This month’s Signal Spotlight features a CMAQ-funded adaptive signal control project courtesy of Bob Dinallo from the Town of Windsor and Kwesi Brown, PE, PTOE from Milone & MacBroom. The project team followed the systems engineering process to ensure the project will effectively meet the Town’s needs for congestion mitigation and reduce overall vehicle emissions.

The Town of Windsor was awarded $1.32 million in federal funding, through the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvements Program, for the implementation of Adaptive Signal Control Technology (ASCT) at 11 traffic signals on a 3.5-mile section (State Route 75 to State Route 187) of Day Hill Road to address corridor congestion.  The town selected Milone & MacBroom, Inc. as the lead design consultant for the project.

Day Hill Road is an arterial roadway that carries about 20,000 vehicles daily, serving about 11 million square feet of commercial and industrial development including an Amazon distribution facility.

Unlike conventional traffic signals, adaptive traffic signals are able to make adjustments in real-time to adapt to changes in traffic conditions resulting in improved traffic progression, reduced congestion, enhanced fuel efficiency, and ultimately reduced vehicle emissions.

The project entails the design and installation of new adaptive signal controllers, video cameras for detection, fiber communications interconnection between the 11 traffic signals, and integration into a Traffic Operations Center at the town’s public works facility.

The project also involves the preparation of a Systems Engineering Analysis Form (SEAFORM) in line with federal requirements for CMAQ-funded projects, development of ASCT requirements and specifications, as well as implementation and systems integration oversight.

Efforts that have been completed to date include traffic data collection and analyses, preliminary design, utility coordination, and ASCT vendor informational sessions.  The project is currently in the final design phase with design completion anticipated for early 2020.

Additional traffic signal resources can be found on the T2 Center website: https://www.t2center.uconn.edu/signalcircuitriderNEW.php