Florida uses Travel Time module

Econolite has announced that Lee County, Florida, has used the Travel Time module of the company’s ‘Centracs’ Advanced Transportation Management System (ATMS) for the deployment of its BlueTOAD (Bluetooth Travel-time Origination and Destination) system to actively monitor travel times and road speeds. The Centracs system was originally installed in 2011, as part of Lee County DOT’s Signal Re-timing Project, which has since received an ‘A’ grade in the 2012 National Transportation Operations Coalition (NTOC) National Traffic Signal Report Card. The DOT completed traffic signal retiming for more than 50 intersections in its traffic system network. Comparing actual “before” and “after” travel time runs along US 41, the agency reported overall cumulative annual benefits of: 23% reduction in travel delays; 5,600 gallons of fuel saved per day; 19% less emissions; and total estimated annual value of savings of over US$17 million.

According to the Lee County DOT, the Centracs system complements its proactive approach to traffic signal management. Lee County chief traffic engineer, Stephen M Jansen, explained, “Centracs fits well into our long-term plans to optimize traffic flows and safety along our major arterials, such as US 41. Because of Centracs’ modular design, we’re able to cost effectively expand our capabilities as funding permits. In this case, the integrated Centracs Travel Time module enabled us to immediately manage and control our BlueTOAD system, without the hassle and extra costs associated with purchasing additional equipment and software.” Econolite’s senior vice president of sales, Jeff Spinazze, commented, “We are proud to be a part of Lee County DOT’s progressive traffic management program. Centracs was designed for these traffic management upgrades; to seamlessly expand agency capabilities, as plans and budgets evolve.”

28 August 2012