An Overview of the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Program

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "An Overview of the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Program"

Gervais Bruce
6 years ago
Views:

1 An Overview of the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Program Western District Annual Meeting July 21, 2015 Las Vegas, Nevada

2 Signal Sync in the O.C. it works

3 Introduction OCTA has completed a county-wide traffic signal synchronization master plan as part of a countywide signal synchronization program. The program is known as Project P of the Measure M2 Ordinance Corridor-based with over ninety (90) corridors identified Crossing thirty four local jurisdictions, the County and Caltrans Also known as the Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Program or RTSSP Network has over 2,000 signals and is a component of the Master Plan of Arterial Highways (MPAH) The program provides optimized signal timing and required infrastructure modifications to provide drivers with better travel experience through reduced travel times, stops, and delays. Typically, the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) has found that signal timing efforts result in 5% to 15% travel time and speed improvements.

4 Background Funding is provided through Measure M s ½ cent sales tax, and other resources for a total commitment of $593,100,000 (year of expenditure) over the 30 year program. This amount has been reduced due to the recent reduction in expected revenue. OCTA has completed implementation of forty (40) multiagency signal synchronization projects throughout Orange County over the last seven (7) years. OCTA is currently in the process of implementing forty five (45) multi-agency signal synchronization projects throughout Orange County.

Vision of the Program and Plan In the year 2011 and beyond, Orange County s major arterials are synchronized as an actively-managed element of the broader transportation

Travelers experience reliable speeds, more green lights than red, and fewer stops per mile regardless of north-south or east-west configuration.

5 Vision of the Program and Plan In the year 2011 and beyond, Orange County s major arterials are synchronized as an actively-managed element of the broader transportation system providing enhanced mobility to the County s travelers. Travelers experience reliable speeds, more green lights than red, and fewer stops per mile regardless of north-south or east-west configuration. Travelers have the impression that the streets are well coordinated through these regular experiences. The mobility on key arterials is balanced with minimum cross-street delays, giving travelers the impression that the overall system is optimized and that the Q u a l i t y o f t h e i r D r i v e i s I m p r o v e d.

6 Typical Project Objectives Successful multi-jurisdictional traffic signal synchronization projects: Reduce stops and delays Reduce travel times Reduce fuel consumption Increase average safe speeds Improve air quality & reduce green house gases Overall Improve travel experience on surface streets Overall Improve Economy by saving $$$

7 H o w W e D i d I t!!!

Synchronization Program (TLSP) Year 1 3 Projects Finished Construction and Optimized

8 Key Signal Sync Projects Orange County Traffic Signal Coordination Program (Feb. 2006) Demonstration Corridors: ( ) Proposition 1B/Measure M SIP Traffic Light Synchronization Program (TLSP) Year 1 3 Projects Finished Construction and Optimized 2012 Final Closeout and Audit December 2014 Renewed Measure M Funding Program Traffic Signal Master Plan

9 Demonstration Projects Oso Parkway / Pacific Park Drive South County 7 agencies Curvilinear Horizontal and Vertical Euclid Street North County 6 agencies Grid

10 Signal System Monitoring Test drives Fine-tune signal timing Follow-up citizen comments Perform Diagnostics and Verify Traffic signal controllers Communication systems Vehicle Detection systems Video Surveillance Systems

11 Second Step Traffic Light Synchronization Program 10 corridors, 533 signalized intersections, 158 miles Funded by Measure M Signal Improvement Program (SIP) and Proposition 1B Traffic Light Synchronization Program (TLSP) 50/50 Funding Match $8 million over three years Program Follows Demonstration Projects Model MOU PROCESS No Exchange of Funds

12 Traffic Light Synchronization Program TLSP = Prop 1B + M1 2009/14 (50% - 50%) Alicia Parkway June, 2009 (originally 2/2009) Chapman Avenue June, 2009 (originally 4/2009) Beach Boulevard June, 2009 Delayed Start due to CA Economy and Bond Availability Final Closeout with 100% Perfect Audit to Caltrans December

13 Chapman Synchronization Results Results Presented to the OCTA Board in 2010 Project Cost: $800,000 Estimated 3 year Greenhouse Gas (GHG) savings: 13.2 million lbs Average Speed Improvement: 18% Stops per Mile improvement: 46% Travel time improvement: 16% Estimated 3 year gas savings: $2.7 Million

Summary of Completed Projects Corridor speeds increased by an average of 29% Corridor travel times decreased by an average of 22% Corridor Greens per Red increased by an average of 41% Results are

14 Summary of Completed Projects Corridor speeds increased by an average of 29% Corridor travel times decreased by an average of 22% Corridor Greens per Red increased by an average of 41% Results are sustained for three years (projected life) Project costs approximately $7.2 million Gas savings over project life are estimated at over $32 $3.50/Gallon Based upon ITE standards, the results of OCTA s multi-agency efforts are superior.

