Transcript Document 7533908

DeKalb’s County’s Strategic Directions
Implementation - BRT and Signal Priority System
ITS Georgia 2009 Annual Meeting
Peggy V. Allen
Deputy Director
Traffic and Safety Engineering
DeKalb County, Georgia
5/24/2016
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Project Background
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In 1999 DeKalb County implemented a successful traffic
signal priority control system along Candler Road.
The project gave priority to Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid
Transit Authority (MARTA) busses traveling along the
corridor.
The project was the first of its kind to be implemented in
the United States. It was unique in that it not only gave
priority to MARTA busses, but it did so on a normal, none
express route while at the same time maintaining traffic
signal coordination.
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Project Background
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As a result of the project
– Trip time decreased along the entire route. The
reductions ranged from 9.4 to 21.5 percent.
– We saw improvements in the overall flow of traffic.
– There were measurable improvements in air quality,
due to the reductions in emissions. (a critical
improvement because as the time most of Metro Atlanta
was experiencing air quality issues which affected
federal transportation funding.)
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Strategic Planning
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DeKalb County decided 10 years ago, at the conclusion of
the Candler Road Priority Project, that the county and the
region could benefit from additional ITS type projects.
The County began to work with MARTA seeking new
MARTA routes and County Corridors for future
applications.
Simultaneously the County sought funding sources.
– Even though the economic outlook of the Country and the County
were relatively bright in 1999. The County felt it would be
financially prudent to plan ahead for funding as well as target
projects.
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Planning Paid Dividends
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DeKalb County has once again joined forces with
MARTA to implement two Traffic Signal Priority
Control systems within DeKalb County.
 The two corridors chosen for the project are
Buford Highway and Memorial Drive.
 On Buford Highway the priority control project
will be of the same type implemented on Candler
Road in 1999, a regular MARTA commuter route.
 The Memorial Drive project will be different in
that it will be implemented along with MARTA’s
Bus Rapid Transit Project.
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Project Partners
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Federal Transit Administration
Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority
(MARTA)
Georgia Department of Transportation
DeKalb County Government
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Project Goals
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Continue to improve air quality
 Provide a safe, reliable, and cost effective
transit service
 Continue to reduce traffic congestion and
improve the overall flow of traffic along the
selected corridors.
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Definitions
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Traffic Signal Priority Control is a technology
designed to reduce the wait time for selected
vehicles at signalized intersections.
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Definitions
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Bus Rapid Transit. (BRT) uses several different
technologies or combinations of technologies to provide
a faster, more reliable bus service.
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Signal prioritization- electronic devices that extend the
green time on traffic signals as busses approach and
provide priority to the busses at the traffic signals.
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Definitions
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Queue Jumpers that allow buses to enter lanes
ahead of other traffic.
 Automatic Vehicle locations systems connected
with electronic information signs at bus stops
and transfer centers informing riders of the
next bus arrival times.
 Electronic fair registering devices at all door
boarding to expedite boarding times.
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Project Area Description (BRT)
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Memorial Drive is a major traffic generator
Traffic counts exceed 47,000 vehicles per day.
The corridor is a multi-lane urban roadway
Twenty-seven traffic signals along Memorial Drive and
North Hairston Road are affected by and included in
this Priority Control/BRT project.
The traffic signals on the Memorial Drive portion of
the project were operated by 170E traffic signal
controllers, while the North Hairston portion of the
project were equipped with Econolite controllers.
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MEMORIAL DRIVE BRT LOCATION MAP
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BRT SERVICE
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The BRT will provide two types of service along
Memorial Drive. It will provide an Express
Service that will originate at the Kensington Rail
Station and travel eastward on Memorial Drive
terminating at Goldsmith Road, and or East Ponce
de Leon Avenue.
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The BRT will also provide a Limited Service that
will originate at the Kensington Rail Station,
travel eastward on Memorial Drive, turning north
on Hairston Road.
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EXPRESS SERVICE ROUTE
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RTP
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LIMITED SERVICE ROUTE
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RTP
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Project Area Description
(Commuter)
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Buford Highway is a major traffic generator
Traffic counts exceeds 47,000 vehicles per day.
The corridor is a multi-lane urban roadway
When traffic incidents occur on the I-285 East
perimeter and on I-85 which parallels the Buford
Highway corridor, DeKalb County effectively utilizes
Buford Highway as an alternate route to be used by
motorists traveling from Atlanta, through DeKalb to
Gwinnett County and beyond. It is a critical
transportation route in DeKalb and it is also a highly
used MARTA route.
