QuicTrac system improves traffic in Colorado

McCain has announced the successful completion and favorable evaluation of its latest QuicTrac adaptive control project in the city of Woodland Park, Colorado. The system has improved travel times, reduced fuel consumption, and generated significant positive feedback from residents, highlighting its impact on the community as a whole. Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) Region 2 selected the company’s QuicTrac adaptive signal control for an eight intersection project along a 5.8km (3.65 miles) section of US 24, where the average traffic ranges from 19,000 - 26,000 vehicles per day. By collecting data from system detectors to establish traffic conditions, the QuicTrac system is able to make continuous adjustments to signal timing to accommodate real-time demand.

According to a comprehensive third-party study by Atkins, the system has already improved system-wide operations by reducing wasted costs in the form of travel time, driver delay, fuel consumption, and the cost for staff to maintain and retime the signals. The study, which was a comparison of two adaptive systems, showed that the QuicTrac signal control software reduced travel times by 6% on weekdays and 19% on weekends, while reducing delays by 15% and 54%, respectively. The system also reduced fuel consumption by 2% on weekdays and 5% over the weekend. Based on operational improvements, the report estimates an annual saving of US$820,000 for Region 2 and road users, totaling more than US$5.3 million over the first 20 years the system is in operation.

Terry Shippy, traffic operations engineer with CDOT Region 2, noted, “The before/after study of the adaptive signal control system on US 24 in Woodland Park shows a benefit-to-cost ratio of 5.64, and paid for itself in less than a year. Prior to the QuicTrac installation, we were running time-of-day plans. Now, the signal timing plans dynamically adjust to demand. A significant part of the project was the installation of local controller software that gave us greater reliability and flexibility. We received encouraging feedback and the number of complaints dramatically decreased.” Brian Wagner, ITS solutions manager for McCain, commented, “We are pleased to have partnered with Traffic Signal Controls and CDOT Region 2 on this project. Adaptive signal control has been around for decades, but it’s only recently, largely through the support of federal funds and initiatives such as FHWA’s EDC (Federal Highway Administration’s Every Day Counts) initiative, that we’ve seen the technology really gain traction across the nation.”

29 August 2012