UTC

Aiming to fight worsening traffic congestion on San Diego’s roads, city officials have created a US$163 million master plan to install modern stoplight timing systems and other advanced technologies that combat gridlock, says the San Diego Union-Tribune. The master plan, the first of its kind in city history, comes as many neighbourhoods are bracing for more dense developments to absorb the region’s growing population. In addition, recent analysis by the San Diego Association of Governments shows that

Britain’s first junction designed to avoid cyclists being hit by left-turning traffic is unveiled today, the beginning of a new wave of such junctions on London’s busiest main roads. Cyclists and turning motor traffic will move in separate phases, with left-turning vehicles held back to allow cyclists to move without risk, and cyclists held when vehicles are turning left. There will also be a new ‘two-stage right turn’ to let cyclists make right turns in safety. For straight-ahead traffic, early-release

Community groups and not-for-profit organisations are encouraged to apply for cycling grants, to help them promote pedal power through initiatives such as cycle training, bike maintenance and guided rides. Cycling Grants London is a new programme funded by Transport for London (TfL) and managed by the environmental regeneration charity, Groundwork. It offers funding to community groups such as residents’ associations, charities and youth groups for projects that encourage people of all ages and backgroun

The US Department of Transportation ITS Joint Program Office has launched free ITS ePrimer, which aims to provide transportation professionals with fundamental concepts and practices related to ITS technologies. This online resource can help practicing professionals and students better understand how ITS is integrated into the planning, design, deployment, and operations of surface transportation systems. Modules include: introduction to ITS; systems engineering; transportation management systems; fr

A new research report produced by the GSMA, Building Digital Societies in Asia: Making Transportation Smarter, indicates that the successful implementation of intelligent transport systems (ITS) in Thailand’s capital could reduce travel times, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and road accidents, driving social and economic benefits of up to US$1 billion per year. In addition, the case study on Bangkok’s transportation indicated that ITS can also potentially result in long-term positive changes in commuter hab

The Inrix National Traffic Scorecard Annual Report 2014, which analyses and compares the status of traffic congestion in countries and major metropolitan areas worldwide, reveals that congestion levels rose in over half (53%) of European cities. As economies start to recover from the recession of 2007-2013 and employment levels begin to rise, congestion is increasing. Congestion in European cities decreased in the first and second quarters of 2014 when compared with the previous year, by four per cent pe

New crosswalk signs have been installed in installed several southwest Michigan cities as part of a joint research project by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and Western Michigan University (WMU). The project involves testing the crosswalk signs as potential low-cost safety measures to increase pedestrian safety and motorist awareness. The signs are designed to be permanently affixed to the road but can be removed for the winter when snow removal is necessary. The signs will be removed i

The City of Edmonton, Canada is piloting new traffic technology to help drivers get where they need to faster, easier and more safely, with the help of the University of Alberta's Centre for Smart Transportation. The city is testing an Advisory Driving Speed system on one of the city’s major freeway where the legal speed limit is 80 km/h and which experiences congestion issues during peak periods. Signage informs drivers of the recommended speed they should travel to avoid traffic jams and sudden stops,

A collaboration between Highways England (formerly Highways Agency) and the Rijkswaterstaat (RWS) to develop an integrated advanced traffic management system (ATMS) for the UK and Dutch highways is in the process of finalising the software platform requirements. The Common Highways Agency Rijkswaterstaat Model (CHARM) program aims to move towards an open, modular ATMS architecture that is integrated, flexible and scalable. Highways England and RWS have collaborated in order to develop requirements for a

Cycling offers health, air quality and road space/parking benefits, promoting governments and the EU to look at tax and technology initiatives. David Crawford reports. One way to improve urban air quality is to make green alternatives to car use financially attractive. Incentivising employees to switch their travel-to-work mode to using their own bikes could increase cycling’s modal share of commuting travel by 50%, a recent French research project suggests. The country’s government already subsidises pu