Wireless traffic management reduces costs and commute times

The County of Los Angeles is widely known for having among the worst traffic problems and the most road congestion in the US. To combat these problems, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works decided to deploy a wireless communications system to connect over 1,000 of the most congested intersections so they could dynamically monitor and manage the congestion and reduce commute times.
January 30, 2012 Read time: 4 mins
The County of Los Angeles is widely known for having among the worst traffic problems and the most road congestion in the US. To combat these problems, the 399 Los Angeles County Department of Public Works decided to deploy a wireless communications system to connect over 1,000 of the most congested intersections so they could dynamically monitor and manage the congestion and reduce commute times.

The need to provide communications to traffic signals throughout LA County resulted in the Department of Public Works appointing 412 Systems Integrated (SI) to design and implement a wireless network utilising 416 Proxim Wireless equipment. This deployment is a key element of LA County's expansive ITS programme, which is dedicated to using technology to reduce traffic congestion and smog.

Cost benefits

Wireless radio installation reduced both the set-up and operating costs for signal communication while also assisting the County's goal to reduce traffic problems for the travelling public.

The County of LA estimates that utilisation of Proxim's wireless technology to connect the 1,000 traffic intersections saved its ITS programme $7 million in costs over traditional copper or fibre-optic installations. Additionally, the County of LA estimates that the use of Proxim's radios will save it $708,000 annually as against the cost of leased telephone lines.

The County's Traffic Management Center (TMC), located in Alhambra, is a high-tech facility which combines multiple technologies and software systems. The primary purpose of Proxim's broadband wireless communication system is to provide communications for the County's 422 Kimley-Horn Integrated Traffic Systems (KITS) software.

Combined, these systems have enabled County and City staff to monitor traffic signals, react in real time to traffic problems and if necessary, adjust traffic signal timing from the TMC to relieve congestion for commuters through more than 30 cities in LA County. To date, LA County has seen a 20 per cent reduction in commute times in the covered areas, as well as an estimated 15 per cent reduction in pollution due to reduced idle times for vehicles at red lights.

The Department of Public Works rewarded SI with the Phase 2 implementation of this wireless communication system project in September 2007, with a contract valued at $6.9 million. To date, the project has equipped over 500 intersections with Proxim's Tsunami MP.11 point-to-multipoint radios and will provide communications to approximately 500 more intersections.

PROJECT:
• Los Angeles County wireless traffic monitoring and management system

COST:
• US$6.9 million
• ROI: Immediate $7 million savings in capital expenditure, plus monthly savings of $708,000 in leased line costs

BENEFITS:
• Significant up-front cost reduction by using wireless connections over wired alternatives (fibre or copper)
• Substantial reduction in the time of deployment
• Ease of remote management and synchronisation for all interconnected intersections
• 20 per cent reduction in commute times throughout the covered areas
• Major environmental impact with an estimated 15 per cent decrease in pollution by reducing idle times at red lightsOverall, more than 1,200 point-to-multipoint radios will be deployed for 1,000 traffic signalised intersections across the County. Approximately 30 of the signalised intersections will be equipped with one or more video cameras to enable remote monitoring of traffic flow.

The cameras will also supply needed data from the intersection to enable remote adjustment of traffic signal timing if appropriate for flow optimisation.

"The ability to deploy a wireless communications network for monitoring the operation of 1,000 traffic signals is a huge enabler of productivity for LA County, and will go a long way towards the County's goal to reduce congestion and enable real-time traffic signal monitoring," says John Holbrook, General Manager of SI.

"We've found that Proxim's broadband wireless technology not only provides the best performance for delivering bandwidth intensive applications like video, but it is also the most cost-effective solution on the market.

As a result, we have used Proxim's equipment exclusively throughout this deployment."

Detection, Monitoring & Machine Vision Networking & Communication Systems Urban Traffic Control

Related Content

  • Maturing photo enforcement gains legal status, public support
    August 2, 2012
    In the US, affirmation of the photo traffic enforcement sector's legal status and rising public support were significant aspects of 2009. James Tuton, President and CEO of American Traffic Solutions, looks back over the year. In 2009, the photo traffic enforcement industry in North America continued to grow and mature, accompanied by increased public, legislative and legal scrutiny. While public support remains strong, we also saw increased attempts to undermine the industry by representatives of a small bu
    Read More
  • Opticom gives priority to Memphis Transit’s buses
    October 29, 2014
    A new traffic signal priority system is helping bus passengers in Memphis reach their destinations on time.
    Read More
  • Electronic vehicle registration ensures payment
    February 2, 2012
    Like most countries, Bermuda recognised that it was losing revenue through non-compliance with vehicle registration regulations and was equally concerned about vehicles that were not properly insured or put through annual inspections. Indeed, the tiny island state, with a population of around 65,000 people and some 30,000 vehicles, estimated it was losing more than US$1.4 million per year in tax-based revenue since approximately 8 per cent of vehicle owners were cheating the system.
    Read More
  • Mounting benefits of dynamic tolling project
    January 30, 2012
    Wisconsin's four-year HOT lanes pilot project, launched in May 2008, cost US$18.8 million to construct. Halfway into the project, which uses variably priced, or dynamic, tolling to improve highway efficiency, the benefits are mounting. The problem was obvious, and frustrating, to anyone who ever sat in bumper-to-bumper traffic on State Route 167 and watched a lone car whiz by every 20 seconds or so in the carpool lane. But for planners at the Washington State Department of Transportation, the conundrum was
    Read More

Highlighted Content