Capital Programs Division - Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2014-15

COMMITTEE TRANSMITTAL
February 9, 2015
To:
Members of the Board of Directors
From:
Laurena Weinert, Clerk of the Board
Subject:
Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Program Overview
Regional Planning and Highways Committee Meeting of February 2, 2015
Present:
Absent:
Directors Bartlett, Donchak, Lalloway, Miller, Nelson, Spitzer,
and Ury
None
Committee Vote
This item was passed by the Members present.
Committee Recommendation
Receive and file as an information item.
Orange County Transportation Authority
550 South Main Street / P.O. Box 14184 / Orange / California 92863-1584 / (714) 560-OCTA (6282)
ORANGE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY
Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Program Overview
Staff Report
February 2, 2014
To:
Regional Planning and Highways Committee
From:
Darrell Johnson, Chief Executive Officer
Subject:
Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Program Overview
Overview
The Orange County Transportation Authority works with local agencies and the
California Department of Transportation on the implementation of multi-agency
traffic signal synchronization projects. This report provides an update of the
Regional Traffic Synchronization Program including results from ten recently
completed signal synchronization projects.
Recommendation
Receive and file as an information item.
Background
Signal synchronization is a cost-effective way to increase roadway throughput
without major new construction. The goal of such projects is to optimize traffic
signal timings to reduce travel times and delays along corridors. The
Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) has used a variety of sources in
the past to fund signal synchronization projects on a regional basis, including
Measure M1, Proposition 1B, and statewide air quality funds.
Currently, OCTA provides funding and assistance to implement multi-agency
signal synchronization as part of the Measure M2 (M2) Regional Traffic Signal
Synchronization Program (RTSSP). OCTA provides for competitive capital grants
and operations funding for the coordination of traffic signals across jurisdictional
boundaries. The goal of the RTSSP is to improve the flow of traffic by developing
and implementing regional coordination that crosses local agencies’ boundaries
and maintains coordination through freeway interchanges where possible.
Orange County Transportation Authority
550 South Main Street / P.O. Box 14184 / Orange / California 92863-1584 / (714) 560-OCTA (6282)
Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Program Overview
Page 2
Funding is provided through a three-year competitive grant for signal
synchronization timing and associated improvements to infrastructure along
corridors. An annual call for projects to all 34 cities and the County of Orange
provides the platform for the competitive grant process. Projects submitted by
local agencies, as part of the competition, must meet specific criteria. Projects are
rated based on scoring criteria and are selected based on competitive ratings.
Projects include a local agency contribution and an allocation for ongoing
maintenance and monitoring to keep investments in optimal condition over the
entire grant period. Once a project’s three-year grant cycle is complete, local
agencies are encouraged to reapply for signal program grants along the same
corridor to maintain signal synchronization timing and to build on previous
investments. Projects are implemented with a single local agency lead, with other
jurisdictions actively participating. There is an option for OCTA to lead an effort if
the local agencies request, but the default is for local agencies to lead the efforts.
Key to these efforts is a regular dialogue between all participating agencies,
including the California Department of Transportation. The result is that the local
agencies work together to achieve the multi-jurisdictional nature of the projects.
Projects are corridor-based, and optimized signal timings are developed based on
existing traffic patterns. A coordination strategy is developed that combines
interconnected time-based synchronization of the respective agencies’ systems,
including the necessary modifications in the infrastructure in preparation for future
uses and upgrades. Existing synchronization on crossing arterials is incorporated
when applicable.
Optimized timings are developed and implemented for the peak periods, typically
morning, midday, and evening. Finally, in order to keep the public informed of
signal synchronization benefits, “before and after” studies are conducted to
evaluate the improvements from the newly optimized arterial.
Discussion
Signal Synchronization Projects
In 2014, ten signal synchronization projects were completed: Culver Drive,
Fairview Road/Street, Jamboree Road, Jeffrey Road, Lincoln Avenue,
MacArthur Boulevard/Talbert Avenue, Magnolia Street, Oso Parkway/
Pacific Park Drive, Valley View Street, and Warner Avenue. A brief description
of each project is presented in Attachment A. The before and after studies
showed improvements across all measures. Travel times for these ten recently
completed projects are reduced between seven and 28 percent. Average speed
improved between six percent and 24 percent. The projects result in a reduction
in the average number of stops between 13 percent and 37 percent.
Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Program Overview
Page 3
The added benefits include approximately $19.5 million savings in fuel costs
(at $3.90 per gallon of fuel), and approximately 114 million pounds of reduction of
greenhouse gases (GHG) over the three-year project cycle. Note that the cost of
gasoline used for this analysis reflects the average price paid for gasoline over
2014 as compiled by the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Information
Administration.
With signal synchronization along the ten RTSSP corridors completed in 2014,
OCTA and local agencies have now implemented 28 signal synchronization
projects since 2008. A total of 1,413 signalized intersections over 363 miles of
arterial highways have been synchronized. The total cost of these projects was
over $19 million. The completed projects are identified on the map included as
part of Attachment B. The summary of the results for the 28 completed signal
synchronization projects are identified on the table included as part of Attachment C.
