Lights On: How Traffic Signal Priority Technology Contributes to Increased Urban Mobility and Improved Property Values

How Traffic Signal Priority Technology Contributes to Increased Urban Mobility How Traffic Signal Priority Technology and Improved Property Values Contributes to Increased Urban Mobility By Dustin Harber and Improved Property Values

By Dustin Harber

A recent study from Ohio State University has revealed that bus rapid-transit lines (BRT) can actually help increase the property values of multifamily locations in cities. The study was initially located in A recent study from Ohio State University has reOhio, and Cleveland was one city to show this type vealed that bus rapid-transit lines (BRT) can actually of property value improvement. help increase the property values of multifamily locations in cities. The study was initially located in The study showed that overall residential property Ohio, and Cleveland was one city to show this type values in Cleveland grew by nearly 15% in areas in of property value improvement. close proximity to the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority’s seven-mile HealthLine, which The study showed that overall residential property runs along Euclid Avenue from downtown Cleveland values in Cleveland grew by nearly 15% in areas in through University Circle to East Cleveland. The rate close proximity to the Greater Cleveland Regional of value improvement was approximately 41.5% when Transit Authority’s seven-mile HealthLine, which isolated to the value of multifamily residences. runs along Euclid Avenue from downtown Cleveland through University Circle to East Cleveland. The rate Many urban locations are making significant investof value improvement was approximately 41.5% when ments into transportation and transit systems. These isolated to the value of multifamily residences. implementations are significant because they can link residents with critical infrastructure, such as schools Many urban locations are making significant investand universities, hospitals and health networks, emments into transportation and transit systems. These ployment, retail and recreational activities. implementations are significant because they can link residents with critical infrastructure, such as schools In addition to Cleveland, the study reviewed BRT and universities, hospitals and health networks, emsystems in other regions, including Boston, Massaployment, retail and recreational activities. chusetts; Chicago, Illinois; Eugene, Oregon; Everett, Washington; Kansas City, Missouri; Los Angeles, In addition to Cleveland, the study reviewed BRT California; Miami, Florida; Oakland, California; systems in other regions, including Boston, Massa Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Seattle, Washington. chusetts; Chicago, Illinois; Eugene, Oregon; Everett, Washington; Kansas City, Missouri; Los Angeles, How Transit Signal Priority Assists BRT California; Miami, Florida; Oakland, California; Bus rapid transit is somewhat different from tradiPittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Seattle, Washington. tional bus lines because it offers dedicated service lanes, added frequency of routes, traffic signal priority How Transit Signal Priority Assists BRT and elevated platforms and stations that travelers can Bus rapid transit is somewhat different from tradi easily access. tional bus lines because it offers dedicated service lanes, added frequency of routes, traffic signal priority The transit signal priority system plays a significant and elevated platforms and stations that travelers can role in providing the enhanced benefits of BRT. easily access. Many urban and municipal leaders today have been inquiring about this technology, what it is and how The transit signal priority system plays a significant it works. This interest is now driven by the fact that role in providing the enhanced benefits of BRT. BRT lanes currently utilize either radio or GPSMany urban and municipal leaders today have been based Transit Signal Priority (TSP). However, AI/ inquiring about this technology, what it is and how cloud-based TSP is now leading the way in helping it works. This interest is now driven by the fact that cities improve their mass transit systems to alleviate BRT lanes currently utilize either radio or GPSgridlock and traffic congestion, improve on-time based Transit Signal Priority (TSP). However, AI/ performance of mass transit networks, assist in the cloud-based TSP is now leading the way in helping arrival of emergency vehicles and increase rider levels cities improve their mass transit systems to alleviate that have socioeconomic and environmental benefits. gridlock and traffic congestion, improve on-time performance of mass transit networks, assist in the How Transit Signal Priority Works arrival of emergency vehicles and increase rider levels Smart traffic light systems and the cloud technology that have socioeconomic and environmental benefits. platforms they operate on are now designed to manage and predict traffic more efficiently, which can save a lot of money and create more efficiencies not only for the cities themselves but also for drivers. Modern AI and machine learning technology can process highly complex data and traffic trends and suggest optimum routing for drivers in real time based on specific traffic conditions. Conventional transit signal priority systems available today typically consist of two parts: a unit in the traffic cabinet and another unit placed on the vehicle. The transit priority logic is the same, regardless of the detection and communication medium. When a vehicle is within predetermined boundaries, the system places a request to the signal controller for prioritization. Since the original systems used fixed detection points, signal controllers were configured with static estimated travel times. Since travel times are dependent on several environmental factors, the industry implemented GPS-based, wireless communication systems. With this method, vehicles found within detection zones replace the static detection points and the vehicle’s speed is used to determine arrival time. As a result of drastically improved processing power, transit system technologies can now take advantage of the huge gains made in the areas of AI and machine learning that were previously reserved for widely known tasks such as image recognition, and apply them to longstanding traffic problems to generate insight on the mix of density, traffic and overall rate of flow in a region. These optimized algorithms can analyze large volumes of data to learn not only local traffic patterns but also cross-region traffic flows, neabling the redistribution of traffic flow more optimally for all road users at all times of day. AI-powered transit signal priority systems leverage the power of the cloud to track and learn the patterns of transit vehicles to inform intersections of the arrival of these vehicles, giving them frictionless travel along routes while minimizing disruption to general traffic. Municipal transit systems can access these new insights from these systems to make better decisions that serve riders, their operations and their communities. These smart traffic platforms allow cities to build upon current investments in infrastructure to deploy city-wide TSP, avoiding the need to add the bulky and expensive field equipment of conventional signal priority systems. To enable safe and secure connections with traffic signals, each city requires just one device for use that is a computer that resides at the “edge” and serves as the protective link between city traffic signals and the platform. It is designed to

