US city of Denver to adopt Australian traffic technology to curb peak time congestion and traffic bottlenecks

An Australian traffic control concept is being replicated in the American city of Denver. The program is being rolled out at a cost of US$7 million (AU$9.74 million) by Colarado Department of Transportation (CDOT). The city was inspired by Australia’s sensor driven traffic lighting system that was a big success in reducing peak hour rush and congestion by 40 percent.

Accordingly, the Australian model traffic lighting will be installed as a state-of the-art system in Denver. The city of Denver has one of biggest traffic bottlenecks in the US. The new system will mainly cover ramp lights from Ridgegate Drive in Douglas County north to Broadway in Denver, reports The Denver Channel.

“We’re going to be deploying hyper-smart ramp meters, those are the lights that let you on and off the road as a way of connecting how people come in from our arterials on to the main line,” explained Amy Ford, CDOT Spokesperson.

Right now the traffic is regulated by stop lights on the I-25 that curb traffic flowing onto the interstate highways. The lights are set at definite intervals but they lack a mechanism in managing the influx of people on the ramps or from the neighborhoods surrounding the ramps who get into the traffic.

Sensors in the lights

Under the new technology, CDOT will install sensors in the lights in areas around the ramps to assess the volume of traffic that will join the interstate high ways and the duration of the lights will be set accordingly.

CDOT officials have set a moderate rush reduction target.

“We’re looking at about a 20 to 25 percent reduction in congestion if things go the way we think they can,” said Ford.

Many residents admitted that the present rush of traffic is unbearable and stressful.

“It’s annoying, you know, it takes some times forever, sometimes it freezes when you’re in a hurry especially in the morning, like, I go to my 7-Eleven store it takes sometimes you know 30 seconds or so,” noted Sukh Preet, who commutes on I-25 in the early morning hours.

“I think it would be a good thing if it moves traffic along. I know rush hours been a problem here in Denver and anything we can do to keep that moving would be appreciated,” said Paul Wicker, who commutes on I-25 to work.

Perth event on traffic

Meanwhile, a recent event in Perth took stock of the rapid changes in traffic control technology. The forum was told that street lights controlled by motion sensors and drones will become commonplace in the near future.

The arrival of driverless cars and new transport technology would ultimately make driving easier and road construction will become efficient under new technologies, reports The West Australian.

Curtin University’s Sustainable Built Environment National Research Centre chief executive Keith Hampson said cheaper sensors, LED lighting, computer processing, motion detectors, and photovoltaic cells have rendered that opportunity to “do things smarter” on roads.

Hampson disclosed that the centre was working with Main Roads Western Australia to cut down energy costs in street lighting. He highlighted how Los Angeles replaced 140,000 street lights with LED lighting and saved $10 million (AU13.9 million) a year.

Dimmable lights

“Another way to reduce costs is having dimmable lighting with motion detectors on our freeways and major roads,” Hampson said adding that they allow change in lighting as the traffic approaches.

Hampson said a proposal to use drones for managing traffic is under study. It will help in getting updated reports on bottlenecks and accidents, if any, from all highways.

For feedback/comments, contact the writer at feedback@ibtimes.com.au or let us know what you think below.