For all 28 projects, the results show a reduction of travel times between seven
percent and 28 percent, for an average of 14 percent across all projects. Speeds
on the corridors improved between six percent and 29 percent, for an average
improvement of 16 percent. Stops on the corridors due to reduced red lights
improved between 13 percent and 50 percent, for an average improvement of
32 percent. The projects are also expected to reduce GHG by over 486 million
pounds and fuel consumption by over 23 million gallons over a three-year period.
The reduction of GHG is made possible by reducing the number of stops,
smoothing the flow of traffic, and reducing the amount of acceleration and
deceleration of vehicles. At $3.90 per gallon of fuel, consumers could save
approximately $92 million in fuel costs over that three-year period.
Currently, OCTA is funding an additional 50 signal synchronization projects that
are in various stages of implementation. The committed funding from OCTA is
primarily from the competitive signal program, and the total cost of these projects
is $41 million. Once completed, these funded projects will synchronize an
additional 315 miles and 1,196 signals. It is anticipated that the signal program
target of synchronizing at least 2,000 signalized intersections, as expressed in the
M2 voter guide, is more than halfway complete and will be met by 2016.
The signal program allows for completed projects to compete again for funding
during the annual call for projects process. Previous investments made as part of
earlier projects are incorporated into the revisited project, while new investments
can be made in other locations. An example of this are the Pacific Park/
Oso Parkway signals which were synchronized in 2009 and updated in 2014. The
result is a program that will regularly coordinate 2,000 intersections as the basis
for synchronized operation across Orange County.
Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Program Overview
Page 4
Next Steps
OCTA continually works with local agencies through various venues including the
Technical Steering Committee and Technical Advisory Committee to identify
corridors that are eligible for funding and would benefit from signal program
funding as part of the annual call for projects. Currently, the 2015 call for projects,
providing another $15 million towards providing signal synchronization benefits to
Orange County streets, is open, with award recommendation expected to be
presented to the Board of Directors in spring 2015.
Summary
OCTA and local agencies have successfully implemented new cooperative traffic
signal synchronization timing along 28 corridors. Another 50 projects are planned
or underway. Historically, individual agency signal timing efforts result in travel
time and speed improvements between five percent and 15 percent.
Comparisons of the corridor before and after studies indicate much better results
due to the combination of the optimized traffic signal timing plans, cooperation
between all participating agencies, and signal upgrades to maximize arterial
capacity.
Attachments
A.
B.
C.
Overview of Recently Completed Signal Synchronization Projects - 2014
OCTA - Funded Signal Synchronization Projects (2008 - present)
Summary of Results for Completed Regional Traffic Signal
Synchronization Projects
Prepared by:
Approved by:
Ron Keith
Project Manager III
Regional Modeling, Traffic Operations
(714) 560-5990
Kia Mortazavi
Executive Director, Planning
(714) 560-5741
Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Program Overview
Page 3
The added benefits include approximately $19.5 million savings in fuel costs
(at $3.90 per gallon of fuel), and approximately 114 million pounds of reduction of
greenhouse gases (GHG) over the three-year project cycle. Note that the cost of
gasoline used for this analysis reflects the average price paid for gasoline over
2014 as compiled by the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Information
Administration.
With signal synchronization along the ten RTSSP corridors completed in 2014,
OCTA and local agencies have now implemented 28 signal synchronization
projects since 2008. A total of 1,413 signalized intersections over 363 miles of
arterial highways have been synchronized. The total cost of these projects was
over $19 million. The completed projects are identified on the map included as
part of Attachment B. The summary of the results for the 28 completed signal
synchronization projects are identified on the table included as part of Attachment C.
For all 28 projects, the results show a reduction of travel times between seven
percent and 28 percent, for an average of 14 percent across all projects. Speeds
on the corridors improved between six percent and 29 percent, for an average
improvement of 16 percent. Stops on the corridors due to reduced red lights
improved between 13 percent and 50 percent, for an average improvement of
32 percent. The projects are also expected to reduce GHG by over 486 million
pounds and fuel consumption by over 23 million gallons over a three-year period.
The reduction of GHG is made possible by reducing the number of stops,
smoothing the flow of traffic, and reducing the amount of acceleration and
deceleration of vehicles. At $3.90 per gallon of fuel, consumers could save
approximately $92 million in fuel costs over that three-year period.
Currently, OCTA is funding an additional 50 signal synchronization projects that
are in various stages of implementation. The committed funding from OCTA is
primarily from the competitive signal program, and the total cost of these projects
is $41 million. Once completed, these funded projects will synchronize an
additional 315 miles and 1,196 signals. It is anticipated that the signal program
target of synchronizing at least 2,000 signalized intersections, as expressed in the
M2 voter guide, is more than halfway complete and will be met by 2016.
The signal program allows for completed projects to compete again for funding
during the annual call for projects process. Previous investments made as part of
earlier projects are incorporated into the revisited project, while new investments
can be made in other locations. An example of this are the Pacific Park/
Oso Parkway signals which were synchronized in 2009 and updated in 2014. The
result is a program that will regularly coordinate 2,000 intersections as the basis
for synchronized operation across Orange County.
ATTACHMENT A
Overview of Recently Completed Signal Synchronization Projects - 2014
Culver Drive