age and predict traffic more efficiently, which can save a lot of money and create more efficiencies not only for the cities themselves but also for drivers. Modern AI and machine learning technology can process highly complex data and traffic trends and suggest securely manage the information exchange between optimum routing for drivers in real time based on traffic lights and the cloud platform. It is the only specific traffic conditions. additional hardware necessary and, depending on the existing city network configuration, the platform may Conventional transit signal priority systems availareceive vehicular data directly or via the city’s network ble today typically consist of two parts: a unit in the using secure connections. Communities benefit from traffic cabinet and another unit placed on the vehicle. having smarter infrastructure that adapts to real-time The transit priority logic is the same, regardless of the traffic conditions instead of being stuck with staticaldetection and communication medium. When a vely programmed infrastructure that quickly becomes hicle is within predetermined boundaries, the system ill-suited to the dynamic nature of traffic.places a request to the signal controller for prioritization. Since the original systems used fixed detection Helping Our Neighborhoodspoints, signal controllers were configured with static The number of American cities currently facing a estimated travel times. Since travel times are dependhousing crisis increases by the day, generating moveent on several environmental factors, the industry ments to demand the densification of single-famimplemented GPS-based, wireless communication ily zoned neighborhoods and the shift away from systems. With this method, vehicles found within decar-centric development patterns. Many densification tection zones replace the static detection points and efforts call for enhanced transit service to encourthe vehicle’s speed is used to determine arrival time. age residents to ditch cars in favor of transportation options that support denser development. Modern As a result of drastically improved processing power, transit signal priority systems can serve as a tool to transit system technologies can now take advantage rapidly expand and enhance transit service without of the huge gains made in the areas of AI and macostly transportation infrastructure improvements chine learning that were previously reserved for widethat might hinder densification efforts. ly known tasks such as image recognition, and apply them to longstanding traffic problems to generate Now that transit signal priority systems can run insight on the mix of density, traffic and overall rate primarily in the cloud, we’re entering an era where of flow in a region. These optimized algorithms can transit agencies and partner traffic agencies can have analyze large volumes of data to learn not only local their cake and eat it too; communities that want to traffic patterns but also cross-region traffic flows, neamake transit more reliable and accessible to their ridbling the redistribution of traffic flow more optimally ers no longer need disrupt their neighbors by tearing for all road users at all times of day. AI-powered up their roads or sink precious community dollars transit signal priority systems leverage the power of into expensive signal or transit equipment. Transit the cloud to track and learn the patterns of transit agencies can leverage data from cloud-based transit vehicles to inform intersections of the arrival of these signal priority systems to show communities where vehicles, giving them frictionless travel along routes infrastructure improvements make sense. Perhaps while minimizing disruption to general traffic. Mumost importantly, advanced transit signal priority nicipal transit systems can access these new insights systems can empower transit agencies to demonstrate from these systems to make better decisions that meaningful progress toward climate emissions goals serve riders, their operations and their communities. by minimizing transit vehicle braking and idling time at red lights and utilizing transit vehicles more effecThese smart traffic platforms allow cities to build tively in operations planning. upon current investments in infrastructure to deploy city-wide TSP, avoiding the need to add the bulky With these advanced transit signal priority technoloand expensive field equipment of conventional signal gies in place, urban regions and community hubs can priority systems. To enable safe and secure connecenjoy a renaissance of mobility options, connecting tions with traffic signals, each city requires just one residents with desired transit locations in a more effidevice for use that is a computer that resides at the cient and environmentally friendly way. What’s more, “edge” and serves as the protective link between city the improved way of life will help these communitraffic signals and the platform. It is designed to ties flourish in ways that translate into prosperity for everyone.

securely manage the information exchange between traffic lights and the cloud platform. It is the only additional hardware necessary and, depending on the existing city network configuration, the platform may receive vehicular data directly or via the city’s network using secure connections. Communities benefit from having smarter infrastructure that adapts to real-time traffic conditions instead of being stuck with statically programmed infrastructure that quickly becomes ill-suited to the dynamic nature of traffic.

Helping Our Neighborhoods

The number of American cities currently facing a housing crisis increases by the day, generating movements to demand the densification of single-family zoned neighborhoods and the shift away from car-centric development patterns. Many densification efforts call for enhanced transit service to encourage residents to ditch cars in favor of transportation options that support denser development. Modern transit signal priority systems can serve as a tool to rapidly expand and enhance transit service without costly transportation infrastructure improvements that might hinder densification efforts. Now that transit signal priority systems can run primarily in the cloud, we’re entering an era where transit agencies and partner traffic agencies can have their cake and eat it too; communities that want to make transit more reliable and accessible to their riders no longer need disrupt their neighbors by tearing up their roads or sink precious community dollars into expensive signal or transit equipment. Transit agencies can leverage data from cloud-based transit signal priority systems to show communities where infrastructure improvements make sense. Perhaps most importantly, advanced transit signal priority systems can empower transit agencies to demonstrate meaningful progress toward climate emissions goals by minimizing transit vehicle braking and idling time at red lights and utilizing transit vehicles more effectively in operations planning. With these advanced transit signal priority technologies in place, urban regions and community hubs can enjoy a renaissance of mobility options, connecting residents with desired transit locations in a more efficient and environmentally friendly way. What’s more, the improved way of life will help these communities flourish in ways that translate into prosperity for everyone.

TECHNOLOGY

Dustin Harber is the chief technology officer of Lyt, a provider of cloud-based smart traffic solutions.