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

  • October 7, 2013
    Cellular-based probe system delivers real time traffic data
    Toll and traffic management solutions provider IBI Group and Cellint Traffic Solutions, a provider of real-time road traffic information based on cellular data have successfully completed the data validation phase of the regional traffic data system (RTDS) project in Vancouver. The project aims to collect, disseminate and archive real time traffic flow information for the road network in Metro Vancouver and display real time traffic flow and travel time information on regional ATIS.
  • December 21, 2017
    Communications hold key to expanding ITS wireless network expansion
    Wireless transmission of data and control information is making smarter traffic management easier and cheaper to install. It has long been known that connectivity is the key to improving traffic management and many cost-benefit studies prove that investment in new technology can be justified in terms of reduced congestion, shorter travel times, improved safety and air quality. However, many authorities’ cap-ex budgets only cover urgent matters, not improvements, making it difficult, if not impossible to
  • November 20, 2013
    Bluetooth and Wi-Fi offer new options for travel time measurements
    New trials show Bluetooth and Wi-Fi signals can be reliably used for measuring travel times and at a lower cost than an ANPR system, but which is the better proposition depends on many factors. Measuring travel times has traditionally relied automatic number plate (or licence plate) recognition (ANPR/ALPR) cameras capturing the progress of vehicles travelling along a pre-defined route. Such systems also have the benefit of being able to count passing traffic and have become a vital tool in dealing with c
  • March 24, 2023
    How digital navigation is key to managing congestion
    Satnav – not costly civil engineering projects – might point us towards better management of congested road networks, argues David Metz of University College London