39 signalized intersections and 11 miles in length

Portola Parkway to Jamboree Road

Signals operated by the cities of Irvine, and Newport Beach, and the California
Department of Transportation (Caltrans)

Lead agency was Irvine
Fairview Road/Street
 31 signalized intersections and nine miles in length
 Newport Boulevard to Garden Grove Boulevard
 Signals operated by the cities of Costa Mesa, and Santa Ana, and Caltrans
 Lead agency was Costa Mesa
Jamboree Road

27 signalized intersections and eight miles in length

MacArthur Boulevard to Portola Parkway

Signals operated by the cities of Irvine, Newport Beach, and Tustin, and Caltrans

Lead agency was Irvine
Jeffrey Road

33 signalized intersections and ten miles in length

Portola Parkway to Jamboree Road

Signals operated by the cities of Irvine, and Newport Beach, and Caltrans

Lead agency was Irvine
Lincoln Avenue

47 signalized intersections and 13 miles in length

Knott Avenue to Imperial Highway

Signals operated by the cities of Anaheim, and Orange, and Caltrans

Lead agency was Anaheim
MacArthur Boulevard/Talbert Avenue

24 signalized intersections and seven miles in length

MacArthur Place to Walmart Shopping Center

Signals operated by the cities of Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley, and
Santa Ana

Lead agency was the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA)
Magnolia Street

53 signalized intersections and 16 miles in length

Pacific Coast Highway (State Route 1) to Commonwealth Avenue

Signals operated by the cities of Anaheim, Fountain Valley, Fullerton,
Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Stanton, and Westminster, County of Orange,
and Caltrans

Lead agency was OCTA
Oso Parkway/Pacific Park Drive

32 signalized intersections and eight miles in length

Aliso Viejo Parkway to State Route 241 southbound ramps

Signals operated by the cities of Aliso Viejo, Laguna Hills, and Mission Viejo,
County of Orange, and Caltrans

Lead agency was OCTA
Valley View Street

14 signalized intersections and three miles in length

Artesia Boulevard to Los Feliz

Signals operated by the cities of Buena Park, and Cypress, and Caltrans

Lead agency was Buena Park
Warner Avenue

43 signalized intersections and 13 miles in length

State Route 1 to Redhill Avenue

Signals operated by the cities of Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Santa Ana,
and Tustin, and Caltrans

