OCTA has drivers seeing more green through Signal Synchronization Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 1, 2013

OCTA Has Drivers Seeing More Green Through Signal Synchronization Program

Goal of improving 2,000 intersections with renewed Measure M funds more than halfway complete

ORANGE – Motorists throughout Orange County are moving along city streets more efficiently and saving gas thanks to the Orange County Transportation Authority’s signal synchronization effort.

An update to the OCTA’s board this week showed that more than 1,074 intersections, along 269 miles of streets, have been synchronized in the last five years. That’s more than halfway toward the original 30-year Measure M goal to synchronize 2,000 intersections along 750 miles of roadway.

“It’s exciting to see the quick progress that’s been made in this effort to synchronize signals and save time and money for our residents,” said OCTA Chairman Greg Winterbottom. “More green lights translates into fewer delays, less fuel consumption and a reduction in greenhouse gases.”

More than $13 million has been dedicated to the signal synchronization since 2008, including streets in every corner of the county. The program is funded through Measure M, Orange County’s half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements.

OCTA works with cities, the county and Caltrans to provide competitive capital grants for the coordination of signals across city borders to improve traffic flow. Signals are timed to ensure drivers hit the most green lights during peak traffic periods – morning, midday and evening. The projects help the flow of traffic in all 34 Orange County cities.

After the synchronization projects are complete, traffic engineers compare the before and after travel times, number of stops and average speeds.

Studies of the 18 completed signal synchronization projects show:

· A reduction in travel times of 11 percent to 22 percent, with an average of 16 percent across all projects.

· Travel speeds improved between 12 percent and 29 percent, with an average improvement of 18 percent.

· Stops at red lights were reduced 23 percent to 50 percent, with an average reduction of 36 percent.

The projects are expected to save drivers more than 18 million gallons of gas over a three-year period. Based on $3.90 per gallon, that’s a savings of $70 million in fuel costs to consumers over that time. In addition, the synchronized signals are expected to create cleaner air by reducing greenhouse gas emissions by more than 381 million pounds over three years.

After three years, it’s recommended that the signals be re-timed to account for any changes in traffic patterns.

Currently, OCTA is funding an additional 51 synchronization projects for $38 million.

Once finished, these projects will synchronize 363 miles and 1,360 signals. That means the Measure M goal of synchronizing at least 2,000 signalized intersections will be met by 2016.

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(A list of all the completed and planned synchronization projects is available here.)

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Joel Zlotnik (714) 560-5713/Eric Carpenter (714) 560-5697.