15 RENEWED MEASURE M (M2) 70% Vote to Renew the Transportation ½ Sales Tax

16 Renewed Measure M Plan Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Program RTSSP or Project P 2,000 2,200 signalized intersections on arterial corridors Major Component of the MPAH Estimated $12 15 Million per year for interjurisdictional projects FUNDING OCTA 80% Local Agency 20% Cash or In-Kind Services 16

Operation Priority Corridors Interjurisdictional Preferred Limited by Program Revenues Local

17 Third Step Project P Signal Infrastructure Improvements Project Merit (Competitive Call-for-Projects ) Wide Variety of Improvements Eligible Projects Should Improve System Operation Priority Corridors Interjurisdictional Preferred Limited by Program Revenues Local Agency 20% Match Design and Construction Management Considered In Kind Services Cash Match for TMC/TOC, Adaptive, & Demos 17

18 Current Calls for Projects Project P Calls for Projects Call 1 Call 2 Call 3 Call 4 Call 5 Number of Corridors Number of Signals M2 Funded $7,760, $9,696, $14,976, $8,399, $16,291,007.00

19 Project P Funding and Phasing Elements Program Management Signal System Infrastructure Improvements Triennial Retiming Monitoring and Maintenance 19

20 Project P - Priority Network

21 Continuing Activities Activities Required for Duration of Measure M Funding Program Program Management Performance Monitoring System Maintenance - AWIP Workforce Development and Training - AWIP Triennial Retiming Program 21

22 Monitoring Corridors will be benchmarked for performance upon Implementation - CSPI OCTA will monitor on a monthly or as needed basis Corridor and Sector timing for compliance OCTA will monitor the system for speed and delay annually Congestion Management Program (CMP -- CSPI) OCTA will report on system performance annually OCTA and partners will research performance issues for remedy 22

23 Workforce Development and Training OCTA to develop and sponsor seminars and training courses that benefit the system Local and National Expert Trainers Traffic Signal Operation Telecommunication Systems Operations and Maintenance Subjects Technology Advances and Future Functionality Affiliation with Certification Boards AWIP 23

New Performance Measure WHY? In the next few slides, the Blue TEXT indicates a Transportation Professional delivering a report to an elected body or public forum. I will be that person.

24 New Performance Measure WHY? In the next few slides, the Blue TEXT indicates a Transportation Professional delivering a report to an elected body or public forum. I will be that person. The Green TEXT represents the response from that body or forum. All of you are those people!!! YES, YOU!!! Whenever the Green TEXT appears on the screen, I want all of you to say it out loud in unison. OK!?!

25 New Performance Measure WHY? Report on Reductions in Emissions? GHG, CO, NO X, VOC? That s nice Report on Reduction in Overall delay? Stops/Vehicle, Number of Stops, Overall Delay Hours That s nice Intersection Capacity Utilization? ICU LOS A H Capacity Reserve/Deficit Based That s nice Highway Capacity Manual Method? HCM LOS A H Delay Based That s nice

26 New Performance Measure WHY? What does all this mean to us???? Do the Elected Officials and Public Get it??? NO!

27 New Performance Measure WHY? What do people understand? I m Going Faster today = Average Speed Increase/Reduced Travel Time WOW, I m Getting Through Every Bleepin LIGHT on a GREEN = Improved or Increase in Greens to Reds Ratio I m Not Getting Stopped There s No Congestion for a Change = Reduced Stops per Mile

28 New Performance Measure WHY? See the Dilemma? What can we do to PRESENT in a way they will understand? We have to show that Travel Time, Fuel Consumption, and Emissions are Reduced, and How it Equates to $$$$$$ Saved Will Elected Officials and the Public Understand (GET THAT)???

