection has unique personality
Some simple changes require personality change
Adapts splits and offsets
Provides a wealth of data
Requires some computer language code writing
Utilizes stop line detection (crash delays)

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13. Equipment Upgrades ALDOT 280 Siemens M52 Controllers
Autoscope Video Cameras
Ruggedcom Ethernet Switches

14. Video Detection ALDOT 280 Camera angle Camera height
Design calls for 15’ stop line detection zones
Intersection lighting during dark hours

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24. SCATS systems greatest nemesis?
ALDOT 280
SCATS systems greatest nemesis?
Distracted Drivers!
aka Jokers with cell phones

25. Distracted Drivers Negative Impacts
ALDOT 280
Distracted Drivers Negative Impacts
High cycle lengths
Opportunity to become distracted
First car leaves stop line, second car just sits
Predominately single left turn lanes
Signal gaps out then reduces time allocated for next cycle
Queues back out into through lanes

26. Other Negative Impacts
ALDOT 280
Other Negative Impacts
Driver placement (stop well behind stop line)
Sun glare
Shadows
Emergency Pre-emption

27. FLIR thermal imaging camera
ALDOT 280
Alternate Detection
Autoscope Duo
FLIR thermal imaging camera
Wavetronix

28. Wavetronix Detection ALDOT 280 No more snappy bar
Intersection lighting doesn’t matter
Vehicle color doesn’t matter
IP addressable

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33. ITS Technologies Deployed To Date
ALDOT 280
ITS Technologies Deployed To Date
8 PTZ Cameras
BlueTOAD
Autoscope Duo (Test)
Overhead DMS
@better280 twitter account
Wavetronix Matrix / Click 650

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37. ALDOT 280
The Wonderful World of Social Media

38. People Really Hate This Road!
ALDOT 280
People Really Hate This Road!

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40. BEFORE & AFTER TRAVEL TIME INFORMATION
ALDOT 280
BEFORE & AFTER TRAVEL TIME INFORMATION

41. ALDOT 280
BlueTOAD Device Map

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44. Getting on the right track…
ALDOT 280
Getting on the right track…
Tweaking begins
Off peak improvements start to appear
Still experience saturated conditions on the mainline in the peak hours
Tracking travel times through BlueTOAD

45. Getting on the right track…
ALDOT 280
Getting on the right track…

46. ALDOT 280

47. ALDOT 280 ACCESS MANAGEMENT Remove, add, and modify traffic signals
Increase turning capacities
Michigan left

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50. ALDOT 280
The Wonderful World of Social Media

51. ALDOT 280
Other Efforts
Alabama Service and Assistance Patrol Expansion
Contract wrecker service

52. ALDOT 280
The Next Big Thing
Grandview Medical Center

53. Lessons Learned Summary
ALDOT 280
Lessons Learned Summary
Detection, Detection, Detection!
Camera placement (side fire vs. diagonal)
Intersection lighting during dark hours
T.O.D. operation during AM peak
Travel time detection devices
Include remote viewing capabilities
Concrete over striping!
Don’t be afraid to seek help from the experienced!

54. Remember, you can’t just……
ALDOT 280
Remember, you can’t just……
“Set it and forget it!”