City of Austin

New system updates technology, improves road network performance

The Transportation Department’s central traffic signal control software will soon be replaced to help better manage traffic flow in Austin. Thursday, July 28, City Council approved a five year contract for the implementation of an Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) which will integrate state-of-the-art traffic technology to improve mobility and safety. This is the first step in a systematic upgrade for the aging traffic management system.

Additional software and hardware upgrades and enhancements will be needed to create a fully functional intelligent transportation management system.

The system when fully operational will provide integrated monitoring and management via a central operating system that integrates numerous traffic control devices including real-time traffic data from cameras, speed and count sensors, variable message signs, and emergency preemption devices. The system will allow the Traffic Management Center to respond more quickly to roadway congestion, whether through adjusting signal timing at key intersections and/or providing the traveling public with real time information to inform their travel decisions. The system will ultimately help to maximize road network potential to achieve:

• Increased transportation system efficiency
• Enhanced mobility
• Improved safety
• Reduce fuel consumption and environmental costs

With the ATMS, the City will also have the capability to move forward with a planned upgrade to the emergency vehicle preemption system, designed to assign right-of-way to emergency vehicles by displaying a green light in the direction of their travel. Newer GPS technology can more accurately track a vehicle’s travel path and preempt a signal more effectively and efficiently.

The City will also coordinate with Capital Metro’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system that will use the same technology for signal prioritization. All preemption devices would be integrated into the central operating system, allowing closer monitoring of the entire traffic system.

This project is funded through both the 2006 and 2010 bond programs, as well as a 2003 grant for $415,000 from the Federal Highway Administration. The project is anticipated to cost $1.95 million.