Skip to main content

Upgrade for traffic counting system on Delaware bridges

The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission recently approved the purchase of new technology and software to replace the aging traffic counting system at the agency's 18 road bridges. The US$268,724 purchase of radar traffic counters, auxiliary system and software will be made from Signal Services of West Chester, Pennsylvania through the Pennsylvania Department of General Services COSTARS Program. The Commission collects traffic counts to make data-driven decisions related to budgeting, maintenance an
April 29, 2016 Read time: 2 mins

The 794 Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission recently approved the purchase of new technology and software to replace the aging traffic counting system at the agency's 18 road bridges.

The US$268,724 purchase of radar traffic counters, auxiliary system and software will be made from Signal Services of West Chester, Pennsylvania through the Pennsylvania Department of General Services COSTARS Program.

The Commission collects traffic counts to make data-driven decisions related to budgeting, maintenance and long-term capital improvements.  

The current traffic counting system is roughly 20 years old and uses an inductive loop detection system to count vehicles as they drive over the loops.  Collected data is stored on local servers at each bridge and daily traffic totals are then fed into a centralised database over land telephone lines.

The new system uses non-intrusive microwave radar technology coupled with new auxiliary equipment, servers and software to collect data, which will then be transmitted via cell tower technology to the central database.

The Commission believes the new system will improve reliability and accuracy and allow for easier maintenance.

Related Content

  • September 2, 2022
    IBTTA’s roll-call of excellence
    Winners of the IBTTA’s Toll Excellence Awards will be presented with their trophies during the 90th Annual Meeting & Exhibition in Austin, Texas
  • May 11, 2012
    The case for using toll revenues to fund Interstate improvements
    High road toll increases threaten new regulation, but states should be free to use toll revenue for Interstate improvements. Bob Poole reports Large toll rate increases have been implemented recently by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, justified in part to help pay for its World Trade Center project. In response, a bill was introduced in Congress that would allow the Secretary of Transportation to regulate tolls on every bridge on the country’s Interstates and other federally aided highways. F
  • November 11, 2015
    CRASH Predicts ‘unpredictable’ in traffic incidents
    Road crashes are not as random as they may appear and analysing data can reveal patterns that can help various authorities target their resources more accurately. David Crawford reports. Figures from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show that in 2013 there were 32,719 people killed on American roads and 2.31 million injured. While these form part of an overall 25% drop over the decade from 2004, US Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx continues to stress that reaching the procl
  • August 31, 2021
    Microgrids & the new power generation
    Public transportation agencies are turning to microgrids to provide critical resilience in the event of local and regional power interruptions. Gordon Feller looks at projects in Maryland, New Jersey and Massachusetts