29 New Performance Measure WHY? YES!!!

30 Corridor Synchronization Performance Index (CSPI) Above 5.0 = 42 Max. 30

31 Measure of Effectiveness Average Speed Best: 34 MPH Worst: 15 MPH Greens per Red PC-Travel Report Best: 5.0 (if >5 max score = 42) Worst: 1.0 Number of Stops/Mile Best: 0.7 Worst:

32 Delay Study Performance Measure Rate your own Street 2.5 miles along arterial You stop at 3 red lights, and make 5 green lights It takes 6 minutes 25 mph 23 pts 1.66 green per red 13 pts 1.2 Stops / Mile 26 pts 62 pts 32

33 Delay Study Performance Measure After Retiming your Street 2.5 miles along arterial You stop at 2 red lights, and make 6 green lights It takes 5 minutes 30 mph 30 pts 3.0 green per red 24 pts 0.8 Stops / Mile 32 pts 86 pts 33

34 Corridor Synchronization Perfomance Index Performance Index and Level Descriptions CSPI Score Signal Synchronization Description Level >=80 Very good progression traveling through signalized intersections with minimal stops and favorable travel speeds. Tier Good progression traveling through signalized intersections with few stops and good travel speeds. Tier Fair progression traveling through signalized intersections with moderate stops and fair travel speeds. Tier Limited progression* traveling through signalized intersections with moderately high stops and slower travel speeds. Tier 4 < 50 Very limited progression* traveling through signalized intersections with frequent stops and slow travel speeds. Tier 5

35 Champion Your Program Uttilize Video Results Westminster Avenue/17 th Street Before and After Study Video Results

36 Example of Results: Before/After Video

37 Example of Results: Before/After Video

38 Champion Your Program Utilize Commercials Sarah Swensson from OCTA External Affairs

39 Use Your External Outreach Resources

40 LESSONS LEARNED Determine possible issues with participant and non participant agencies early on Mitigate Costs and/or Material to reduce loss of funds needed for other portions of projects In Kind Services cash for capital improvements Keep Electeds and Upper Managers in the loop Determine Champion(s) for your cause Determine ways and means to communicate needs to the electeds and public

41 LESSONS LEARNED Make sure that you provide timing in sectors of streets Not corridor based but grid/networked based This occurred almost insurmountable Integrating with existing crossing arterial timings is a challenge, but is critical for project success Affected agencies need to be convinced of the benefits of having a common cycle length and TOD plans when crossing jurisdictional boundaries Does not mean that the entire corridor should operate with one cycle length and TOD plan

42 LESSONS LEARNED Make sure that you ensure adequate funding caps to build what you need. $20,000 per intersection or $100K/mile not enough $60,000 per intersection or $200K/mile seems sufficient Make sure that you have adequate capital/contingency measures It s very hard to come up with more funding 15% may be enough not 10% as economy improves and prices increase.

43 LESSONS LEARNED Co-operation of all parties - City, County and Caltrans Vendors, Contractors, and Consultants is critical for project success Allocate contingency funds for unforeseen field conditions Recognize that policies do change during the course of the project adapt to changing conditions

44 LESSONS LEARNED Drivers have become more aware of these projects They are paying attention to the results They will call their representatives Good or Bad Signal timing is secondary to infrastructure Upgrades A Great System = Great Coordination Signal synchronization will benefit the public only if it is well maintained. OCTA Regional TSS projects have two-year O&M requirements. Cooperative Agreement states cannot turn off Coordination Turning it off results in severe penalties of Possible Return of Allocated Funds or Declination of Future Project P Funding

45 LESSONS LEARNED Q and A Coming Up! If YOU have any additional LESSONS LEARNED from your personal experiences Please state them at that time

46 THANK YOU! RON KEITH ORANGE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY PROJECT MANAGER III AUTHORITY PROJECT MANAGER RTSSP 46

47 Institute of Transportation Engineers Western District Annual Meeting July 21, 2015 Las Vegas, Nevada OCTA Signal Synchronization Program Q & A 47

405 Express Lanes General Information & Frequently Asked Questions

405 Express Lanes General Information & Frequently Asked Questions The questions and answers below provide current information on the project to improve Interstate 405 (I-405) in Orange County from State Route 73 to Interstate 605. Why are improvements needed on I-405?