Skip to main content

Adaptive signal control report

A study of McCain’s QuicTrac adaptive control software, deployed over a year ago by the Californian city of Temecula, has highlighted the array of benefits achievable through an adaptive system. The survey calculated the arterials’ level of service, measured in delay per vehicle, both pre- and post-deployment, evaluating the systems’ benefit-to-cost ratio and environmental impact.
April 30, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
RSSA study of 5198 McCain’s QuicTrac adaptive control software, deployed over a year ago by the Californian city of Temecula, has highlighted the array of benefits achievable through an adaptive system. The survey calculated the arterials’ level of service, measured in delay per vehicle, both pre- and post-deployment, evaluating the systems’ benefit-to-cost ratio and environmental impact.

Considerable congestion levels and queuing on off-ramps during rush hours led the city of Temecula to seek out a solution that would lower congestion and maximise thoroughfare at minimal expense to the city. McCain’s adaptive signal control system was used to optimise signal timing along 83 intersections spanning 29kms of the city’s busiest corridors, including seven traffic signals located at the I-15 freeway interchange.

QuicTrac adaptive signal control reduced delays at 81.3 per cent of the study intersections, yielding a 14 per cent citywide improvement in travel time, 17 per cent increase in corridor speeds, as well as 29 per cent less stops. In addition, the solution delivered a 30:1 benefit-to-cost ratio to the city and is projected to save commuters US$2.6 million in first year travel time and $437,000 in first year fuel costs.

QuicTrac adaptive control software operates through the collection and analysis of real-time data from field detectors, loops or video, establishing traffic flow and demand. The software then runs a series of advanced algorithms to determine and coordinate optimum signal timing for the entire corridor. By coordinating traffic signals based on current conditions, the technology provides a series of green lights, expediting groups of vehicles through arterials.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Innovative GIS advances from Bluesky
    July 18, 2012
    Aerial survey specialist Bluesky is funding research into the development and use of a new system to map the UK’s cities and towns at night. Bluesky has teamed up with the University of Leicester to look at solutions using new high sensitivity camera sensor technology. Mounted on survey aircraft, the new system can record the location of street lights, illuminated road signs and other night-time sources of light. This can deliver an accurate resource for asset inventories, light pollution assessment and ene
  • Lighting innovations boosting brightness, cutting costs
    January 27, 2014
    CU Phosco’s new P850 LED main road lantern has just seen its first major deployment – between Junctions 16 and 17 of the A55, a strategic road which skirts the North Wales coastline – Jason Barnes reports The A55 is a grade-separated dual carriageway also known as the North Wales Expressway. Some 139km long, it originally ran from Chester to Bangor but was extended across the Isle of Anglesey into Holyhead Docks in 2001 under a project part-funded by the European Union.
  • ITS innovation will benefit transport in the Middle East
    May 29, 2013
    *Zeina Nazer, secretary general of ITS-Arab, introduces the rapid evolution of Intelligent Transport Systems in the Middle East and North Africa and talks about the special challenges and opportunities this represents, both for the industry and her organisation. Over the past six years, ITS-Arab has focused on promoting Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) at the policy and decision making echelons, while developing ITS specifications at a project design level throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MEN
  • $11.5 billion for Arizona transport programme
    July 8, 2025
    Arizona’s transport construction programme will be worth $11.5 billion.