Lead agency was OCTA
2
ORANGE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY
Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Program Overview
Attachment B
ORANGE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY
Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Program Overview
Attachment B
ATTACHMENT C
Summary of Results for Completed Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Projects
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
Project Life Fuel
Timing
Lead
Length
Consumed
Corridor Name
Completed
Agency
(Miles)
Signals
Project Cost
Savings (gal)
OCTA
15
62
$450,000
792,726
Euclid Street
2008
Pacific Park/Oso Parkway
2009
OCTA
9
34
$250,000
935,223
Alicia Parkway
2010
OCTA
11
41
$945,000
206,667
Beach Boulevard
2010
OCTA
20
70
$1,300,000
2,684,544
Chapman Avenue (South)
2010
OCTA
15
52
$800,000
831,969
Edinger/Irvine Center Drive/Moulton
2011
OCTA
22
109
$846,000
1,181,976
Harbor Boulevard
2011
OCTA
16
107
$520,000
827,208
Orangethorpe Avenue
2011
OCTA
19
44
$698,000
681,804
State College/Bristol Street
2011
OCTA
17
97
$760,000
1,048,650
Westminster Avenue
2011
OCTA
13
48
$620,000
1,085,484
Brookhurst Street
2012
OCTA
16
56
$631,764
2,012,875
El Toro Road
2012
OCTA
11
40
$478,916
846,879
Katella Avenue
2012
OCTA
17
69
$673,845
1,137,363
La Palma Avenue
2012
OCTA
18
58
$803,999
1,610,653
Bastanchury Road
2013
Fullerton
8
27
$674,920
270,002
Euclid Street*
2013
Fullerton
17
66
$1,250,000
1,106,675
Tustin/Rose Drive
2013
OCTA
10
43
$854,000
592,267
Yorba Linda Boulevard
2013
OCTA
12
46
$521,837
465,049
Culver Drive
2014
Irvine
11
39
$979,320
929,653
Fairview Road/Street
2014
Costa Mesa
8
31
$775,001
444,993
Jamboree Road
2014
Irvine
8
27
$288,260
813,645
Jeffrey Road
2014
Irvine
9
33
$512,540
489,977
Lincoln Avenue
2014
Anaheim
13
47
$1,192,810
401,102
MacArthur Boulevard/Talbert Avenue
2014
OCTA
7
26
$490,320
134,391
Magnolia Street
2014
OCTA
16
53
$400,000
566,394
Pacific Park/Oso Parkway
2014
OCTA
8
31
$612,778
490,380
Valley View Street
2014
Buena Park
3
14
$350,000
783,613
Warner Avenue
2014
OCTA
13
43
$777,310
460,817
Summary of All Projects
363
1413
$ 19,456,619
23,832,980
* Euclid Street and Oso Parkway/Pacific Park Drive is included twice because both have been revisited
^ $3.90 per gallon gasoline price used to estimate savings
Note: Improvements are averaged cross both directions over the full corridor
gal - gallons
lbs - pounds
OCTA - Orange County Transportation Authority
Estimated
Project Life Gas Estimated Project
Average
Savings
Life Greenhouse
Travel Time
Speed
Stops
(Dollars)^
Gas Savings (lbs.) Improvement Improvement Improvement
$
3,091,631
16,188,276
20%
24%
43%
$
3,647,370
19,098,249
22%
29%
50%
$
806,001
4,220,358
13%
12%
40%
$
10,469,722
54,821,202
14%
21%
28%
$
3,244,679
16,989,696
16%
18%
46%
11%
14%
34%
$
4,609,706
24,137,220
$
3,226,111
16,892,430
11%
12%
23%
17%
20%
42%
$
2,659,036
13,923,183
$
4,089,735
21,414,531
15%
18%
28%
$
4,233,390
22,166,736
14%
17%
35%
19%
18%
31%
$
7,850,213
41,105,031
19%
24%
32%
$
3,302,828
17,294,160
14%
14%
36%
$
4,435,716
23,226,165
18%
22%
27%
$
6,281,546
32,391,229
$
1,053,007
5,513,723
13%
15%
49%
$
4,316,031
22,599,458
15%
17%
40%
$
2,309,842
12,094,717
15%
17%
37%
$
1,813,693
9,496,799
14%
17%
32%
$
3,625,648
18,984,498
12%
12%
19%
$
1,735,472
9,087,220
11%
12%
24%
$
3,173,217
16,615,495
9%
9%
19%
$
1,910,910
10,005,845
9%
10%
26%
$
1,564,300
8,190,935
9%
15%
25%
$
524,129
2,744,427
7%
8%
13%
$
2,208,937
11,566,362
10%
12%
15%
$
1,912,481
10,014,071
16%
19%
29%
$
3,056,089
16,002,194
28%
24%
37%
$
1,797,186
9,410,366
8%
6%
26%
$
92,948,626
486,194,576
14%
16%
32%

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