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Project Area Description
(COMMUTER)
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Twenty-three traffic signals along Buford
Highway are affected by and included in this
Priority Control/commuter phase of the
project. The traffic signals on Buford Highway
were operated by 170E signal controllers.
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BUFORD HIGHWAY PRIORITY MAP
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GPS OPTICOM SYSTEM
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HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS
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GPS Opticom system combines
satellite technology with RF
communications
System calculates speed,
heading, longitude and latitude
information
Vehicle approaches intersection
Vehicle radio sends speed,
heading, position information
each second
Intersection radio receives and
verifies position information
It relays information to phase
selector in the controller cabinets
Phase selector verifies status and
request priority through normal
controller functions
Signal changes appear normal to
public
Monitors turn signal operations
Relays activated turn signal
ahead to the next intersection. 20
Queue Jumpers
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Queue Jumpers are designed for two intersections
along the BRT route. Queue Jumpers are used
routinely in Europe and have also made
appearances in Manhattan, New York, Santa Clara
County, CA, and as close to the Metropolitan area
as Charlotte, NC. The two queue jumper locations
are the intersection of Memorial Drive and
Rockbridge Road, and the intersection of
Memorial Drive and Rays Road.
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Queue Jumpers
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The Queue Jumper concept allows the bus, which
is in a restricted travel lane, to receive a green
indication at the traffic signal while other vehicles
remain at a stop condition at the same intersection,
thus giving the bus priority in the queue.
 All traffic signals are currently being upgraded to
the 2070 controllers which will also accommodate
the installation of the queue jumpers. The queue
jumper application requires traffic signal hardware
and
software
that
provides
for
a
12-phase
(three
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ring) operation.
Project Funding
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DeKalb County was allocated a discretionary
earmark in the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2004
Congressional Appropriations bill in the amount of
$1.456,311.
 The County will provide a local 20% funding
match for the project. It is important to note that
the allocation was granted for the Memorial Drive
BRT/Traffic Signal Priority Control project and
also to fund the Buford Highway commuter Signal
Priority Control Project.
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Project Funding
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The funds are being allocated to the County
through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).
FTA Grant $1,820,388
Federal Share
$1,456,311
Local Share $364,077
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Project Funding
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MARTA will own and operate the BRT System,
including the purchase of BRT vehicles as well as
design and construction of ancillary facilities.
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MARTA received funding from several sources
including Q23 STP, and Q40 CMAQ allocations.
This allocation is for the Memorial Drive BRT
only.
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Project Funding
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MARTA Funding
BRT Funding Memorial
Drive $28,575,000
Q 23 STP $19,200,000
Q 40 CMAQ $9,375,000
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Project Challenges
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Construction challenge for MARTA
– BRT Stations, Park Ride Lots, and queue
jumpers
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Construction challenge for DOT
– The I-285 interchange at Memorial Drive, and
fast forward signal upgrades.
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Construction challenge for DeKalb County
– Streetscape construction activities
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Project Concerns
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Queue jumpers are a new concept in the Metropolitan
area, so their construction, operation and acceptance by the
community is yet to be realized.
DeKalb is only beginning to deploy 2070 controllers
throughout its network. There may be some software
hurdles to overcome, as we add Opticom priority to the
system.
Both Memorial Drive and Buford Highway have multiple
traffic signal coordinated systems. We anticipate a
challenge of implementing priority control on multiple
systems and still maintaining system coordination.
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Project Status (LRT Signals)
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Project Status (2070 Controller Upgrades)
Fast Forward
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Project Status (I-285 Interchange)
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Bridge Widening
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Project Status (Queue Jumper)
Rockbridge-complete; Rays-under
construction
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Project Status (Streetscape)
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DeKalb’s Strategic Planning Thoughts
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In a time of uncertainty regarding our national and local
economic futures; DeKalb County feels that it is
incumbent upon us to be vigilant and proactive in our
efforts to strategically plan for the future. Even though
ITS technologies continue to evolve and improve, and the
future economic positions cannot be predicted. DeKalb
County is determined to stay the course and we
strategically plan for our future. The continued use of ITS
technology remains a vital tool in maintaining and
improving DeKalb’s county’s Infrastructure. Remember
the fable of the grasshopper and the ant… "It is best to
prepare for the days of necessity".
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Conclusion
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DeKalb County optimistically looks forward to
the opportunity to serve the region once again, in
the area of Traffic Signal Priority Control as a
leader, rather than a follower.
 The next time you’re traveling through DeKalb
County, on Memorial Drive and Buford Highway
don’t get stuck in traffic. Get On The
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QUESTIONS?
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