Use of Advance Coordination Features in TxDOT Traffic Signal Controllers (0-4657-S)

Most of the delay experienced by motorist in Texas cities is at traffic signals. Improving signal timing is a cost-effective way to improve traffic operations and reduce motorist delay. Traffic engineers are constantly striving to improve traffic operations along arterials by providing signal coordination. Traffic signal controllers today are very sophisticated and contain many advance coordination features that have the potential to improve traffic operations; howerver, traffic engineers seldom have the time and the resources to fully investigate these advance coordination features and usually use only the basic features to operate signals. Many of the features provided are beyond required Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) specifications. To address this issue, TxDOT sponsored a project to investigate the advance controller features in controllers that meet TxDOT specifications. Currently, Eagle and Naztec traffic signal controllers meet TxDOT specifications. The project identified coordination features in these controllers, investigated their functionality, and developed some methodologies to use and program features that would benefit signal operations.